What to Do if You Think a Family Member Has Bipolar

bipolar disorder

Helping Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Dealing with a loved one's bipolar disorder isn't easy. This guide will help you navigate the challenges and support your friend or family unit fellow member.

How can you help someone with bipolar disorder?

Dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder tin be difficult—and non but for the person with the disease. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone around—especially family unit members and close friends. Information technology can put a strain on your relationship and disrupt all aspects of family unit life.

During a manic episode, y'all may accept to cope with reckless antics, outrageous demands, explosive outbursts, and irresponsible decisions. And once the whirlwind of mania has passed, information technology often falls on you to deal with the consequences. During episodes of depression, you may take to selection up the slack for a loved ane who doesn't have the energy to meet responsibilities at domicile or work.

The good news is that nigh people with bipolar disorder tin stabilize their moods with proper treatment, medication, and back up. Your patience, love, and understanding tin can play a significant role in your loved 1's treatment and recovery. Ofttimes, just having someone to talk to can make all the difference to their outlook and motivation.

But caring for a person with bipolar disorder tin also take a toll if yous neglect your own needs, so it's of import to find a balance between supporting your loved one and taking intendance of yourself.

Other ways to help someone with bipolar disorder

You can also support your loved 1 by:

Learning nigh bipolar disorder. Larn everything you tin nearly the symptoms and treatment options. The more yous know near bipolar disorder, the improve equipped you'll exist to assist your loved one and proceed things in perspective.

Encouraging the person to get assistance. The sooner bipolar disorder is treated, the improve the prognosis, so urge your loved 1 to seek professional assistance right away. Don't look to come across if they will become meliorate without treatment.

Being agreement. Let your friend or family unit fellow member know that you lot're at that place if they need a sympathetic ear, encouragement, or assistance with treatment. People with bipolar disorder are often reluctant to seek assistance considering they don't want to feel like a burden to others, so remind the person that you care and that you'll practice whatever you can to help.

Showing patience. Getting better takes time, fifty-fifty when a person is committed to handling. Don't look a quick recovery or a permanent cure. Be patient with the pace of recovery and ready for setbacks and challenges. Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process.

The importance of back up in bipolar disorder recovery

People with bipolar disorder practice better when they take back up from family members and friends. They tend to recover more chop-chop, feel fewer manic and depressive episodes, and accept milder symptoms.

Bipolar disorder and the family

Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can cause stress and tension in the home. On top of the challenge of dealing with your loved ane'south symptoms and their consequences, family members often struggle with feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and helplessness. Ultimately, the strain can cause serious relationship problems. Only in that location are better ways to cope.

The first pace to successfully dealing with bipolar disorder is for families to learn to accept the affliction and its difficulties. When you're feeling frustrated or guilty, remember that bipolar disorder isn't anyone'south fault. Accepting bipolar disorder involves acknowledging that things may never once again be "normal."

Treatment can make a huge departure for your loved one, but it may not take care of all symptoms or impairments. To avert disappointment and resentments, it's important to accept realistic expectations. Expecting besides much of your family fellow member can be a recipe for failure. On the other paw, expecting too little can also hinder their recovery, and then try to find a balance between encouraging independence and providing support.

Tips for coping with bipolar disorder in the family unit

Accept your loved one's limits. Your loved one with bipolar disorder can't control their moods. They can't just snap out of a depression or get a hold of themselves during a manic episode. Neither depression nor mania can be overcome through self-control, willpower, or reasoning. So telling your loved 1 to "Stop acting crazy" or to "Look on the bright side" won't help.

Accept your own limits. You can't rescue your loved one with bipolar disorder, nor can y'all force them to take responsibleness for getting ameliorate. You lot can offer support, but ultimately, recovery is in the hands of the person with the disease.

Reduce stress. Stress makes bipolar disorder worse, so endeavour to observe ways to reduce stress in your loved one's life. Ask how you can help and volunteer to have over some of the person'due south responsibilities if needed. Establishing and enforcing a daily routine—with regular times for getting upwards, having meals, and going to bed—can also reduce family stress.

Communicate openly. Open and honest communication is essential to coping with bipolar disorder in the family. Share your concerns in a loving manner, ask your loved 1 how they're feeling, and brand an effort to truly heed—even if you disagree with your loved ane or don't relate to what's beingness said.

Supporting a person with bipolar disorder

What y'all tin can say that helps:

• "You're not lone in this. I'1000 hither for you lot."
• "I understand that information technology'due south your affliction that causes these thoughts and feelings."
• "You may non believe it at present, but the way you're feeling can and will modify."
• "I may not exist able to understand exactly how you feel, but I intendance virtually you and desire to help and support you."
• "You lot are important to me. Your life is important to me."

Convincing a person with bipolar disorder to see a doctor

Aside from offer emotional support, the all-time fashion to aid your loved one with bipolar disorder is past encouraging and supporting handling. Often, that tin can exist more of a challenge than information technology sounds. Since people with bipolar disorder tend to lack insight into their status, it'southward not ever piece of cake to get them to a doctor. When your loved one is manic, they experience cracking and don't realize at that place's a problem. When your loved one is depressed, they may recognize something's wrong, merely often lack the energy to seek help.

If your loved ane won't acknowledge the possibility of bipolar disorder, don't argue near it. The thought may be frightening to them, so exist sensitive. Advise a routine medical checkup instead, or a doctor'due south visit for a specific symptom, such as insomnia, irritability, or fatigue—and so privately phone call ahead to tell the md of your concerns about bipolar disorder.

Things you tin can say that might assist:

• "Bipolar disorder is a real illness, like diabetes. Information technology requires medical treatment."
• "Yous're non to blame for bipolar disorder. Yous didn't cause it. It'southward non your fault."
• "You can feel better. There are many treatments that can help."
• "When bipolar disorder isn't treated, it usually gets worse."

Supporting a loved one during bipolar disorder handling

Once your friend or family member agrees to see a doctor, yous can assist by being a partner in treatment. Your support can brand a big difference in their handling success, so offering to be involved in whatever way your loved ane wants or needs.

Things you tin can do to support a loved ane's bipolar disorder treatment:

• Detect qualified doctors and therapists.
• Gear up appointments and go along.
• Offering your insights to the md.
• Monitor your loved one's moods.

• Learn about their medications.
• Track treatment progress.
• Watch for signs of relapse.
• Alert the doctor to issues.

Encourage your loved one to accept bipolar disorder medication

Medication is the cornerstone of treatment for bipolar disorder, and virtually people demand it to regulate their moods and avoid relapse. Despite the demand for medication, many people with bipolar disorder stop taking it. Some quit considering they're feeling better, others because of side effects, and yet others considering they savor the symptoms of mania. People who don't recollect they have a problem are specially likely to cease taking medication.

You can assistance your loved one stay on track by emphasizing the importance of medication and making sure they accept all prescriptions equally directed. Besides encourage your loved one to speak to their doc about any bothersome side effects.

Side effects can be very unpleasant if the dose of the medication is likewise low or too high, but a change in medication or dosage may solve the problem. Remind your loved one that abruptly stopping medication is unsafe.

Lookout man for warning signs of bipolar disorder relapse

Even if your loved ane with bipolar disorder is committed to handling, there may exist times when their symptoms get worse. Take activeness right away if you notice any troubling symptoms or mood changes. Point out the emerging bipolar symptoms to your loved one and alert the doctor. With swift intervention, yous may be able to forbid an episode of mania or depression from developing fully.

Mania alert signs and symptoms:

• Sleeping less
• Elevated mood
• Restlessness

• Speaking quickly
• Increment in activity level
• Irritability or aggression

Depression alarm signs and symptoms:

• Fatigue and lethargy
• Sleeping more
• Trouble concentrating

• Loss of interest in activities
• Withdrawing from others
• Change in appetite

Coping with mania and depression: Tips for family and friends

If information technology's not possible to prevent your loved one relapsing, in that location are things you can practice to cope during a manic or depressive episode.

Don't have bipolar symptoms personally. When in the midst of a bipolar episode, people often say or practice things that are hurtful or embarrassing. When manic, your loved 1 may be reckless, cruel, critical, and aggressive. When depressed, they may be rejecting, irritable, hostile, and moody. Information technology's hard not to accept such behaviors personally, but try to retrieve that they're symptoms of your loved 1's mental illness, non the consequence of selfishness or immaturity.

Be prepared for subversive behaviors. When manic or depressed, people with bipolar disorder may behave in subversive or irresponsible ways. Planning alee for how to handle such behavior tin can aid. When your loved i is well, negotiate a handling contract that gives you advance approval for protecting them when symptoms flare upwardly. Agree on specific steps you lot'll take, such as removing credit cards or motorcar keys, going together to the doctor, or taking accuse of household finances.

Know what to do in a crunch. Information technology'south important to program ahead for times of crisis and so you can act quickly and finer when it occurs. Having a crisis plan tin can help. Make sure to include a listing of emergency contact information for doctors, therapists, and other friends or family members who will help. Also include the address and phone number of the hospital where you'll take your loved one if necessary.

Call 911 (or your country's emergency services number) in an emergency. If your loved one with bipolar disorder is suicidal or trigger-happy, don't endeavor to handle the state of affairs alone. If you lot're worried that your loved i may hurt you lot, get to prophylactic and and then call the law. If your loved one is suicidal, don't get out them alone. Call for an ambulance and stay with your loved one until it arrives.

Supporting someone who is manic

• Spend fourth dimension with your loved one. People who are manic often feel isolated from other people. Spending fifty-fifty short periods of fourth dimension with them helps. If your loved one has a lot of energy, walk together. This allows your loved 1 to proceed on the move but still share your company.
• Answer questions honestly. However, exercise not fence or debate with someone during a manic episode. Try to avoid intense conversation.
• Don't take any comments personally. During manic episodes, your loved one may say or do things that are out of character, including focusing on negative aspects of others. Try to avoid arguments.
• Prepare easy-to-eat meals and drinks. It'due south oft hard for someone who is manic to sit down down to a repast, so try offering them sandwiches, apples, cheese crackers, and juices, for case.
• Avoid subjecting your loved one to a lot of activity and stimulation. It'south better to keep surroundings as repose every bit possible.
• Allow your loved one to sleep whenever possible. During periods of loftier energy, sleeping is hard but brusk naps taken throughout the mean solar day tin help. Sometimes a person who is manic may experience rested after only a few hours of sleep.

Taking intendance of yourself when a loved 1 has bipolar disorder

It's like shooting fish in a barrel to neglect your ain needs when you lot're supporting someone with a mental disease. But if yous don't take care of yourself, yous run the run a risk of burnout—and that won't help you lot or your loved one. When yous take care of yourself both emotionally and physically, you'll be able to better cope with the stress of caring for someone with bipolar disorder and have the energy you lot demand to back up your loved 1's recovery.

Focus on your own life. Supporting your loved one may involve some life adjustments, but make sure you lot don't lose sight of your own goals and priorities. Don't surrender friendships, plans, or activities that bring you joy.

Seek back up. Dealing with a loved one'south mental illness can be painful and isolating. Make certain you're getting the emotional support you lot need to cope. Talk to someone you trust virtually what you're going through. It can also assistance to get your own therapy or join a support group.

Set boundaries. Be realistic almost the amount of care y'all're able to provide without feeling overwhelmed and resentful. Prepare limits on what y'all're willing and able to do, and stick to them. Letting bipolar disorder take over your life isn't good for you for you or your loved i.

Manage stress. Stress takes a toll on the torso and mind, and then find ways to proceed it in bank check. Make sure you're eating right and getting enough sleep and exercise. Yous can also keep stress under control by practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation.

Enquire for help. If your friend or family member needs more than help than you tin give, ask for assistance from others. Turn to other relatives or close friends, or contact a bipolar disorder support organization.

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Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/helping-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm

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