Q: You have already taken the first step by explaining to your friends and family the basics of bipolar disorder. Now, encourage friends and family to take the extra step and thoroughly research your disorder on their own time. Ask them to read more on the disorder to help them understand it better. Encourage them to look at websites like the International Bipolar Foundation, which provide helpful information online. Additionally, if you are comfortable with it, suggest that they come to appointments with you. Speaking directly to the doctor about any questions or concerns can help them broaden their understanding of bipolar disorder. People who are feeling depressed sometimes isolate themselves. Let people know what they can do if you're struggling with a depressive episode at any point. Say something like, "Sometimes when I'm depressed I need extra social support. I would appreciate it if you could be there for me when I'm feeling down." People are often unsure what to do when someone is depressed. Let people know what you need specifically. For example, say something like, "I don't need to be coddled or talk about how I'm feeling a lot. Just having someone around to distract me is helpful. We could just watch a movie together." You want people to understand the warning signs that you're experiencing mania and depression. This can help them identify when you may need extra support. Begin with something like, "There are some signs I'm experiencing mania or depression that I think you should know about." To explain depression, say something like, "If I seem really quiet and disinterested in social events, I may be experiencing depression." To explain mania, say something like, "If I seem really energetic and unusually talkative, I may be going into a manic episode." Stress can worsen Bipolar Disorder, so let people know when you need a low-stress environment. For example, say something like, "When I'm depressed, I can't handle a lot of stress. Don't feel like I'm being rude if I cancel plans more frequently. Even small things, like going to see a movie, can cause me a lot of stress." Many people with Bipolar Disorder have certain restrictions. You may have to stay away from alcohol or certain foods, for example, due to medication. Let people know how they can support your lifestyle restrictions. For example, say something like, "Alcohol tends to make my depression worse, so I don't drink. I would appreciate it if you didn't invite me out to bars, because I tend to feel left out when other people are drinking."
A: Ask that friend and family members educate themselves. Ask for social support. Discuss your symptoms with family and friends. Talk about the importance of stress reduction. Request they support any restrictions on your lifestyle.

Q: Unlike developing for the web, creating an operating system requires a strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, computer hardware, and resource management. People get degrees in this stuff, so don't expect to write an entire operating system after reading an online tutorial! Harvard's Intro to Computer Science course is available online through EDX at no cost. Once you've got a solid foundational understanding of computer science, the next step is to master C and/or C++. Like learning about computer science, mastering a language is not optionalyou won't be able to code an operating system if you can't write solid applications. If you're brand new to C, check out Dartmouth's C Programming: Getting Started course, which is free through EDX. Once you complete that course, you can take the next course in the series: C Programming: Language Foundations. Then, move on to subsequent courses like Modular Programming and Memory Management and Pointers and Memory Management. Assembly languages are low-level languages designed to communicate with different processors. Since assembly is different for different processor types (e.g., x86 assembly Language for Intel, AMD, VIA, and other processors), you'll need to learn the version for the type of processor you're coding for. This open-source book, if read in its entirety, can give you a solid enough understanding for building an operating system. The Art of Assembly Language is a highly-recommended book about assembly available both on and offline. You should also do a lot of research on the type of processor(s) on which your operating system should run. The manuals for processor architecture can easily be found using a Google search ("Intel Manuals," "ARM manuals," etc.). OS tutorials will walk you through the process of creating a basic operating system. This gets you used to the process and helps you figure out if there are any pieces you're missing. Once you've completed a tutorial or two, you'll be well on your way to creating your very own operating system. Bare Bones is a tutorial that helps you write your first simple 32-bit kernel. After completing the tutorial, the next step is to use Meaty Skeleton to structure your own operating system. Linux from Scratch is an online book that walks you through creating your own Linux operating system. Operating systems from 0 to 1 is a free book about creating various operating systems from start to finish. What do you want your operating system to do? How should it look? Do you really need to write an entire operating system or are you just looking to create a certain look for your desktop? These are all things to consider before beginning to code. Consider developing with a team of other programmers. Having a team of developers working on the project will cut the development time significantly. Add your project goals, plans, and questions to your public repository so it's easy for others to help you.
A:
Take some basic Computer Science courses. Learn a high-level programming language like C. Learn an assembly language. Complete an operating system tutorial. Figure out your operating system goals.