Archive for January, 2010

  • Empathic Listening and Honest Feedback
    While perusing the blogs and catching up on Twitter this morning, I came across David Oliver’s site again, which I’ve looked over a few times in the past and truly appreciate his offerings. One of his recent posts covers the importance of not only maintaining open and honest communication with the relationship, but also how the role of a supporter includes...
    by Rich Wallace at January 28th, 2010 at 08:01 am
  • Free eBook: Entering Into a Bipolar Relationship
    After several months of tweaking and reviewing, TheBipolarSpouse.com proudly presents “Entering Into a Bipolar Relationship“, which is the first eBook released in the upcoming series, “Bipolar Supporter’s Blueprint”. Some of the most popular topics covered here on the site, as well as some brand new content is shared within the pages of this...
    by Rich Wallace at January 27th, 2010 at 09:01 pm
  • Supporting Bipolar Rapid Cycling
    Playing the supporting role in a bipolar relationship is sometimes extremely difficult to explain in ordinary words. When asked by others on how to manage such a relationship, I solely focus on the perspective that I view the world from out of respect for my own wife as I will never truly understand her side of the relationship when it comes to those challenges brought...
    by Rich Wallace at January 24th, 2010 at 09:01 am
  • Bipolar Disorder: Illness or Attribute?
    When you hear the terms, “Manic Depression” or “Bipolar Disorder”…think about the first thing that comes to mind. Go ahead…I’ll wait… Do you think of these terms as a suitable label to place on a fellow human being? If you have never been introduced to the terms in such a way where you live with the disorder either directly...
    by Rich Wallace at January 18th, 2010 at 08:01 am
  • Dancing With Anxiety
    Although Bipolar Disorder is infamous for sending our loved ones on a very unpredictable emotional roller coaster, another challenge that appears to be more and more common within the bipolar realm is dealing with anxiety. After much research and speaking with others involved in the mental health world, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, seems to be the annoying sidekick...
    by Rich Wallace at January 11th, 2010 at 04:01 pm
  • Build Your Relationships With Trust
    The stigma that is attached to almost any mental health topic can create a barrier around those affected that can hinder their ability to trust others. This can make things difficult for those in the relationship as it can seem to become very one sided and unbalanced if one is not willing to offer full trust in the other. Although there are certain aspects that we must...
    by Rich Wallace at January 5th, 2010 at 07:01 pm
  • Being There When Nobody Else Is
    There are many challenges that come along with a bipolar relationship including the unfortunate result of those afflicted with the disorder finding it difficult to build or maintain an effective support system. There are people that are strong enough to offer enough support but choose not to understand why someone with bipolar disorder runs into issues that may not seem...
    by Rich Wallace at January 4th, 2010 at 06:01 am
  • Relationship Resolutions
    With the New Year making its way around again, we follow the traditions of making resolutions for positive change in our lives. Whether it be the common promises such as to lose weight, stop smoking or be a better person, how often do we really take a look at our relationships as attempt to apply changes in them? As with any relationship, bipolar relationships need attention...
    by Rich Wallace at January 2nd, 2010 at 07:01 am
  • Setting and Reaching Goals
    The New Year brings a sense of “Renovation” with opportunities to start the year with a clean slate. Most people will set resolutions for the year with good intention of keeping them, but more often than not, those resolutions disappear within the first three months of making them. Why? Change sucks… As much as we’d like things to simply stay...
    by Rich Wallace at January 1st, 2010 at 08:01 pm