Current News Is Up

Take a look at the current news:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews93/

New article is up and current news

I have a new article on debt and bipolar up:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/consolidatingdebt/

Also, the current news is up:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews89/

New article on finances and also current news

I have a new article on debt and bipolar up:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/consolidatingdebt/

Also, the current news is up:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews89/

I need some help

Today I got a rather disturbing email from someone saying that somewhere on my site was pointing to a specific product that is sold for people with bipolar that is no good. I don't want to mention it's name but I HATE this product. I have banned all ads of this product on my site.

If you haven't noticed, I have google ads on my site. Google.com is a search engine and you can list ads on your site to make some extra money. I do this to help support my site so I don't go broke.

Sometimes these people, who I think are con artists, slip ads for this product through and my team catches them and bans the offending ads. If you EVER see something wrong, email me or better yet, call me on the phone and I will look into it ASAP.

Anyway, someone wrote me today about how this ad was somewhere on my site I am pointing to this product. I have no idea where. I have 800 pages on my site.

This person wrote me:

"Over a year ago I thought you were sincere and for real. Now, I think you're an undiagnosed manic depressive person with a grandiose idea to make money.
Welcome to the club, my man. Now you're thinking like a manic depressive!!! Rake it in!!"

I have a couple of questions for this person that I have emailed to her as well:

1. Where am I pointing to this site?
2. Why didn't you call me?
3. Why do you think that I am a "undiagnosed manic depressive person" isn't that an insult to people who have bipolar? In my mind, it's like, something bad was done, well let's call him a manic depressive. Does this mean that bad things are only done by manic depressive people? Of course not! I don't even have bipolar disorder and this is offensive to me.
4. How am "I thinking like a manic depressive?"

MY BIG QUESTION IS THE FOLLOWING
Why do people who have bipolar disorder, love to say that I have it or that when someone does something wrong it's because they have bipolar?

Sometimes I have stated a point on a subject. Someone has disagreed and then ended the conversation with, you must be bipolar yourself? It's really strange. I am not sure if this makes people feel better or what?

This make absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

What do you think?

Dave

Important update

My mom just told me that her doctor has a new office assistant. My mom really liked her previous office assistant who was very helpful and helped her fill out a lot of paper works he had to fill out for various issues.

My mom is concerned that the new guy might not know what he is doing so she is going to call him with a list of things to go over and to make sure he knows where everything is that goes along with her, and if he knows how to fill out paperwork that that has to be filled out regularly. She is also going to make sure the medical release waiver is still in place for me to talk to her doctor.

I think this is great. I just wanted to pass this along as a good example of being proactive and the fact that you have to stay on top of this stuff.

Great letter to the editor

Hi,

My friend Nancy wrote this and got it published in her paper. I think it's good:

May 9, 2005
Letter to the Editor:
There?s something rotten in Denmark. Changes in the Medicaid bill that are set to take place a year from January are going to affect the people who can least afford it?those people with disabilities such as the old and the mentally ill who are dual recipients of both Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid will no longer pay for their medications. These will be turned over to Medicare, and will include a deductible and a co-payment. Many people on limited income such as Social Security Disability and SSI will not be able to afford this money and therefore will be unable to afford the medicine that keeps them well. This is a huge problem that will cause untold misery for many families, and finally will cost more money to taxpayers because of the disruption in family life that it will cause. People who have previously been able to live on their own and work part-time will not have the medicine that keeps them well. It is lucky that we have built more jails in the state of Texas, because that is where the most of the disabled will end up. This is NOT what a country that boasts of family values is all about! We brag about taking care of our own, but turning people who already are dealing with monumental problems and illness out into the street is not the way to do that. Please write your congressman or congresswoman about this unacceptable situation.

Nancy Fitz-Gerald Viens

Current news is up

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews88/

Opt out process

My mom just told me it tooks seconds to do and it's really easy. If you are having this problem, you should call the opt out number.

Update on credit cards

I just called the company and basically got the run around until I put my foot down. Also, someone in my company did some quick research and found you can call this phone number
and get opted out of credit card offers.

According to the FTC:
"The credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables you to ?opt-out? of having pre-approved credit offers sent to you for two years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) for more information. When you call, you?ll be asked for personal information, including your home telephone number, your name and your Social Security number. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit. "

My mom called me to tell me she is going to call and I will let you know what happens.

Dave

Annoyed At Credit Card Companies

My mom told me today that she got a credit card offer in the mail. She wasn't going to take it
of course but wanted to let me know that I guess she fell off the no solitication list.

I am really amazed how dumb these card companies are. I spent a whole lot of time, taking my mom off these lists. She wants to be off and doesn't want any credit cards. Credit cards have cost her dearly. She is currently paying them off but has in the last 5 years paid tens of thousands of dollars in interest and late fees.

I am going to investigate and get back to everyone on how to get off forever or at least for a few years.

One last thing. Before I get messages saying I don't have the right to take my mom off credit card lists, she wants to be off and asked me to help her get off the lists because she is busy studying for a test she is taking on computer stuff.

Anyway, I am pretty darn effective getting my points across and welcome contacting these dumb companies.

I will pass long what I find as soon as I do.

What's Good About Bipolar?

I notice that a number of people are negative about having bipolar. I want to challenge everyone to list at least one good thing about having bipolar. How can you look at bipolar in a positive light?

I really am a positive guy so I like to stress this. I have thought of many things but I don't want you all to cheat. Let me know what you think. Write me so comments.

New blog for parenting of children with bipolar

Take a look at it www.bipolarcentral.com/parentingblog

How to ask for help and do I like getting yelled at?

Someone asked me why I do all this. I really like to. I like helping people. Another person
called me today and asked me if I like getting yelled at and insulted. I told this person
that for everyone complaint, I get around 100 testimonials. I think I have only had 25
really mean emails sent. Maybe 26. Many people write one thing one day and then
write back and say they are sorry.

It takes a big person to say sorry. That makes me feel good.

I do however get a lot of emails. Some are a waste.

They are a waste of time for both the people
sending them and for me when I read them.For example, I got one that
said "My husband is driving me crazy. I can'ttake it. HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!"

Or another one I got:"My job is making me sick. Help me."

Here is my problem with these. I understand the genuine distress
behind them, and I sympathize with their pain, but there is nothing
I can do with that kind of "non-information." If I wanted to help, you
know how much more info I would need to help!I really wish people
would be serious about asking for help.

I am a huge believer in asking for help. It's the main reason that I
was able to helpmy mom. When she was sick, I asked everyone
for help. I had SPECIFIC questions.I asked the money people specific,
money-related questions. I asked thedoctors specific questions.
I asked the therapists specific questions.

I didn't say"My life stinks, my mom is sick, help." When asking questions,
ask specific questions. Don't just make vague statements and attach the
word help and expect to get it.

I got another email from someone today saying my grammar is terrible and so is my
spellling. I don't think my spelling is bad thanks for Microsoft. As for my grammar, who
knows.

I am really confident that people understand what I am writing. And when it counts, I get
everything edited. I don't have things like my blog edited.

I have an idea

Since I am sitting on hold on the phone, I was doing some thinking. What do you think about a weekly poll on a topic to see what people think about certain things?

New bipolar blog for parenting supporting bipolar disorder

Tomorrow, I will be revealing a new blog for parents support children with bipolar disorder.

Check back tomorrow.

Dave

The Free Seminar My Mom Went To And Who Called Me A Scammer

Yesterday, my mom told me she went to a free seminar on how to sell yourself if you have a mental illness. I was really proud of the fact that my mom went to this seminar. I really believe in continous improvement and learning. I personally attend many seminars and read up to 8 books a week on various subjects.

Anyway, my mom said it was great and gave her some good ideas on how to talk to people about your mental illness and put it in the best possible way. I think this is great. I am going to encourage her to write up an article about it. So far, she hasn't been writing anything yet because she is really busy working on catching up after being sick for almost 2 years. But she is going slow and not in a rush.

My mom said that at the seminar they talked about how to talk to yourself and that you shouldn't think of yourself has mentally ill rather having a mental illness. There's a difference. I have long preached that people have bipolar and are not bipolar. I don't say bipolar people, bipolar mom or is bipolar. I always personally say, has bipolar, like my mom has bipolar.

For some reason, it's personally offensive to me when people say a person is bipolar. I could write an entire report as to why this is but the bottom line is that the person is not the illness.

Yesterday morning someone wrote me:

"Dear David, Just some feedback on language of bipolarness. In your Part 8 of your mini course you state, "When you are supporting someone who IS bipolar.." We who HAVE bi-polar ARE NOT bi-polar, we are not our disease, we HAVE this disease. It is not merely a matter of semantics here. When someone has cancer they are not cancer, they have the disease. Same difference when having the disease of bi-polar. I take offense in being labeled bi-polar as being bi-polar. I have the damn disease, I am not the damn disease. Do you understand the difference? I hope this little note can be enlightening to you. Take care."
Mary

SIDE BAR-That's the first time I used color in my blog. I am a blogging pro now. Ha ha.

I don't know where that person read is bipolar on my site but it shouldn't be there. I have required everyone from my programmers, writers, my own mom, printers, web people, researchers, etc. to never speak like this.

It's interesting that I spoke with one woman who said that I should stop worrying about things like that and focus on real issues. This woman has bipolar herself. Her life is a wreck. Her daughter has bipolar and she ran away. So maybe this woman might want to think about her own personal philosophy.

Anyway, just think about this. And one last thing. I don't say bipolar child. I think this is really really bad. I don't even think it sounds right. Just say that and listen to it--bipolar child. I think saying this to your child labels them and creates problems. I have spoken to dozens of parents that agree with me.

Well, back to the seminar. My mom met someone who had her own business. And this really gets me excited. She has a profitable home business analyzing people's handwriting. This is a great business. I personally know someone who built a million dollar business doing this and has been on many tv shows.

Anyway, my mom felt great that she met this woman and she was a success. I might be profiling her soon. But the key things are, my mom went to a seminar, took notes, met people who she learned many things from and now is going to practice what she learned.

While I am on the subject, someone I spoke to two months ago started a business teaching people how to run. Startup cost 0. In profit the first month. He will make $400 to $500 a month doing something he loves to do.

On this note, I got an email from someone that made no sense:

I"t appears that you ma be taking advantage of individuals with Mental Illness. Especially your offers to make money from home, etc., I am a social worker for the Public Health Department and seriously hope this is not the case, as I may be forced to report you to internet fraud/security."

It's really really annoying when I get an email like this. EVERYONE that works with me says "Dave you really have to ignore these emails." I try but get mad. This woman, think I am running a scam because I talk of home businesses. I guess she wants people who have bioplar and and can't find a job or have one that pays too little to sit home and maybe beg for money or try to live off of the little bit you may get from disability.

It annoys me when I hear from someone that want you to almost not try to help yourself. When it comes to disability, I have talked to the people that run the social security department and they have told me over and over and over and over again that they want people to go out and try things and not just sit at home and collect disability. This is why you can earn money and be on disability and not lose it. If you have questions, call them up locally to get the amount.

They want you to try to get a part time job. They want you to better yourself. I think there are tons of businesses a person can start and work from home at earn a few hundreds dollars a month. I guess for someone people that's a scam but for the rest of us, people like my mom, a few hundred dollars is a lot of money.

Finally, I love the you are taking advantage of people. That implies that a person who has a mental illness can not think for him/herself and is easily manipulated. Just read what is implied. I will tell you what, I have spoken to dozens of really smart people with mental illness. They called me and asked about the businesses. Some people decided to try to get a part time job which I agreed with. They had their own brain and used it.

That entire email response was shameful and insulting to me and degrading to a person with bipolar disorder.

She is going to report me? For what?? Talking about home businesses? Isn't it amazing the kind of things that people write.

Does anyone think I am running a scam? Would I take all this time, create a site like bipolarcentral.com, take phone calls, go to seminars, write emails, write articles, write a blog, put my address online, post my real phone number, meet with people, volunteer at TWO groups that support those with depression and bipolar, find writers to write articles on bipolar and pay them in many cases, etc.

What do you think about this???

UPDATE! New Writer For Children

I am contracting with a woman who is a great supporter of children with bipolar disorder. Write now, most of the articles have been written by Stacey Adams who is also a great suppoter as well.

Anyway, Kelly, the new writer, will be writing several articles on the subject based on her personal experience. She has a child who has bipolar disorder.

She has some GREAT tips and tricks for helping her child and specifically on helping her child become independent.

I think you are going to love this information if you are supporting a child.

My goal is to expand and get more and more perspectives for those supporting children, adults and dealing with bipolar disorder personally.

So far, I have contracted to pay Kelly for 10 articles and if all goes well, I will be paying for more based on my budget constraints.

Dave

Hard To Get Info

Today I am having a really really hard time ordering a bunch of stuff that I want to include
in my new report on finding legal help when dealing with bipolar disorder. I found these
fact sheets written up that I can order. The shipping is almost $10 if you order just one. Which is okay because I know that shipping costs a lot even if it's small.

Anyway, I ordered a while ago, didn't get anything. Finally I got my package last week. It was missing a bunch of stuff. I called to find out how to get the missing stuff.

I couldn't even begin to figure out how to talk to a human. I had to hit 1, 2, 4, 2 and then leave a message. I called over and over and over again.

There seemed to be no way to speak to a human. I left several messages. No one called me back.
Finally I decided to call and keep hitting zero over and over again.

Finally I got a real live person who transfered me to someone in charge. That person wasn't in and I had to leave a message.

I just tried a minute agao AGAIN and finally spoke to the woman. She is resending my fact sheets for my review.

My plan is to buy them in bulk and them make available to everyone so they can save money.

The one thing that I have learned is that there are a lot of places out there that can help
but I think they have such limited staffs that it's almost impossible to get the information
that will help.

The good thing is with me, I pride myself in top notch service. If you order something from me,
and have any problems, I get right back to you. If something is lost, I resend it. I don't fool around.

I am going to write an article on how to use a blog

Last night after I started my blog, I called someone who works with me and is SUPER smart.
I said "hey take a look at my blog." She said, "What's that? A blog?" I was surprised. I thought
everyone knew what a blog was. But I was wrong.

I got a lot of emails from people asking what a blog was. Then I realized, lots of people don't know what they are. I am going to write up an article on what blogs are, how to use them, etc. This will be done in about 4 days.

Also, I have something on RSS which is even more confusing. That's coming in about a week.

Well I have to run and go help my friend Rob out move some stuff around his new condo.

Dave

In Finally Figured It Out

Now that I have been on with Sprint for an hour and sent two messages to my list, I figured out who that lady was. I sent two messages to see what the last name was of the person she was getting messages from.

Here is the deal. Someone on my list, was forwarding messages to her. Who knows, it could have been her. I have no idea. Anyway, she told me that the second message had a last name of so and so so (name omitted to protect the guilty) I looked that person up and found the person and removed her from my list.

I had to three way her to spring and she proceeded to curse me out and use all kinds of profanity about me texting her. I have never heard somone that can use so many double negatives and profanity at the same time. "I no ain't gonna do nothing to help uses." "You're a mother fXXXXX a-hole." Imagine having to listen to that???

WOW, what a conversation. I swear at one point I thought about getting rid of the mailiing list.

Well I have to go get something to eat. Hopefully this has been entertaining for you.

Dave

Insanity

Right now I am on hold with Sprint PCS. There is a woman on my list that says that I am
sending her text messages and "costing her so much money." I have no idea who this woman
is.

Here is the situation. About a month ago, I started gettting an email from someone that
said I am not Jessica stop sending me text messages. I wrote the person back and asked
who she was or what she was referring to.

Eventually I found out that she was on my list under some name I could not find. She was screaming and yelling at me to stop sending her messages. I asked her for her name and she said it's under someone else's name and that it was my job to figure it out. I thought the name
was Jessica so I searched over 24,000 records for the jessicas. There aren't that many. Know
had an email address that would send a text message. I then tried to use the email address the woman was writing me back in my search.

I couldn't find a thing. I then had someone who works for me look. We couldn't find out who this person was or how to stop sending her messages.

She claimed that I was sending her tons of messages and costin her a ton of money and that I was waking her up "all the time." Which of course is not true.

Anyway, I called the woman and asked if she had any other names that might. She screamed and yelled at me.

So I had to let her go.

I didn't hear from her for a while and now tonight I get emails saying that she is going to call the police on me for harrassment. I have no idea who this person is, how to take her off my list, etc.

I called her and she of course yelled at me and says I owe her money for all the text messages I sent her that she didn't want?????

Anyway, I decided to a) call sprint tonight and see if someone could help me or b), simply call the police myself and see what they say to do. I have no idea which police department to even call because I don't even know where the person is, what the person's name is, etc. I know if I call and even say the word bipolar I am sure they are going to laugh at me and think I am crazy.

The sad part is, I don't even know if this woman is wanting to get messages, wanting to waste my time, making this all up, etc.

I just don't know.

Itt's REALLY REALLY REALLY annoying. I have spent a ton of time searching for someone named Jessica to remove when such a person doesn't even exist.

You might not know this but really doing all this stuff can be beyond frustrating. I have people write me all kinds of mean things which are annoying to read.

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions on what I might do??? Nothing like hanging out on a Saturday night talking to Spring PCS customer service.

Dave

Things That Are Coming

I just want to let everyone know that I am working on a number of things.

1. There is going to be a mini course for those that have bipolar disorder and those supporting children. These will all be free and include not only 14 to 19 course lessons but also 50+ tips and also breaking news on bipolar disorder. This should be ready by the end of the month.

2. There is going to be information on finding good legal help when dealing with bipolar disorder (report), a course on getting low cost and affordable health care (course), becoming part of a study with bipolar disorder (book), natural aids with bipolar disorder (book and tape) and getting someone into a good drug rehab program (report).

3. I am also working on more news sources. A number of people commented that some of my last sources require that you pay to gain access to them. There are certain sources that I can't copy and paste what's in the subscription area to my site. But, the majority of news is free of charge. The new bipolar news souces will be free however.

4. I am also going to be adding 83 more articles to bipolarcentral.com on various topics. Many articles will be written on a first person basis. Articles for supporting children, dealing with depression if you have it, supporting someone who has depression, dealing with ADHD and bipolar disorder if you have it or you are supporting a child with it and what to do if you have bipolar disorder. This will be done in about 2 months. Lots of articles.

5. I am going to be possibly doing a local seminar on bipolar disorder for free probably towards the end of the year. I don't have all the details but basically you will come and there will be people presenting information on various subjects. If you are in the area, you should stop by.

6. I will be posting a few success stories on bipolarcentral.com. These will be based on people that filled out my survey to be profiled.

7. I am going to be answering certain questions (NON medical or legal ones) once a week or so in this blog. One day it dawned on me that I have to start leveraging my time or I will be working myself into the ground. At this point I get up to 400 emails a day and tons of phone calls. I am not sure why some people write me messages like, "Hey I just wrote you an hour ago, why haven't you writen me back?" The truth is, I have many things to do, businesses to run that help fund all this material I put out and personal things to do. Anyway, I will take the most common questions I get and answer them.

8. I will be announcing a new blog and information written in first person on how to support children . This will be coming next week.

9. I created a polling system. You will be able to tell me what areas you would like me to focus on so I can help the most people. I will let you know the link very soon.

That's it for now. Make sure you check back here really often. I am going to be writing a lot of stuff on this blog. This way I can reach more people.
Let me know what you think.

Dave