The role of loved ones is essential in helping bipolar people, but it is above all bipolar that is at the heart of the solution.
If you have a friend or family member with bipolar disorder, you know that the condition can be a challenge. Erratic behaviors and extreme mood swings can be difficult for the person with the condition and for those around them.
It is important for people with bipolar disorder to understand how to deal with their condition. However, it is also important that the people around them, such as friends or family members, know how to Helping a person with bipolar disorder when they are going through a manic or depressive episode.
Below is a list of ways you can help a loved one with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive psychosis, is a mental illness that causes extreme changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These changes affect a person's ability to perform daily tasks. Bipolar disorder most often develops in adolescents or young adults, and the average age of onset is 25. According to the Fondation Fondamental, nearly 2-3% of adults in France suffer from bipolar disorders, which represents more than 1 million bipolar people in France.
There are six main types of bipolar disorders. Although they have some similar symptoms, these symptoms differ in severity and treatment.
Here are the six types, from the most severe to the least severe:
The main symptoms of bipolar disorder are intense emotional phases called “mood episodes.” These episodes can range from extreme joy or happiness (mania) to profound sadness or despair (depression). Sometimes people with bipolar disorder experience both joy and sadness (mixed condition). To find out more about bipolar disorder it's hither.
“Bipolar patients are at the center of their treatment, not the family member or the psychiatrist.”
When people with bipolar disorder experience significant mood changes (depression or a manic phase), they generally experience significant changes in their energy and activity levels, sleep patterns, and other daily behaviors. Psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, may also occur during episodes of intense mood. They can be scary for both the person with bipolar disorder and for those around them.
Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime; there is no silver bullet in 2021. While many people with bipolar disorder may remain without symptoms for a period of time, symptoms can return at any time. Sometimes people with bipolar disorder get anxious during these symptom-free periods, not knowing when the next mood episode will happen.
Living with bipolar disorder is not easy. But your support can make a positive difference in the life of a bipolar person, especially during mood episodes.
The more you know about bipolar disorder, the more able you will be to help your loved one. For example, understanding the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes can help you respond appropriately during major mood changes. You will find a lot of information about our blog but you can also join support groups like The one if for example.
You don't always need to provide answers or advice to be helpful. In fact, just listening if possible without judgment is one of the best things you can do for a bipolar person, especially when they want to talk to you about the challenges they're facing.
Offering your acceptance and understanding can go a long way in helping that person feel more comfortable with their condition. What's important is to stay calm and avoid arguments to keep the conversation channel open.
People with bipolar disorder sometimes feel like the whole world is against them. Reassuring the person that you are on their side can help them feel more stable. You don't have to approve of the person's behaviors and actions, but telling them that you will always support them can be very beneficial.
People with bipolar disorders often feel devalued or hopeless (in depressive phases), so recalling their strengths and qualities can help them get out of their depressive episodes more quickly.
Treatment for people with bipolar disorders generally consists of numerous therapy sessions with a psychiatrist & a therapist (psychologist or not). While you don't necessarily have to attend these appointments, you can help someone with bipolar disorder by accompanying them and waiting for them until the end of their appointment. Financial support may also be welcome in some cases to pay for sessions.
These appointments can sometimes seem complicated or scary for people with bipolar disorder. Having someone who can support and talk to them can help reduce the stress or anxiety they may be experiencing.
Bipolar disorders can be unpredictable. It is important to have an emergency plan in place during severe depressive or manic episodes. This plan should include what to do if the person feels suicidal during a depressive episode, or if they lose control during a manic episode. It is best to define this plan with your loved one during a stable phase.
You should also have daily plans that can help the person get through the period between extreme episodes. These plans may include coping mechanisms, such as what the person can do when a mood change is coming. Short-term help with household chores or other daily activities when the person is in the midst of depression. Make these plans when the person is in a calm and stable state of mind. It is best to write down what you decided together in writing so that both of you can refer to it easily.
People with bipolar disorders can sometimes become very impulsive when they are in the manic phase of their illness. When your loved one is doing well, they may ask you to keep money or credit cards for themselves, which will minimize the potential financial risks they may inflict on themselves during a manic phase.
If you agree to do so, be prepared to face some hostility when your loved one “demands” that you hand over their credit cards, bank books, or cash. Ask yourself in advance if you can cope with this situation before agreeing to support your loved one in this way.
Your support can be very helpful to someone with bipolar disorder. However, you need to know when to take a step back and let a health or mental health professional step in. We have created a form to help you with specialized support in bipolarity. While people with bipolar disorders are capable of making conscious decisions, you need to understand when their moods and behaviors are out of their control.
Also, don't take it personally if the person experiences a setback while you're trying to help. Remember that you are both doing the best you can.
It can be difficult for people with mental disorders to understand what they are going through. People with bipolar disorders may not know why their moods are changing. Trying to understand what the person is going through by offering your support can make a big difference in how they feel.
When caring for someone with bipolar disorder, it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself. But before you help someone, you need to make sure you have the time and emotional capacity to do so. Otherwise it is better to protect yourself so as not to fall down with the person you want to help.
If you decide to help someone, make sure you get enough sleep, eat properly, and exercise regularly. By keeping yourself healthy, you can help your bipolar loved one more effectively.
Bipolar disorder is a long-lasting condition, so the symptoms will come and go throughout a lifetime. This disorder is unpredictable, with periods without symptoms alternating with episodes of extreme mood. For the sake of the person with bipolar disorder, try to remain patient and optimistic. This can help keep them on the path to a full and healthy life.
No one is better at managing bipolar disorders than specialists trained to treat them (psychiatrist, psychologist, and therapist). If you're helping someone with bipolar disorder and you feel like things are getting too much to handle, see a doctor or mental health specialist right away. You can also consult a psychiatrist for you, it does not hurt. Call 17 or text 112 if the person becomes violent or threatens to harm themselves or others.
To remember
Helping someone with bipolar disorder can be a challenge and not the least of them all. A person's mood is unpredictable and it can be hard to know how to respond.
But you can make a huge difference in the life of your bipolar friend or loved one. Knowing that he can count on you can help him stick to his treatment and stay positive. It can also be rewarding for you to know that you are helping your friend or loved one deal with the ups and downs of life.