Helping a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder


Dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can be difficult—and not just for the person with the illness. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone around—especially family members and close friends. During a manic episode, they must cope with reckless antics, outrageous demands, explosive outbursts, and irresponsible decisions. And once the whirlwind of mania has passed, it often falls on them to deal with the consequences. During episodes of depression, they may have to pick up the slack for a loved one who doesn’t have the energy to meet responsibilities at home or work.

In addition to traditional medical treatment by qualified medical professionals (which has no substitutes), we also tried some other “natural” ways of managing ups and downs of Bipolar Disorder Symptoms. Book Conquer Stress, Depression & Anxiety was really helpful in maintaining “normal” mood levels.

Probably the best solution to stop anxiety, panic attacks and phobias is Linden Method. We strongly recommend you to try it. It’s a comprehensive and natural method to deal with many symptoms that accompany Bipolar Disorder.

The good news is that most people with bipolar disorder can stabilize their moods with proper treatment, medication, and support—so if your friend or family member has bipolar disorder, take hope. Furthermore, you can play a significant
role in his or her recovery.

Here are some ways you can help a person with bipolar disorder:

• Learn about bipolar disorder. Educate yourself about bipolar disorder. Learn everything you can about the symptoms and treatment options. The more you know about bipolar disorder, the better equipped you’ll be to help your loved one and keep things in perspective.
• Encourage the person to get help. The sooner bipolar disorder is treated, the better the prognosis, so urge your friend or family member to seek professional help right away. Don’t wait to see if the person will get better without treatment.
• Be understanding. Let your friend or family member know that you’re there if he or she needs a sympathetic ear, encouragement, or assistance with treatment. Remind the person that you care and that you’ll do
  whatever you can to help.
• Be patient. Getting better takes time, even when a person is committed to treatment. Don’t expect a quick recovery or a permanent cure. Be patient with the pace of recovery and prepare for setbacks and challenges.
  Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process.

I wish you and loved ones health, happiness and success in overcoming Bipolar Symptoms. Please scroll down to next posts to read more….

Bipolar symptoms usually require long-term treatment method as it is a continual and relapsing type of psychological disease. Individuals talk with a skilled doctor to successfully traverse the twists as well as turns of the illness. Medicines are often recommended to avoid the start of manic or even depressive symptoms and to manage its indicators. Medication on its own doesn’t assure total healing. To ensure efficient remedy, drugs are put together with some other types of treatment for example having the therapy, making lifestyle changes and signing up for bipolar help group. The illness support groups are basically neighbors of bipolar patients in addition to their families, which is designed to spread awareness as well as provide guidance amongst folks suffering from bipolar illness.

Treatment Options

Doctor prescribed medicines such as anti-anxiety, sedatives, antidepressant, antipsychotics, calcium channel blockers and other mood stabilizing drugs to aid individuals control intense mood problems. Mental health remedies, that include Gestalt therapy, psychoanalytic remedy, talk therapy and also loved ones and relationship mental health care, are recommended to aid increase the person’s compliance to their medicines and stop issues like getting nervousness problems along with other behavior disorders.

With respect to the severity of the circumstance, psychological hospitalization could be suitable for patients that require 24-hour attention. Hospital programs are usually getting well-known. In this way, individuals consent to participate in treatment method programs throughout the day yet go back to their very own homes through the night. Along with the normal therapy schedule, involvement to community groupings like bipolar support groups will be usually suggested.

What are Support Groups?

Bipolar symptoms treatment options present particular challenges not just involving sufferers but also on their households. With the ability to consult with people who are undergoing similar experiences provides them the perfect support system where they could share tips and local resources for the finest therapy available in their area. Bipolar support groups are fundamentally made with those who are coping with bipolar disorder. The primary focus of social groups like bipolar support groups is to share awareness and provide of positive reinforcements in case you are coping with the illness.

Impact of Bipolar Support Groups to Treatment

Bipolar support groups give out help and encouragement to people who are living with bipolar disorder. They support bipolar disorder patients as well as their families by educating them and guiding them through treatment.

Participation to social support groups like bipolar support groups allows bipolar sufferers to become survivors. Surrounding them with people who are also suffering similar bipolar experiences helps establish a strong supportive environment that will continuously and consistently motivate them to comply with the requirements of their treatment. This way, support groups give bipolar patients a greater chance of living a normal life.

Obtaining a Bipolar Support Group

Contacts for bipolar support groups in the USA are available at the local offices of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Check out for the listings of local NAMI chapters as well as its local chapter websites. Also, you may check the support group listings at the local offices of US Department of Health and Social Services as well as the National Mental Health Association.

Within Canada, valuable tips range from the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association. For other countries, you could look at some overseas help organization like the Manic Depression Fellowship, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, the Dutch Association for Manic-Depressives and the German Society for Bipolar symptoms. Check out the particular Worldwide Support Organization List for additional bipolar support group connections and also their facts.

Would like to see more on bipolar support groups, then visit Ken P Doyle’s site on how to pick the best bipolar treatment obtainable.

nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml

Mania: (this is NOT the same thing as feeling good.)
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness

* Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood

* Extreme irritability

* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another

* Distractibility, can’t concentrate well

* Little sleep needed

* Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers

* Poor judgment

* Spending sprees (shopaholic behavior)

* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual

* Increased sexual drive (greater than normal increase)

* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications

* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior

* Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood

* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex

* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”

* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

* Restlessness or irritability

* Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep

* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain

* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury

* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong.

Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Signs and symptoms that may accompany suicidal feelings include:

* talking about feeling suicidal or wanting to die

* feeling hopeless, that nothing will ever change or get better

* feeling helpless, that nothing one does makes any difference

* feeling like a burden to family and friends

* abusing alcohol or drugs

* putting affairs in order (e.g., organizing finances or giving away possessions to prepare for one’s death)

* writing a suicide note

* putting oneself in harm’s way, or in situations where there is a danger of being killed (AKA passive suicide – making no attempt to jump out of the way when a bus or train may run them over)

rapid cycling:

When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness and is more common among women than among men.

rapid cycling is very difficult for me to deal with. i swing back and forth between mania and depression at such a fast rate that it can be difficult to be in control and alarming.

music: Andrea Boccelli Cieli Di Toscana

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Abnormally low periods (depressed, lethargic, intense sadness or anxiety) where you slow down, sleep more, eat more/less than normal, or practice some form of self harm.

Your mood can change within minutes, hours days or even weeks.

If you have any of the symptoms of bipolar disorder it is extremely important to go to your doctor right away, as you will need to be put on some form of medication. People with Bipolar Disorder are at a high risk of suicide.

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?id=457&type=doc&cn=Bipolar%20Disorder

Good luck. If he is bipolar, he will need a lot of support.

Depressive symptoms:
-Loss of appetite
-Loss of motivation
-Crying, feeling sad
-Loss of concentration.
ETC and all the normal depressive symptoms.

But if you want a more comprehensive insight then you should google it. And, I know. LOL

However no one here or you can say for sure. She needs to see a psychiatrist to find out and get treatment for whatever it is.

Having a Bipolar Spouse is not an uncommon instance in married people’s lives. Although a bipolar disorder may in ways affect the relationship, it can still be handled by strong couples. This disease can prove how couples love and understand each other because of the challenges it offers from the moment of its detection.

If you found out that you have a bipolar spouse, ask what things you should do to help him or her deal with it. Following are the “don’ts” (because the don’ts may be more important to consider as most partners react negatively upon receiving this diagnosis) in handling this kind of situation:

•    Do not judge them. Remember that this disease is a chemical imbalance which is out of their control. It is as if they are diagnosed with other biochemical diseases, such as diabetes. They do not need your opinion toward this disorder, they need your support.
•    Do not have pity for your situation. Your spouse may already be feeling guilty because of his/her burden to you. You would not want to add up to that depression as it might be dangerous for his/her condition.
•    Do not force them what option of recovery to choose. Discuss the matter with them, but allow them to make the decision. Giving ultimatums or orders would only increase their stress level, and take note that they cannot control chemical imbalances in their system.
•    Do not let yourself be the boss to handle the situation. Although you may know what is good for them, you should not start to take away or hide things from them. It will only make them feel alienated and controlled, increasing their levels of depression and desperation. It is best to consult a professional counselor about this to inform you of proper techniques. It would be better to ask your bipolar spouse to go with you, but if s/he would not, you can go alone anyway.
•    Do not be over protective. Do not handle their disorder for them because it will just wear you out. Let them be responsible for their own sickness, but you need to be there to support them.
•    Do not pretend to understand their situation because you do not. People having mood disorders are often extra sensitive to attitudes and reactions of other people so be completely honest with them. Tell them you do not know how they feel, but you are ready to help any way you can.

Following the reminders above will greatly help in handling this situation. You just need passion, sincerity, and understanding toward your partner so you can go through life with a bipolar spouse.

There are many examples of drugs used for one thing found out later to be useful for something entirely different, for example amantadine use in influenza was found useful for parkinson’s disease.