How to Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder
With the proper care, your loved ones can successfully control their symptoms and deal with the highs and lows of their disease. Bipolar disorder is a treatable condition. Despite this, watching a loved one struggle with the effects of bipolar illness is still challenging. But how to help someone with bipolar disorder?
If someone suffers from this condition, you know the difficulties that might arise from bipolar disorder’s symptoms. Significant mood swings and challenging behaviors can significantly affect the person’s life and yours as a loved one who is only trying to help. Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic is here to help!
10 Ways to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is challenging to live with. However, especially during mood swings, your assistance might make a big difference in the life of someone who has the condition. Ten actions you can take to support a person with bipolar disorder are listed below:
1. Learn About Bipolar Disorder
Learning about bipolar disorder will help you understand how to support someone who has it. Discover the complexities of this mental health issue, such as the causes, signs, and ways to spot behavioral patterns in bipolar disorder. The secret to successfully assisting your loved one in learning to cope is being able to recognize these things early on.
2. Listen to your loved one
You don’t necessarily have to offer solutions or counsel to be helpful. One of the most extraordinary things you can do for someone with bipolar disorder is to listen to them, especially when they want to talk to you about their struggles.
As you listen, keep in mind that your mood and the words you use also matter. Even if you cannot comprehend what they are going through entirely, you should refrain from making judgmental or angry statements.
3. Get Active
Participating in your loved one’s treatment may benefit you, but do so with the knowledge that the issue is not your responsibility.
Typically, medication and treatment are used in conjunction to treat bipolar disorder. The nature of the ailment, however, can occasionally make the course of treatment a little unpredictable. Being present for your loved one at those times might be exceedingly crucial because mood swings may make treatment adherence more challenging.
4. Understand Your Limits
When someone has bipolar disorder symptoms, it can be challenging to support them, especially if they aren’t taking charge of their treatment. Remember that bipolar disorder is a chronic condition.
You must establish boundaries regarding what you are and are not ready to put up with to serve others for your health and wellbeing. Setting boundaries for your mental health is acceptable and essential to your long-term pleasure.
5. Ask Questions
Even while a person with bipolar disorder might not want to be treated differently, you should still feel free to ask any open-minded queries you may have. Ask questions to learn more about someone’s disease and its effects rather than assuming you already know. Make it clear that you’re eager to learn more. Never presume that your friend is ashamed of you or reluctant to discuss anything with you.
6. Support
A bipolar individual can benefit greatly from your assistance. But you must know when to back up and let a medical or mental health expert take over. Although individuals with the bipolar disease can make consciously informed choices, you must recognize when their emotions and actions are beyond their control.
Also, if the person has a setback while you’re attempting to help, don’t take it personally. Keep in mind that you are both trying your hardest.
7. Think about working with a therapist
The most widely utilized treatment for bipolar disorder is psychotherapy (talk therapy). Bipolar disorder is frequently treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but family-focused treatment can also be very beneficial.
Through therapy, you and your loved one can better understand the bipolar disease and start to create coping mechanisms for long-term symptom control.
8. Be understanding and patient.
There are many things that a person with bipolar disorder cannot control, and it can be very harmful to their mental health if their loved ones grow angry with them. It’s OK to feel impatient, frustrated, or even furious, but try to find ways to cope with these emotions without letting your friend or loved one see you doing so.
People with bipolar disorder may feel burdened and frustrated with their conduct and emotions. Recognize every effort your bipolar buddy makes to follow a treatment plan and seek help.
9. Reduce Stress
When a person with bipolar disorder is stressed, it might exacerbate their symptoms. Any way you can, try to assist your friend in lowering their Stress. For instance, you may offer to run an errand or come over and assist them with housework a few times per week. You might be able to help by doing a few little things to lighten their load. And finally, remember to look after yourself.
Being a friend’s support system while they have bipolar disorder can tax your body and mind. There can be occasions when you may need to leave the situation alone rather than the other person.
10. Organize Joint Activities
Sadly, bipolar disorder patients frequently experience social isolation. For your buddy or loved one, try to avoid this. Along with actively listening, you can also think of activities you two can do together to combat social isolation.
The exercises don’t need to be extremely difficult. Simple solutions include scheduling a daily stroll for the same time each day. Small changes can have a significant impact, particularly if bipolar person believes they are struggling to control their symptoms.
Final Thoughts
A person with bipolar disorder can be difficult to help. The person’s moods will fluctuate, making it challenging to know how to respond or cope.
But if you put in the effort, you can significantly impact your friend or loved one’s life. Knowing they can count on you can encourage them to adhere to their treatment plan and maintain a positive outlook. Knowing that you are assisting a friend or loved one in navigating the ups and downs of living with bipolar disorder can be enjoyable for you as well. Contact us for more information!