Bipolar? Lesson from Some Water
Published: Tue, 09/22/09
Hi ,
How are you doing today?
I hope you're doing good.
I was thinking about something
today.
About water.
And about its three states:
1. liquid (to drink)
2. solid (ice cubes)
3. vapor (steam).
That's about how far my
physics knowledge of it goes,
but it made me think of
bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder also has
three states:
1. Depression
2. Mania
3. Normal
Whether you like your water
to drink or for ice cubes, you
do have a preference.
Just like you and your loved
one both have the bipolar
preference of the normal
state.
But it's not always easy to
go with what you prefer.
Sometimes you have to do
things the hard way.
There is no disputing that
getting stable is hard work.
You just can't lay back and
expect it to fall in your lap.
So there are certain things
you do to get you there.
For you, it's being a good
supporter and a good example
to your loved one.
It's being encouraging to
them and rejoicing with them
during normal periods.
It's also sticking with them
through their bipolar episodes
and staying by their side.
For your loved one, stability
can mean having to change
their lifestyle, like I talk about
in my courses/systems:
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
Stability is not just going to
drop in your loved one's lap.
They have to work to get it.
But once they do, you'll both
enjoy less episodes and more
normal periods.
Like the 3 states of water and
the 3 states of bipolar disorder,
let's consider the 3 biggest
things on the list for getting
stable:
1. Medication
2. Healthy diet and exercise
3. Sleep
Let's take medication,
for example.
If given a choice, I know that
your loved one would rather
not have to take all that
medication.
They do have a choice, but
there is only one RIGHT choice.
So they have to adjust their
lifestyle to accommodate having
to take medication for their
bipolar disorder.
Ok, now let's look at diet and
exercise.
I'm not talking some crash
diet or using pills to lose weight.
I'm talking about a lifestyle
change.
Eating a healthy diet.
Your loved one should eat a
healthy diet so they can be as
physically fit as they are trying
to be mentally fit.
Same goes for exercising, only
with exercising you get a
bonus:
Exercising activates the endorphins
in your brain and give you a kind
of "high" feeling - it makes you
feel better.
Now let's talk about sleep.
Your loved one should be getting
8-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep
at night.
They should also go to sleep at
the same time and wake up at the
same time every day.
If they lose sleep, it can be a trigger
to a bipolar manic episode.
Too much sleep can indicate a
bipolar depressive episode.
So good sleep habits are very important
to the stability of your loved one.
Hopefully, your loved one is doing
"best practices" (the 1,2,3 I just
talked about).
If they are, you can look forward
to some good stability.
How is your loved one doing?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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