Having a family member with bipolar disorder can be difficult and requires patience and compassion. When dealing with bipolar disorder with a family member, it's very important that you support the family member, take care of yourself physically and emotionally, and educate yourself about bipolar disorder.
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Part 1 of 3: Supporting Your Family Members
Step 1. Understand that some of the behavior of the family member is related to the disorder
For example, someone who talks about himself selfishly or boasts is usually seen as arrogant or self-absorbed. This kind of behavior in someone with bipolar disorder is a sign of mania, as are other risky behaviors that can be just as unpleasant for you. Recognizing that this is a symptom of bipolar disorder and not an intentional behavior by the sufferer will help you understand the moods of your family member as it relates to their illness. People with bipolar disorder can also feel angry or sad in a healthy way.
One way that you can better understand a family member's illness and show support for it is to simply ask about his or her experience with the illness. However, make sure that you do so sensibly and have identified whether the person with bipolar disorder feels uncomfortable discussing it with you before talking to him/her. If this step seems too daunting, you can simply ask him how he's doing and gather more information about what he's going through at the moment
Step 2. Support your family member in their mental health care
Since the best treatment for bipolar disorder is medication and therapy, it's important that you be supportive of family members who are undergoing treatment. One way to get involved is to participate in psychotherapy that your loved one is going through. Family therapy can be a very helpful resource in supporting someone with bipolar disorder.
- Communicate with health care providers who care for your family members. If the loved one has agreed to talk to the therapist or treating doctor, you can tell them about any possible problems or concerns that are emerging. You can also get more information on how to help your family members.
- If the family member is not undergoing mental health treatment, you can encourage him or her to receive treatment. PsychologyToday.com. and the American Psychological Association (APA) are resources that can be of great help. You can find a therapist or psychiatrist in your area who specializes in bipolar disorder. But be careful not to force the treatment on your family member if he/she is in doubt (unless he/she is a potential danger to himself or others); this can frighten him and can damage your relationship with him.
Step 3. Assist by monitoring patient compliance with medication
Avoiding taking medication is common among people with bipolar disorder because the "spike" of mania can be overwhelming for them. If you notice that a member of your family is not compliant with taking medication, the first step is to notify the psychiatrist or GP who treats them as soon as possible. Most likely your doctor will want to talk to your loved one and tell you how to continue this treatment. If you can't talk to the doctor, you can persuade the family member to take his medication, or provide a reward (such as a special treat or doing something he enjoys with him) if he agrees to comply with the medication.
Step 4. Help the person during an episode of mania or hypomania
If you notice any signs that your family member is having an episode, it's important that you persuade him or her to reduce the risk of potential harm.
- Negotiate with the sufferer to reduce harm during risky behavior (gambling, wasting money, drug abuse, reckless driving).
- Keep children, people with disabilities and other weak people away so the behavior of people with bipolar disorder doesn't bother them.
- Talk to the doctor caring for the loved one or call an ambulance or a suicide hotline if the sufferer is at risk of endangering themselves or others
Step 5. Make a plan for dealing with a crisis that may occur
It is important that you have a work plan in place to deal with emergencies in order to de-escalate a crisis effectively. Save the contact info of important relatives who can help as well as doctor's phone numbers and hospital addresses. Don't just store this information in your phone because your phone may run out of battery; You should keep these numbers in writing and carry them with you (such as in your wallet or purse) at all times. Give a copy to the family member. You can even develop this plan together with him when your family members' emotions are stable.
Step 6. Help your family members avoid triggers for bipolar disorder
A trigger is a behavior or situation that increases the likelihood of a poor outcome, in this case being an episode of mania, hypomania or depression. Possible triggers include substances such as caffeine, alcohol and other drugs. Triggers can also include negative feelings such as stress, an unbalanced diet, irregular sleep (sleeping too much or too little), and interpersonal conflict. Your loved ones will have their own special triggers. You can help by persuading your family members not to take these actions, or by helping them prioritize their responsibilities to reduce stress levels.
- Critics and critical people are common bipolar triggers.
- If you live with a family member who has bipolar disorder, you can remove substances such as alcohol from your home. You can also try to develop a relaxing environment by adjusting lighting, music and energy levels.
Step 7. Practice using compassion
The more you have insight into bipolar disorder, the more you can understand and accept it. While dealing with this disorder in your own family may still be a challenge, your care and concern can go a long way in supporting your family members.
One way to show that you care is to simply let the family member know that you are there for them and that you want to support their recovery. You can also offer to listen if he wants to talk about his illness
Part 2 of 3: Taking Care of Yourself
Step 1. Use empathy
Putting yourself in the shoes of a family member with bipolar disorder is a very helpful way to increase your understanding of their behavior. In addition, this step can also reduce your negative feelings or reactions to the sufferer's mental health. Allow yourself to imagine what it's like to wake up each morning without knowing whether that day you will plunge into the abyss of depression or soar with insane energy levels.
Step 2. Focus on your own mental health
Caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder can lead to symptoms of stress and depression. Remember that you can only begin to help others if you take care of your own mental and physical health first. Be aware of your own behavior and underlying feelings about your family members.
- Give up control. It's important that you understand and remind yourself (either out loud or inwardly) that you can control the behavior of your family members. He has a health problem that you can't really fix.
- Divert your attention to focusing on your own needs. For example, you can make a list of your personal goals and start working towards them.
- Use a variety of resources to deal with problems. Resources for dealing with problems are specific ways of dealing with certain problems and these ways are important for self-care. Strategies for dealing with problems can include activities that you enjoy, such as reading, writing, art, music, nature, fitness or sports. Therapeutic activities can also help with self-care including relaxation techniques (such as progressive muscle relaxation), meditation, journaling, mindfulness training, and art therapy. Another way to deal with problems is to distance yourself or free yourself from stressful situations when they arise.
Step 3. Consider getting professional help
If you find it difficult to deal with the symptoms of bipolar disorder that your family members face. Maybe it's time for you to get some therapy for yourself. Evidence so far shows that receiving family therapy, not just knowledge, can help individuals (especially caregivers/family) cope with the situation of having a family member with bipolar disorder.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Step 1. Realize that bipolar disorder is a biologically based condition
This means that bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component and tends to run in families. Therefore, suffering from the disease is not the fault of your family members. Bipolar disorder is not something that the sufferer can control with willpower alone.
Step 2. Understand the different symptoms of bipolar disorder
There are two types of bipolar disorder, Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder. It is important to identify which type of bipolar your family member has in order to understand the specific symptoms and behaviors they experience.
- Bipolar I disorder is characterized by people having episodes of mania that usually last for a week or more. Some of the symptoms of a manic episode include: increased mood/irritability, overconfidence, reduced desire to sleep, increased intensity of speech, easily distracted, increased purposeful activities and risky behaviors (such as gambling or having sex without protector with several different partners).
- Bipolar II disorder is characterized by at least one major depressive episode as well as at least one hypomanic episode (similar to a manic episode, but less severe and can last for at least four days).
Step 3. Understand how bipolar disorder is treated
Bipolar disorder is usually treated with a combination of medication and therapy. Psychiatrists or general practitioners often prescribe mood stabilizers such as Lithium to reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and other health professionals usually help people with bipolar disorder manage and manage their symptoms. The types of therapy that are usually carried out include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy.
Step 4. Learn about the common effects of bipolar disorder on families
Family members of a person with bipolar disorder can feel overwhelmed and lack energy. In addition, the husband or wife of people with bipolar disorder may lack support and many do not seek help.
If a family member believes that the person with bipolar disorder can control their illness, this can lead to feelings of burden and dissatisfaction in the relationship
Tips
Understand what is meant by the right of confidentiality. Remember that you can usually talk to your family member's health care provider if the family member is a minor under your care or if he or she has agreed to a letter of consent. However, if neither of these conditions is met, the therapist may refuse to talk to you to protect the patient's right to confidentiality
Warning
- If you can, in a crisis, try to call a health professional or a suicide prevention hotline before engaging the police. There have been several incidents when intervention by the police in cases involving persons with a mental crisis ended in acts that caused trauma or death. If possible, involve someone you believe has the experience and training to specifically deal with mental health or psychological illness.
- If you or a member of your family has ever thought about hurting yourself or someone else, please seek help immediately by calling 118 or 119. You can also call a hospital, health professional or suicide prevention hotline at 500-454
