Bipolar disorder has significant bearing on millions of people the world over. The worst part about this disorder is that the patients of bipolar disorder, their family members and friends are affected by this disorder. If someone who is very close to your heart has a mood disorder, you are bound to feel helpless, overwhelmed, confused and hopeless. You may feel hurt, angry, frustrated and resentful. In some cases, you may also have feelings of guilt, shame and isolation, or feelings of sadness, exhaustion and fear. It is important that you realize that the sufferer is bound to feel so much worse and it is important to know how to help them cope with this disorder.
Important points
Remember that your loved one’s illness is not yours or your loved one’s fault.
You cannot make your loved one well, but you can give support, understanding and hope.
Every individual experiences a mood disorder with different symptoms.
The ideal way to find out what your loved one needs from you is by asking direct questions.
Incorrect notions
Bipolar disorder is a treatable illness that affects the person’s brain. It is a real illness like diabetes or asthma. Some people have the incorrect notion that it is a character flaw or personal weakness attributable to the patient or their family. It is not. Bipolar depression is influenced by genetics as well as environmental factors just as many other illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
Professional assistance
You should never have to ask the patient questions about their disorder. If you really want to help, educate yourself about bipolar disorder, its symptoms and its treatments. You can read books on bipolar disorders or look online where there are lots of websites focusing solely on bipolar disorder. Taking it upon yourself to learn about the disorder lets your loved one know that you care enough to look for the information and is a way to further support them.
Giving motivation and hope for the future can go a long way in helping the bipolar patient overcome their disorder. It is advisable that you do not try to “fix” your loved one’s problems on your own. You should motivate them to seek professional assistance and do research about the illness on their own.
Attitude and beliefs
Bipolar disorder affects a person’s attitudes and beliefs. When the patient says things such as “I don’t think anything good can happen to me,” “No one really cares about me,” or “I am a loser,” you should know that these kinds of statements are symptoms of the illness. With the help of treatment, your friend or family member will realize that this type of thinking is not reality.
Realistic expectations
If you want your loved one to get freedom from bipolar disorder you have to have realistic expectations. They will recover with the passage of time but it will not happen overnight so you have to be patient and keep a positive, hopeful attitude. It is very important that you take care of yourself as well because, unless you are fit mentally and physically, you will not be able to help your loved one. You can get help for caring for the patient from friends or relatives.
Your role in treatment
Motivate your loved one to seek treatment. They may not listen to your advice the first time, so you have to explain that treatment is not personality altering and can relieve symptoms.
Assist them in preparing for doctors appointments by putting together a wide array of questions. If you can, make time to go along with your loved one to doctor.
Motivate your loved one to get a second opinion if the doctor you are seeing is not meeting your needs.
Assist them in maintaining records of symptoms, treatment and progress in a diary.
Help them stick with the prescribed treatment plan.
Depression causes feelings of unbearable sadness, guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness. You cannot treat these types of problems with medication alone; they require emotional support from loving family members and friends. No patient truly wants to feel this way but they cannot control the symptoms or the disease.
