Bipolar Supporter? Medications are not a Cure
Published: Mon, 02/22/10
Hi ,
I hope you're doing ok.
Today I want to talk to you
about this email I got:
"Dear Dave:
My husband has bipolar disorder,
and usually he does ok, it's just
that it's been awhile, and I thought
that by now he'd be doing much
better than he is, ya know?
I mean, he's been on his
medication, and he's been taking
it right and everything, but he
is still having episodes once in
a while. They're not as often as
they were before, and they're
not as bad, but I thought that once
he got on the right medication
that he'd be ok,
Why is he still having episodes?"
--------------------------------------------
Wow! I know where this lady is
coming from, because you wouldn't
believe how many emails I get
that say the very same thing.
It's a tough question to answer,
and I'm not a psychiatrist or
therapist, so I can only give my
opinion - I have no professional
standing - just my experience and
the experience of thousands of
people who have written or talked
to me.
There are a lot of supporters (and
just as many survivors) who think
that once their loved one is on the
right medication, that that's all
there is to it! They believe that
that their loved one will never go
into an episode again.
Maybe you think that way, too. So
I want you to know how wrong that
thinking is. It is unrealistic to think
that way.
Yes, medication is the core ingredient
to getting better with bipolar disorder.
As well as therapy, support groups,
and everything else that goes in your
loved one's "bipolar toolbox" to help
them to be stable.
But no one should be telling you
that your loved one will never have
another episode, because that is just
not true. No doctor should tell you
that, and no therapist either. And you
should not assume that, because it
just isn't true.
In my courses, I teach about the core
ingredients necessary for stability,
and yes, medication is one of them,
but it isn't a magic cure to never have
another episode ever again:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.survivebipolar.net
No matter how compliant your loved
one is with their medication, no matter
how well they follow their treatment
plan, no matter how many years they
have gone without an episode, you still
have to keep up your guard, because
they can still have an episode at any
time - it's just the nature of the disorder.
You can't expect perfection from your
loved one, any more than you would
want them to expect perfection from
you.
All that they (and you) can do is your
best.
Remember: "Hope for the best, while
being prepared for the worst," like I
preach all the time.
Because bipolar disorder is a chemical
imbalance in the brain, there is no way
of knowing when those chemicals are
going to "flare up."
Even if your loved one has been
stable for a long time, it can still
happen.
I know a woman who didn't have an
episode for TWELVE YEARS, and
then had one that lasted for SIX
MONTHS!
Usually, your loved one can control
their disorder by being compliant
to medication and therapy.
But you still have to remember
that your loved one has a brain
disorder, and that sometimes, it
is going to flare up, no matter
how long you've been stable.
Remember to watch for triggers,
and don't let your guard down
as far as watching for signs and
symptoms, again, no matter how
long your loved one has been
stable.
I know, it's easy to become
complacent when things have
gone on so well for so long.
But you can never forget.
Now, I'm not saying to stand
over your loved one like a general
or anything like that to watch
them for triggers, signs and
symptoms, but you should be
able to tell in general if/when
it happens.
Just don't let down your guard
is all I'm saying.
If you know that your loved
one is in a particularly stressful
situation at work, well, you
know that stress is one of the
biggest stressors to a bipolar
episode, so you would just
watch them more closely.
If their anxiety and/or stress
levels are increased, that's
the time to be more vigilant.
Also, watch their sleep patterns.
If they are sleeping less, be
watchful, because loss of sleep
can indicate a bipolar manic
episode.
And just the opposite is true,
too.
If they are sleeping more, be
watchful, because sleeping too
much can be an indication of
a bipolar depressive episode.
The point is, medications are
not a cure for bipolar disorder.
They are only there to control
the symptoms of it, but they
are not a guarantee that your
loved one will never have
another episode.
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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