Supporting a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar individuals sometimes alienate those closest to them because of their illness. But these people need help and support from friends and family to manage the illness and be an advocate for them when they are too sick to be an advocate for themselves. Here are a few ways I have discovered to support someone who is bipolar.

Learn about bipolar disorder.The very first step is education. Learn all you can about the signs and symptoms of the disorder. Once I was informed, the disease seemed less overwhelming. It is important that a person with bipolar disorder has someone who can be an advocate for them in the event they become too ill to act in their own best interest, and this is only possible if you know how the illness can manifest. I for one am glad I know so much about this disorder because I now believe I can act in the capacity of advocate if needed.

Learn about your loved one's medications and treatments, and support them in taking these medications, particularly what each medication does, and what the side effects can be. Many times throughout the course of treatment, the medication may need to be changed or adjusted, either because of changes in effectiveness or because of unpleasant side effects. It is helpful for your family member's treatment for them to have someone who can observe them as they take the new medication to see if they are improving or worsening. Because close family and friends will be more likely to know what is normal behavior for the person in question, they will usually be the first ones to notice that something is amiss.

If possible, try to attend one or two doctor's appointments with your family member so that you can learn about the individual treatment plan. Though not exactly pleasant, I personally found attending these doctor's appointments helpful because I could ask questions about the illness from a professional. It also made me realize the disease is just a disease like any other; it simply manifests in the brain instead of in the body. The doctor told me what I could expect and helped me to come up with an action plan in the event my family member had another bipolar episode.

If you notice that your family member is behaving in a way that may be dangerous to them, notify their doctor. You may have to have your family member committed to a hospital if they refuse to admit themselves. I offer some potential behaviors to watch out for in my article "When Should You Have Your Bipolar Family Member Committed?"

Enlist the help of a support group for both your family member and you. This way you will learn that you are not alone, and that the feelings you have are normal. You will see that it is normal to feel angry, frustrated, and helpless. The people in the support group can not only provide you with a sense of belonging, but they can help you to work through some of the feelings you have and provide you with some coping techniques that they may have used.

Although bipolar disorder, like other mental illnesses, carry a stigma with them that can be difficult to look past, it is important to treat the illness like you would any other illness that may afflict family members. It is also important because since this disorder is genetic, you may find that someone else in your family could be diagnosed with this illness, and if that's the case, you will want to know how to cope with their diagnosis as well.