“Finally! Proven Strategies and Real-Life Tactics You Can Use NOW to Cope and Deal With Your Loved One’s Bipolar Disorder�?/FONT>

Which of These Questions Are You Desperate to Answer?

They were struggling to answer questions like:

• “What is bipolar disorder exactly �?and did I do something that caused this?�?BR> 
• “Why has it been so hard to get an accurate diagnosis?�?BR> 
• “How do I find a good doctor and therapist?�?BR> 
• “What are the treatment options for bipolar disorder �?and which will work best?�?BR> 
• “Does my loved one really need to be medicated for bipolar?�?BR> 
• “How can I make sure my loved one is taking all prescribed medications?�?BR> 
• “Our medical bills are skyrocketing �?how will we ever be able to manage these costs?�?BR> 
• “Will my loved one ever be able to hold down a job?�?BR> 
• “What are the signs that bipolar episode is coming on �?and is there anything I can do to head it off?�?BR> 
• ”How do I know if my loved one really belongs in a residential treatment program?�?BR> 
• “Who will take care of my loved one if I die?�?BR> 
• “How can I convince my loved one that they have to go to all doctor’s appointments?�?BR> 
• “How can I help my loved one make and keep friends?�?BR> 
• “What can I do to handle the stress of being a supporter?�?BR> 
• “Is there anything I can do now to help my loved one regain some independence?

I know how much pain can result from not having answers or solutions �?and how much damage bipolar disorder can do to a family that’s never had the right information before.

With the information I learned, I would be able to help other families overcome, and even prevent, the tremendous obstacles my mother has had to conquer.

How My Pain Will Be Your Gain

Even after that six months was over, I kept going to support groups and talking to people who had bipolar disorder. When they heard that I had done all of this research and that I was helping my mom, they started asking for my help, too. So I did. Some of them even suggested that I write a book because they knew, like I did, that there simply wasn't enough good information out there.

One of my friends finally said, "Dave, don't you think it's your duty to share what you know with other people so they don't have to suffer like you did?"

That made me think. The truth is I would have done ANYTHING when I was first dealing with my mom's episode to get all of the information I have now. If I could have had everything in some type of course or book or audio tape, then things would have been so much easier for me, my dad... even my mom.

Introducing The Bipolar Supporter's Course

That's why I put together The Bipolar Supporter’s Course, which is filled with all of the tips, tricks, and secrets that you can use to support loved ones who are battling bipolar disorder.

Once I got started, I realized that the same information may not be right for everyone. And because I want to help as many people as possible, I created two versions of the The Bipolar Supporter's Course.

Let's talk about each of these versions and how they can help you. That way you can pick the one that best suits your family’s needs and budget.

Option #1: The Basic Bipolar Supporter’s Course

The Basic Edition comes with a number of items that will help you to better help your loved one and your family cope with bipolar disorder. The core of the basic course is The Bipolar Supporter's Manual.

This 168-page resource is bursting with the tips, smart strategies and answers you’ve been seeking �?including ways to effectively deal with two of the most frustrating �?and chronic �?challenges you face as a bipolar supporter:

• Dealing with your loved one’s manic episodes. Depressive episodes are far easier to deal with, because your loved one typically recognizes that things are right �?and it’s not much fun being depressed. People in the grips of a manic episodes, however, feel on top of the world. They don’t recognize that they’re sick, which makes it difficult to get them to cooperate with you. Plus they tend to be much more argumentative, irrational, impulsive, and oblivious to the risks and consequences of their actions.
• Getting your loved one to follow their treatment plan. There are dozens of reasons why people with bipolar disorder don’t want treatment �?ranging from the fact that they don’t feel sick �?to their desire not to be “dulled�?by medication. Or you might find that your loved one will initially follow a treatment plan, but then will go off medication once they feel better.

The Bipolar Supporter’s Course is chock full of proven techniques to help you navigate these and other challenges with ease. Take a look for yourself:

• 36 common symptoms your loved one may experience during a bipolar disorder episode �?and which ones you should be most alert for (page 9)
   
• The unfortunate reality is that some people with bipolar disorder will be unable to work. Here’s how to tell if they can be gainfully employed �?or if you have to secure federal disability benefits (page 24)
   
• The 4 critical things you must never change �?doing so will dramatically increase your stress and unhappiness (page 103)
   
• Everyone has mood swings, right? Find out what’s different about the mood swings that are associated with bipolar disorder �?and how it can affect your family (page 11)
   
• 3 less common, but highly effective, treatments you may want to consider for your loved one (page 47)
   
• The simple �?yet easy to forget �?way to minimize the number of episodes your loved one suffers (page 26)
   
• The three biggest problems with diagnosing bipolar disorder �?and how to ensure that your loved one is diagnosed correctly and promptly (page 14)
   
• Four ways to tell that your loved one needs medical treatment �?and when the symptoms they’re exhibiting are within a normal range (page 15)
   
• How bipolar disorder is diagnosed �?and the one thing you must never do during this process (page 16)
   
• One common misconception about bipolar disorder is that people afflicted with the disease constantly cycle between mania and depression. Discover the truth about how often your loved one will be hit with an episode (page 12)
   
• The 14 key questions you should ask your loved one’s current medical professionals �?at a minimum �?to evaluate whether they are good enough to keep treating your loved one (Beware the professional who avoids these questions or discourages you from asking them �?it’s usually a sign of incompetence, while the best medical professionals wish more patients would ask these tough questions) (page 30)
   
• The 14 things you need to successfully support someone with bipolar disorder (page 21)
   
• The 6 things you must look for (at a minimum) when shopping for a psychiatrist and therapist �?ignore even one of these and your loved one won’t recover as quickly, easily or fully as they should (page 22)
   
• The truth about what support groups can and cannot do for you (hint: don’t expect to find any useful coping strategies there) (page 49)
   
• As a lifelong supporter of someone with bipolar disorder, finances are going to be one of your biggest concerns. Learn 3 of the best options for absorbing this massive cost without going broke (page 23)
   
• How your commitment and ability to think like a general will improve the medical care your loved one receives �?and even save their life (page 34)
   
• 3 traps that many bipolar supporters fall into �?and how to avoid them so you can still live a happy, fulfilling life (page 25)
   
• The 2 most common problems you’ll run into if your loved one has health insurance that covers their bipolar disorder treatment (page 65)
   
• The 6 types of medical professionals that most people with bipolar disorder find crucial in their recovery (page 27)
   
• The 7 biggest reasons your family should be involved in supporting your loved one (page 111)
   
• How HIPAA affects your ability to properly support your loved one �?and what you need to do as soon as possible so this privacy law doesn’t prevent you from doing your job (page 44)
   
• 4 common ways to find qualified medical professionals who treat bipolar disorder �?and the problems to be aware of with each method (page 30)
   
• Grieving a “normal�?life is normal for supporters, as well as their loved ones who have been diagnosed with bipolar. Discover the 5 stages of acceptance, so that you can help your family cope with their feelings more effectively (page 17)
   
• Why some physicians don’t believe that therapy is a necessary part of a bipolar treatment plan �?and why listening to this opinion can seriously endanger your loved one’s health (and even their life) (page 32)
   
• Many bipolar supporters expect to see immediate improvement in their loved one, especially if medication is part of the treatment plan. Guess what, it won’t happen that fast. Here’s how quickly you can reasonably expect to see a change in your loved one (page 47)
   
• The 3 distinct types of bipolar disorder �?and which can be the worst kind to have (page 8)
   
• The people and organizations you must contact TODAY to protect your loved one in an emergency medical situation (page 35)
   
• 4 steps to take with your loved one to minimize the damaging effects of bipolar disorder and speed recovery during an episode (page 36)
   
• Why medications are almost always used for the treatment of bipolar disorder �?and why you should be thrilled that your loved one will be taking pills the rest of their lives (trust me, when I tell you about the alternative, you’ll beating down the doctor’s door for a prescription) (page 53)
   
• The 3 scenarios when you absolutely must get your loved one to a hospital �?no matter what it takes (page 37)
   
• What a WRAP is �?and the 5 components it needs to be useful to your loved one (page 78)
   
• When all else fails, involuntary commitment may be your only choice of getting medical treatment for your loved one. Discover what to do to minimize the stress and confusion that usually results during this process (page 43)
   
• How HIPAA affects your ability to properly support your loved one �?and what you need to do as soon as possible so this privacy law doesn’t prevent you from doing your job (page 44)
   
• Almost a full 20 percent of people with this disorder commit suicide. Discover the single most important thing you can do to prevent this from being your loved one’s fate (page 45)
   
• 5 ways that the wrong therapist can do more harm than good �?and the 3 simple steps you can take to protect your loved one from dangerous therapists (page 32)
   
• Your 3 primary responsibilities when it comes to your loved one’s medical treatment (page 46)
   
• The top 3 options your loved one has if they don’t have medical insurance (page 66)
   
• The easiest and usually most effective way to ensure that your loved one takes all medications as prescribed �?and what to do if this doesn’t work (page 47)
   
• Although having bipolar disorder is not something that your loved one can control, there are things you can do together to control the impact of the disease. Discover ways you can prevent or minimize the development of new episodes (page 13)
   
• Who can develop bipolar disorder �?and the likelihood of it happening again in your family (page 10)
   
• The unorthodox approach to finding medical professionals that gets highly qualified, “best of the best�?physicians battling it out to be your doctor of choice (page 31)
   
• Support groups are not one-size-fits-all. Discover how to find a group that’s right for your unique needs and situation (page 50)
   
• 6 questions you can ask your loved one to improve the support you provide and make them more willing to cooperate with you (page 69)
   
• 21 ways to get your loved one to go to the doctor voluntarily �?even if they claim that they are fine. (Hundreds of bipolar supporters use these techniques each day to get their loved one the medical care they desperately need) (page 37)
   
• 20 questions to ask yourself to determine if you are co-dependent �?and how your answer affects your ability to care for your loved one (page 120)
   
• The 11 most common side effects of bipolar medications �?and what your loved one can do to minimize their severity and effect (page 55)
   
• What to do if your loved one doesn’t have health insurance �?or if their medical benefits will expire soon because of a job loss (a very common problem faced by people with bipolar disorder) (page 23)
   
• How you and your family may react to the bipolar diagnosis �?and how to handle these reactions so that you can still support your loved one to the best of your ability (page 19)
   
• Why you shouldn’t tolerate the abuse that people with bipolar disorder can dish out during an episode �?and the most effective way to get them to treat you with love and respect again (page 82)
   
• 13 proven strategies for getting your loved one to take all prescribed medications on schedule and in the proper dosage (page 58)
   
• The best time to talk to your loved one about managing bipolar disorder (page 36)
   
• 13 things you can do right now to help your loved one recover from a depressive episode (page 84)
   
• The secret technique you may be able to use to prevent your insurance company from capping the benefits they’ll provide for bipolar treatment (your health insurance company will never volunteer this information for you �?but it can save you a bundle) (page 66)
   
• How to tell if you should be your loved one’s support person (especially if the two of you don’t get along) (page 133)
   
• 13 criteria you can use to judge the performance of your loved one’s medical team (page 31)
   
• The difference between manic, depressive and mixed episodes �?and how to tell when your loved one is heading into a rough patch (page 12)
   
• 6 ways to get medicine paid for if your loved one doesn’t have medical insurance or if their coverage doesn’t include a prescription plan (page 67)
   
• Are you contributing to your loved one’s struggle with bipolar �?and to the chaos that’s threatening to destroy your own life and happiness? Here’s how to tell (the answer might surprise you!) (page 126)
   
• The Stockdale Paradox: what it is �?and why you should use to steer your bipolar planning (page 74)
   
• The 10 most common scenarios you must plan for if you want to be fully prepared to deal with anything that bipolar disorder can throw at you (page 75)
   
• How planning for worst-case scenarios can actually prevent them from ever happening (page 75)
   
• Why you MUST get your loved one to give you legal permission to access their medical records �?and how to get information you need to help them when they won’t sign a medical release form (page 76)
   
• 9 warning signs that your loved one is suicidal �?if you see any of these red flags, you must seek immediate medical attention (page 91)
   
• The one thing you must never, ever do during your loved one’s manic episodes �?and why it’s critical to seek medical treatment immediately (page 79)
   
• The 2 things you can do to minimize drug interactions between bipolar medications and any other medicine your loved one is taking (page 57)
   
• The 6 criteria your loved one’s medications must meet to be effective in treating bipolar disorder �?finding the right combination of drugs for your loved one is not as simple as you think it should be (page 53)
   
• If you’ve had enough and feel that you must stop supporting your loved one, here is the only time when it’s safe to leave �?leave at any other time, and your loved one could end up injured, jailed or even dead (page 82)
   
• 6 questions to ask to tell when your loved one is showing normal emotions �?and when you’re seeing the start of a new episode (page 86)
   
• How to talk to your loved one about bipolar disorder �?and how to adjust your approach based on how stable their moods are (page 68)
   
• People with bipolar disorder are notoriously uncooperative �?here’s the best way to get them to do what you want (page 90)
   
• The 4 components of a comprehensive, successful treatment plan for bipolar disorder �?and the one piece that some doctors dismiss (if your doctor says this isn’t necessary to consider, you need to find a new physician immediately!) (page 46)
   
• The very real risks and dangers if your loved one is planning to have children in the future (page 109)
   
• 9 easy ways to prevent your loved one from spending all of their money and racking up massive debt during a manic episode (page 92)
   
• 3 ways you can do to protect yourself if your loved one ever gets violent (page 96)
   
• The 9 warning signs that your loved one is suffering a dangerous reaction to bipolar medication �?if you notice any of these signs, you must contact your loved one’s doctor immediately (page 56)
   
• 12 effective strategies for dealing with your loved one’s extreme mood swings and anger (page 97)
   
• The 5 things you should plan when your loved one is between episodes (page 102)
   
• The surprising way that the post office can help you battle bipolar disorder (page 84)
   
• You can take up to 12 weeks off of work to take care of your loved one without losing your job �?federal law guarantees it �?IF you meet these 5 criteria (and if your loved one qualifies, too, they can take up to 3 months off to recover from an episode) (page 105)
   
• The one area where you must be sneaky and devious if you truly want to protect your loved one from the horrible things they do when in a manic episode (page 81)
   
• The 3 things the government will consider when determining whether your loved one qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (page 106)
   
• What your loved one can do to speed the process of finding the right combination of drugs for the successful treatment of his/her bipolar disorder (page 54)
   
• The easiest way to prevent messy conflicts between you and your loved one (page 134)
   
• What family-focused therapy is �?and the crucial role it can play in helping your loved one cope with bipolar disorder (page 111)
   
• The one thing that many bipolar supporters do when their loved ones are in manic episodes �?and why you may be doing more harm than good if you employ this strategy, too (page 80)
   
• The 5 most important things your loved one needs you to do to be an effective support person (page 112)
   
• 10 things you should do to help you deal more effectively with the sometimes-overwhelming responsibilities of supporting someone with bipolar disorder (page 113)
   
• The soothing craft that can help you manage your stress and make your family stronger (page 114)
   
• The 3 criteria your loved one must meet to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (page 106)
   
• According to the National Institute for Mental Health, you spend about 21 hours a week caring for your loved one �?discover 16 easy ways to ensure that you still have the time and energy to nurture yourself (page 120)
   
• Why you can’t turn over responsibility for your loved one’s treatment to medical professionals �?and how active you should remain (page 28)
   
• 6 proven steps you can take to avoid taking your loved one’s hurtful words and actions personally (Trust me, you must learn to do this if you are going to survive supporting someone with bipolar. I ended up with a mild case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after helping my mom through her episode because I didn’t know how to do this well enough (page 98)
   
• The most common reason that people with bipolar disorder end up divorced �?and how to protect your marriage if your spouse has bipolar (page 108)
   
• Many supporters find that the single hardest thing to accept about their loved one’s bipolar disorder is their promiscuity during manic episodes. Discover the shocking truth about what you can do to prevent this from happening (page 95)
   
• The truth about whether herbal treatments work to cure bipolar disorder (page 138)
   
• The 1-3 law �?and how understanding it can make it easier to deal with the negative reactions you get when some people learn that your loved one has bipolar disorder (page 115)