Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
of the Lehigh Valley

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This is the original version of the article authored by Dani B. and run in an edition of the Morning Call. At the time that it was composed, many of us took the opportunity to sign our names under that of the author. Dani, one for whom emotional distress is more than a topic for an article, stated respectfully, yet firmly, the convictions shared by many of us here in DBSA-LV. We were proud to add our signatures.

Letter to the Editor:

"It saddens me that fictional television shows such as NYPD Blue and ER do their homework on mental illness better than the Morning Call.

Two local women with mental illness have done deplorable things to their families. The Morning Call stated that they were bipolar. This simply feeds into the already existing stigma about individuals with this illness. These were both extreme cases.

By bringing this into the stories of Samantha Jude Hirt and Hollie Mae Gable it not only breached their confidentiality but also gives the impression that the more than 2.5 million adults with these disorders all go to that extreme. Yet the television shows mentioned earlier show the more realistic side of the illness - that bipolar sufferers are more inclined to hurt themselves than to hurt others.

People living with bipolar disorder tend to struggle with keeping relationships, keeping jobs, budgeting finances, insurance coverage, taking their medications, isolating themselves, and staying alive. More than 30,000 people commit suicide each year and 95% of those suffer from mental illness. It is the 11th leading cause of death in this country.

Upon the printing of articles of both women's stories I emailed the reporters who wrote them to educate them on the illness itself as well as the stigma that was fed into. I received one response saying "Thank you for your thoughts" and had two of my emails deleted without even being read.

Many people with mood disorders and mental illness are highly intelligent and creative people who struggle day to day to lead normal healthy lives.

Please visit www.dbsalliance.org for more information on mood disorders and what you can do to help yourself and loved ones and to help reduce the stigma."

Reduce Stress...

Carol Briney has 36 ways to reduce stress in your life. She is an holistic professional organizer, lecturer, trainer, and published author. Ms Briney has developed proven methods of simplifying one's life which results in less stress and improve's one's ability to concentrate on what really matters: personal well being, family, living in the moment. Ms Briney was one of the featured speakers at the recent DBSA conference held in Pittsburgh. Our representatives returned with the following list. To learn more about Carol Briney's philosophy and techniques, visit her web site.

1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say no to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time. Don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget. Don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups, like an extra car key in your wallet.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the kid in you every day.
16. Carry uplifting reading with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Everyday, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to your creator on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until its time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with positive people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite poems on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Lord".
27. Laugh. Out Loud and Often.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego
33. Talk less, listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of ten things you're grateful for.