Bipolar Supporter? Through Their Eyes
Published: Mon, 03/29/10
Hi ,
How's your day going?
I hope it is a good one.
I had a good day today.
I went to a class on
disability awareness,
and they did an interesting
demonstration to show us
how it felt to have a disability.
First they had us try on glasses
that had been painted black,
and carefully walk around the room.
So we got a small taste of what
it is like to be blind.
Then they put earplugs in our ears
and had us try to understand
what other people were saying,
just by reading their lips.
So we got to understand
what it might be like to be deaf.
Then they did something
that I didn't expect.
They gave us mirrors
and told us to put them
next to our papers,
so that we could see
the paper in the mirror.
Then they told us that we
could only look in the mirror
to see what we were writing.
This was a very difficult task.
When we were done, they told us
that this was a small taste
of what it was like to have
dyslexia.
These were great exercises,
and it was wonderful that it
was promoting disability
awareness.
It got me thinking:
what would it be like to
look through the eyes of
someone who has
bipolar disorder?
Is there some trick I can do
that would show me even
a little bit of what it's like?
I don't think there is anything
that could be done to show
exactly what it's like, but maybe
there are things we can
think about, that will help us
to understand better.
Bipolar disorder is a disorder
that is based on a person's moods.
How many moods do we have
throughout a day?
I mean, if we were really to count
exactly how many times
our moods change in a day,
what number would we end up with?
Most of the time,
we don't react to all of our moods.
Our moods change a little
when we see a sad commercial,
or think of a funny thought,
or get irritated by something
that we know isn't that big of a deal.
These little moods usually
get ignored as we go about
the rest of our day.
What would happen
if we had a pressing urge
to act out each of those emotions?
We would end up in tears
every time that sad commercial
came on the television.
We would laugh hysterically
at that funny thought,
even though no one knew
what we were laughing about.
Every time we got irritated,
even by something little,
we would become angry,
maybe even irate.
How would we handle this
turmoil of emotions?
Sometimes it is easy to think
that if we had the disorder
we could do better.
But could we really do any better
than our loved ones already do?
Many of our loved ones
have learned to adapt
to the change of their moods.
They may have learned
to follow their treatment plan
so that they can live
the best life that they can.
They may have learned
who they can go to for help
when things get out of hand.
There are many things that
they do to adapt.
Could I have done better?
I have to say I don't know.
I am just so glad
that there is hope for a good
life when their treatment plan
is followed.
I am so glad that I can
be part of my loved one's life
and support system.
What would it be like to see things
through your loved one's eyes?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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