Archive for ‘Support’

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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...
    by Rich Wallace at January 4th, 2010 at 06:01 am
  • Holiday Stress and Bipolar Disorder
    The holiday season is a time for family and friends to spend some real quality time together, celebrate the end of the year and resolve to better ourselves over the next year.  We like to imagine, here in the States anyway, lightly falling snow, festive music and traditions that have been passed along our family lines for generations. Offering gifts to our friends and...
    by Rich Wallace at December 24th, 2009 at 10:12 am
  • The Power of Bipolar Irrationality
    Sooner or later, irony hits us all and when it comes to managing a bipolar relationship, just when you think you may have a decent understanding and workable plans to incorporate to handle just about anything…here comes the proverbial curve-ball out of nowhere. As much as I try to keep my topics and posts here on the site timeless and as applicable to many situations...
    by Rich Wallace at December 10th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
  • 10 Mistakes to Avoid in a Bipolar Relationship
    Researching and keeping my finger on the pulse of what challenges are coming up in bipolar relationships has dug up some common issues and strategies that are making the overall relationships even more difficult than they already are.  Some of the situations and ideas that are brought up are more emotionally driven than they are logically driven, and when we base our...
    by Rich Wallace at November 14th, 2009 at 07:11 pm
  • Shifting the Paradigm
    As saddening is it is to witness some of the anger and bitterness from those unwilling to open their mind’s a little more, I must admit that less than a year ago of this writing, I was just as angry and bitter and I felt very similar in the way the some have about dealing with bipolar disorder in my own life. To clarify my own transformation, I must share the...
    by Rich Wallace at November 11th, 2009 at 02:11 pm
  • Bipolar Disorder and Parenthood
    When my wife and I had our first child, we we’re ecstatic and terrified at the same time.  The first few nights home were the most stressful times of our lives together and although we pulled through and are the proud parents of four wonderful kids, we soon learned that parenthood did not mix well with the presence of mental illness in the family. Although the...
    by Rich Wallace at November 7th, 2009 at 11:11 am
  • Bipolar Disorder: Equal Opportunity Destroyer
    When I first heard about bipolar disorder, I truly thought nothing of it and didn’t give a second thought about what it was, if I knew anybody that lived with it or if it would ever touch my life in anyway whatsoever.  I was one of the uneducated that did not have an understanding of mental health challenges, nor did I place any respect into such an arena. During...
    by Rich Wallace at November 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
  • Bipolar Disorder and Hypomanic Insomnia
    Bipolar disorder brings on a potential laundry list of symptoms that can wreak havoc on both the sufferer and the supporters as well.  Keeping in mind that the symptoms seen by one that does not have bipolar may be seen as ‘regular issues we all have’, this simply is not the case and it must be understood that the challenges brought on by the disorder can...
    by Rich Wallace at November 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
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