Living With Someone With Bipolar Disorder – Tough Love

Living with someone with bipolar disorder and giving them unconditional love is not easy. Expressing love when you are being disrespected, turned away from, or even ill-treated is a difficult thing to do. Finding love in your heart for a self-centered person who thinks grandiosely of themselves can test even the most loving soul. This is made even more difficult when trying to understand and relate to someone who has disorganized thoughts and feelings.

The most important key for a bipolar partner is to acquire an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the illness. If you do not understand what is happening to your loved one, then you will have difficulty relating to them.

Once you have a good understanding of the bipolar condition, its symptoms and treatments relating specifically to your loved on, you will be able to devise a plan for coping with the inevitable ups and downs.

Remember that it is not the fault of your loved that he or she is inflicted with bipolar disorder. Bipolar is an illness, and bipolar sufferers do not have the ability to control their behavior in the way a normal person would.

Recognizing The Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Learning to recognize the many warning signals and symptoms is the number one thing to learn if you are living with someone with bipolar disorder. Being aware of your loved ones sleeping problems, as well as observing their moods, behavior and how they relate to others will keep you abreast of where they are at with their illness.

It is a good idea to keep a written note of when and where symptoms occurred so you have a basis to present to your partner or their doctor.

Do Not Think of Bipolar Disorder As A Humiliating Condition.

Do not be embarrassed about living with someone with bipolar disorder. To love someone transcends any illness, but even more so with a mental illness. Bipolar disorder is not a condition where you should reject your loved or cause them shame. Feeling ashamed because a loved one is inflicted with an illness such as bipolar is counterproductive to assisting them return to good health. Never forget that bipolar or manic depressions as it is commonly known, can be treated just like any physical disease.

Build Trust With Your Loved One

Trust is essential to individuals with bipolar disorder. They need you to trust them, and not hand pass them to psychiatrists or mental hospitals at the first sign of trouble.

There will be times when you feel that you cannot deal with your loved one any more. You might feel tempted to call for early medical assistance because you do not want the responsibility of caring for them any longer. It is always wise to discuss coping strategies with your loved one beforehand, when they are NOT ill. You can make joint decisions and agreements about when to seek medical help BEFORE the situation arises. This paves the way for open and honest communication when symptoms first start appearing.

Keep The Lines Of Communication Open

Once you have acknowledged your loved ones symptoms, the natural progression is to start wondering what you can do to help. However, this is not necessarily the best approach. A better way is to foster open and honest communication with the patient. Encourage your loved one to talk about their thoughts and feelings and suggest ways that THEY think you can better relate with them.

This is not suggesting you should suppress what you feel. However, there are positive ways to let your loved know how you feel. Nagging, preaching or lecturing an individual with bipolar disorder is definitely not the best approach, and may soon lead to that individual to detaching. If you have concerns, air those concerns in a gentle and encouraging manner.

Let Your Loved One Fend For Themselves

Living with someone with bipolar disorder is a challenge. Family members or friends often end up wanting to take responsibility for their bipolar loved one. Pretty soon you find yourself shouldering the full load, with your afflicted loved one taking no responsibility for anything. Avoid this at all costs.

Together with trust and communication, allowing the person to take responsibility and experience their own struggles and achievements is one of the most valuable things you can do. Let your loved one solve their own problems and find their own solutions. Let them live the way they are supposed to live. In doing this, they will feel fulfilled and be living a worthwhile life.

Be There For Your Bipolar Loved One

Although you allow your bipolar loved one to take responsibility, that does not mean that you will not be there for encouragement and support when needed. Try and find the happy medium between letting them fend for themselves and being there to support when the going gets tough.

The most important key to living with someone with bipolar disorder, apart from assistance, is to always offer your love, understanding and support.