Bipolar? This is When It's Hardest
Published: Mon, 05/25/09
Hi,
Happy Memorial if you live in the United
States and celebrate it.
I hope you doing great today whether
you are or you aren't.
Actually I have to get going today because
I am doing a bunch of things but first
wanted to send this out really quick.
You know, there are a lot of hard
things in life.
Growing up is hard.
Going to college is hard.
Making a marriage work is hard.
Raising children is hard.
Getting along with difficult people
is hard.
Making things meet financially is
hard, especially in today's economy.
Having, coping, and dealing with
bipolar disorder is really hard.
But THIS is when it is HARDEST:
Here's an email I got about it:
"Hi, Dave,
Just wanted to tell you how very
effective your emails are to give
down-to-earth information to many
areas for those who suffer the unasked
for condition of bipolar disorder. I
have a wonderful friend who works
hard daily to made a productive life
for himself but seems to be constantly
punished for his disease especially by
his immediate biological family, who
should certainly know better. They
seem to have targeted him as the
family scapegoat and constantly
remind him that they certainly
aren't mentally ill. I could smack
every one of them! Andrea Farrell."
-----------------------------------------------------
This has got to be one of the
hardest things of all for someone
with bipolar disorder to deal with -
When not only does your own family
not support you, but they actually
BLAME you for your own disorder!
This family is obviously grossly
misinformed.
Let me state a couple FACTS right
here and right now.
First of all, bipolar disorder is a
chemical imbalance of the brain.
You don't get it because of something
you did or didn't do, like having a
childhood disease or doing drugs
or something.
BIPOLAR DISORDER IS NOT
YOUR FAULT!
Second of all, most scientists believe
that bipolar disorder has a hereditary
element to it.
In other words, that the disorder is
passed down through the family.
So these people may THINK that
none of them has a mental illness,
but I bet if they look, they'll find
someone who - if they don't have
bipolar disorder - at least suffers
(suffered) from major depression!
But the main thing here is look what
they're doing to this man!
It's called STIGMA. It's very common,
and it's very ugly. And we have to
fight it every day with bipolar disorder.
That's why I talk about in my courses/
systems below:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
Look at the words:
"They seem to have targeted him as the
family scapegoat and constantly remind
him that they certainly aren't mentally ill."
That's STIGMA.
That's what people do to another person
who has a mental illness.
Do you hear the FEAR in that statement?
People generally fear what they don't
understand.
If these people took the time to
really understand bipolar disorder, I'm
sure they wouldn't treat this man the
way they are.
Especially because he seems to be doing
everything he can to manage his bipolar
disorder, according to Andrea's email.
He sounds stable, which is what we all
want for our loved one, and we know
it isn't easy.
We also know they need our support.
Can you imagine:
"...but [he] seems to be constantly
punished for his disease."
What if this were you?
How would YOU feel?
Do you think you would want to get
stable?
Or do you think you would just give up?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/index.php/happy-memorial-day-and-bipolar-this-is-when-its-hardest/1799/comment-page-1/#comment-11679
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
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Get More Help On Bipolar Disorder
Don't forget to take a look through the
different programs I've put together... each
one is designed to help you with a different
area of bipolar disorder whether you have it or
you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
View Past Daily Bipolar Emails For F.REE
Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/
Get Audio Information On Bipolar Disorder For F.REE
Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can't learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com