(December 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm)Losty Wrote:(December 29, 2015 at 4:40 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: EPs advice isn't completely unfounded. My brother from another mother (we share the same exact birthday) is bipolar, and keeping incredibly busy does help him out. It's not a cure, obviously, but it's definitely a helpful component of his overall treatment (including medication, a healthier diet than he had in high school, regular exercise, etc).
While he still has his moments (mostly fueled by his work, mother, and younger brother - the last two really know how to push his buttons), he's doing a lot better living in another state with a sweetheart of a fiancée. She's exactly the kind of support he needs.
All that said, obviously everyone is different, so what may work for my friend and EP may not work for others. Also note that I'm not trying to say that any particular person in this thread has/has not tried to increase their activity load, or any thing else about their treatment. Just relaying an anecdote.
I don't have bipolar disorder but I get this advice. I try really hard to schedule my life at the perfect activity levels. Too little activity worsens depression, too much activity worsens my anxiety. I get overwhelmed fairly easily. I don't think that's the part of the advice people were offended by though
I do have bipolar disorder and there is, at least in some cases, something to EP's advice. Constructive activity certainly does *help* to a degree, but it is not panacea and my objection to his advice was more oriented toward the attitude that he was in a position to understand the condition or it's "cure", based on the little information presented.
I'm not going to keep harping on it though, I think he meant well even if the delivery came across as not so.
