Comments on: Loving the Person You Care For http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/ A Positive Approach to Mental Health Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:38:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Patricia http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17525 Patricia Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:03:53 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-17525 So much to learn, I've been dealing with a Depressed husband for 7 years an I've learn a few ways to cope everyday, but still can't figure it out, how to make him stop sleep so much, if he is not working he is sleeping, sometimes I feel it's getting me depressed. I like your post gave new ideas, I hope somebody would tell me how to improve the sleepy situation :( So much to learn, I’ve been dealing with a Depressed husband for 7 years an I’ve learn a few ways to cope everyday, but still can’t figure it out, how to make him stop sleep so much, if he is not working he is sleeping, sometimes I feel it’s getting me depressed. I like your post gave new ideas, I hope somebody would tell me how to improve the sleepy situation :(

]]> By: Diana http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-1178 Diana Wed, 28 May 2008 01:55:20 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-1178 I really enjoyed the series of posts and found the information very useful. I was diagnosed with bipolar in my late 30's but in looking back, I showed signs in my preteen and teenage years. I've had three manic episodes that have scared me tremendously and I live in fear of another one. I've been told that I need to learn to relax and be happy again instead of letting my fears run my life. I would like to see articles about avoiding full blown manic or depressive states. I really enjoyed the series of posts and found the information very useful. I was diagnosed with bipolar in my late 30′s but in looking back, I showed signs in my preteen and teenage years. I’ve had three manic episodes that have scared me tremendously and I live in fear of another one. I’ve been told that I need to learn to relax and be happy again instead of letting my fears run my life. I would like to see articles about avoiding full blown manic or depressive states.

]]> By: amber foster http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-1176 amber foster Tue, 27 May 2008 05:21:34 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-1176 my family has trouble loving me my family has trouble loving me

]]> By: Mary-Anne http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-902 Mary-Anne Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:27:28 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-902 I wish I had known about the book "Lovong Someone with Bipolar Disorder". My relationship has just ended with my Bipolar partner after 5 years. I went through a bad month where his mood swing and temprement had really upset me.I just needed a break to sort out myself. Next think I know I get a call from his "girlfriend" telling me not to ring him anymore. He didnt even bother to tell me he had ended the relationship. I have supported him in every way possible over the last 5 years. I really loved this man and am gutted at the moment. I wish I had known about the book “Lovong Someone with Bipolar Disorder”. My relationship has just ended with my Bipolar partner after 5 years. I went through a bad month where his mood swing and temprement had really upset me.I just needed a break to sort out myself. Next think I know I get a call from his “girlfriend” telling me not to ring him anymore. He didnt even bother to tell me he had ended the relationship. I have supported him in every way possible over the last 5 years. I really loved this man and am gutted at the moment.

]]> By: Kelsey http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Kelsey Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:21:18 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-767 I bought this book for my father in order to help him with my mother who had bipolar disorder. The family had been dealing with it rather unsuccefully for over two decades before her death this past October. The book was amazing - my mother absolutely loved the advice in it. And while they never got to put it to good use, I feel it afforded her a small measure of peace knowing her partner of 28 years was reading it and attempting to be a part of a team. I wholeheartedly agree with your support of this book and its usefulness. I bought this book for my father in order to help him with my mother who had bipolar disorder. The family had been dealing with it rather unsuccefully for over two decades before her death this past October. The book was amazing – my mother absolutely loved the advice in it. And while they never got to put it to good use, I feel it afforded her a small measure of peace knowing her partner of 28 years was reading it and attempting to be a part of a team.

I wholeheartedly agree with your support of this book and its usefulness.

]]> By: Dr Shock http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-659 Dr Shock Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:54:09 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-659 My experience with support groups isn't that much. Mostly with unipolar depressed patients. But I agree with your opinion about support groups needing to stay positive. Most support groups focus on psycho-education for a limited number of sessions. My experience with support groups isn’t that much. Mostly with unipolar depressed patients. But I agree with your opinion about support groups needing to stay positive. Most support groups focus on psycho-education for a limited number of sessions.

]]> By: james http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-657 james Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:12:22 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-657 In a conversation with my own psychiatrist he mentioned that when the partner is involved and comes to appointments the treatment outcomes tend to be a lot better. This makes sense, because the couple are likely to be taking a team approach. It's a very good point that you make; one that we didn't cover in the series. I would certainly welcome your experience of these outcomes as a practicing psychiatrist, and also what you've found to be the proportion of partners that attend routine visits. My experience in Sydney is that there are support groups for people with bipolar, but they are sparsely located. Only a handful are well advertised in mental health clinics and the like. I'm not sure about support groups for carers, but I imagine there are few that are specific to bipolar. Obviously there will be more choice in larger U.S. and European cities. I expect depression support groups would also be relevant to many carers of people with bipolar. My wife and I aren't negative about support groups, but we think it's important to find a group that is positive and geared towards moving forward as well as providing support. With any kind of support group, whether it is church, carer, illness centered, there is always the danger of the group becoming negative and problem-centered. It's perhaps an area where people need to be careful to choose (where possible) a group that will be most helpful to them and to which they can also make a valuable contribution. In this case it was a deliberate omission from the series, but only because we don't have personal experience of support groups. It's a good topic for a future guest post! In a conversation with my own psychiatrist he mentioned that when the partner is involved and comes to appointments the treatment outcomes tend to be a lot better. This makes sense, because the couple are likely to be taking a team approach. It’s a very good point that you make; one that we didn’t cover in the series.

I would certainly welcome your experience of these outcomes as a practicing psychiatrist, and also what you’ve found to be the proportion of partners that attend routine visits.

My experience in Sydney is that there are support groups for people with bipolar, but they are sparsely located. Only a handful are well advertised in mental health clinics and the like. I’m not sure about support groups for carers, but I imagine there are few that are specific to bipolar. Obviously there will be more choice in larger U.S. and European cities. I expect depression support groups would also be relevant to many carers of people with bipolar.

My wife and I aren’t negative about support groups, but we think it’s important to find a group that is positive and geared towards moving forward as well as providing support. With any kind of support group, whether it is church, carer, illness centered, there is always the danger of the group becoming negative and problem-centered. It’s perhaps an area where people need to be careful to choose (where possible) a group that will be most helpful to them and to which they can also make a valuable contribution.

In this case it was a deliberate omission from the series, but only because we don’t have personal experience of support groups. It’s a good topic for a future guest post!

]]> By: Dr Shock http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-655 Dr Shock Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:36:45 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-655 Thanks for the interesting overview of coping with a partner with bipolar disorder. You also mention another book by G Parker and the website. Are there no support groups for bipolar patients and for their relatives? Or do you have another opinion about support groups. Usually the partner of a bipolar patient visits the psychiatrist as well on routine appointments what is your opinion on that? Regards Dr Shock Thanks for the interesting overview of coping with a partner with bipolar disorder. You also mention another book by G Parker and the website. Are there no support groups for bipolar patients and for their relatives?
Or do you have another opinion about support groups.
Usually the partner of a bipolar patient visits the psychiatrist as well on routine appointments what is your opinion on that?
Regards Dr Shock

]]> By: Keeping Your Mind Together | Finding Optimism http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Keeping Your Mind Together | Finding Optimism Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:08:43 +0000 http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comment-654 [...] Click here for the fifth and final post in this series, Loving the Person You Care For. [...] [...] Click here for the fifth and final post in this series, Loving the Person You Care For. [...]

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