Caring for and helping a loved one with bipolar disorder can be very difficult. The parents, children and friends of people with bipolar disorder often suffer. It can wreak havoc on their marriage, careers, friendships, finances and emotions. If you are helping your loved one through bipolar disorder, you know it is a difficult balancing act.
On one hand you have to be supportive and sympathetic; you cannot blame the person who has the illness. On the other hand, you cannot sacrifice all of your own needs to care for another person because you have to take care of yourself. Here are some tips that might help you cope when helping a loved one deal with bipolar disorder :
Learn. You have to read about bipolar disorder to better understand what your loved one is suffering. Go to the bookstore or library to get information. Get information from the internet. Find out what symptoms there are and what treatment is available.
Listen. Concentrate on what your loved one has to say. Do not think that you know what they are going through. Do not treat your loved one’s emotions as if they are all signs of illness. Just because loved one has bipolar disorder does not mean that they are a point of view is not to be considered.
Ask how you can help. During bad periods, daily tasks can be overwhelming to people with bipolar disorder. Reducing stress at home helps. If you offer your loved one for a ride to a doctor’s appointment or help with laundry or child care, it can mean a lot.
Keep track of symptoms. You will note emotional changes before your loved one does. Think about keeping records. Catching the changes in mood early and getting treatment for them it can make a big difference. However, you must walk in fine line. If you are too worrysome, your loved one might feel like you are spying.
Encourage your loved one stick with treatment. Be sure your loved one stays on medication and gets regular checkups. Your loved one may have to be told to eat well, get enough sleep and stay away from alcohol or drugs.
Do things together. People who are depressed usually pull away from the world. Encourage your loved one to get out and do things they enjoy. If they resist, do not force them, just ask a few days later.
Make an explicit plan. Bipolar disorder is an irregular illness so you should plan for bad times. Be explicit. Agree what to do when the symptoms get worse. Have a plan for when your loved one gets out of hand or has an emergency. If you both know what to do and what to expect of each other, you will feel more confident about the future.
Express your own concerns. Since your loved one’s behavior can have an effect on you, you have the right to talk about it. However, do not blame the other person or list all of their mistakes. Instead, look at how your loved one’s action make you feel and how they affect you. Since it can be very difficult subject, you might find it easier to discuss it with a therapist.
Accept your limits. Supporting your loved one can help them recover, bBut you have to remember that you cannot do anything yourself to get your loved one better. You cannot take care of them every second of the day so get other people involved. Ask for help from other family members or friends. Do not take the entire burden on yourself.
Take care of yourself. It is very easy to lose sight of your own needs when you are taking care of someone else but you have to stay healthy emotionally and physically. If you push yourself too far, you will just tire yourself out and not get to do anything for yourself. That is not good for anyone who looks after a bipolar person.
So you should take time out and ask friends or family members to help out so you can get away. Do things that relax you. Consider seeing a therapist on your own or joining a support group for loved ones of people with bipolar disorder.
