Before I wrote the Health Cards to help manage my bipolar disorder- my friends had no idea what was going on with me. Actually, I had no idea what was going on with me!
I have taught my friends how to use the cards. They know my symptoms now- because I showed them my symptoms from the third column in the cards. This isn’t an intuitive thing to do. Many people with bipolar disorder keep silent about their symptoms. I couldn’t. They affected my friendships too much. I have a friend- a guy friend – who always asks me, ”Julie, when you say ‘I’m sick today’- what does that mean?” I am so impressed and thankful that he truly wants to know what bipolar does to me.” So, I tell him what it means and now he knows when I say ‘I’m sick today’ that I’m depressed and having a tough time functioning. He can then remember what my Health Cards say about depression and how he can help me. Instead of being freaked out, he asked questions. That is what the Health Cards are all about.
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Tags: bipolar depression, Bipolar Disorder, managing bipolar disorder