Bipolar disorder is a disease that affects and alters the mood. According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", DSM-IV, this disorder lies within what are called Mood Disorders. The person with this disorder experiences episodes in which their mood goes from extreme excitement to depression. During the excitement, the person tends to be irritable, impatient and may even have aggressive attitudes, while during the depressive periods they appear tired, discouraged and have a lack of appetite. In most people, bipolarity begins to manifest at 20 years, and while it is a disease that remains throughout life, usually with proper treatment, bipolar people can continue their lives normally. If you have a family member, friend or colleague, suffering from bipolar disorder, read this oneHOWTO article on how to manage bipolar disorder to start thinking about it.
Accompany your loved one to their appointments with the specialist. The first step is to make a proper diagnosis, the medical specialist will tell you which medical treatment to follow. The treatment will aim to stabilise the mood of your loved one. Usually, medications are prescribed for bipolar disorder.
Make them calm. Due to the radical mood swings, bipolar sufferers tend to be more sensitive than usual to routine situations. However, they also face extreme sensitivity to changes. That is why, it is important to try to respect and promote a routine to transmit stability. If the routine has to be changed, for example, to attend a birthday party it is very important to talk to them in advance and try to prepare for such a situation. This way, you will avoid passing through a stressful situation.
Show them affection. You should talk to them and remind them that they are not alone, they are with their loved ones that accompany and support them. You should try to convey that it is important for their life and that this will happen, and that you are there for everything they need. Do not make them feel your concerns and fears. You always have to use positive and supportive words.
Try to maintain an emotional balance. During the excitement phase, bipolar sufferers are usually aggressive and irritable, crying, insults and verbal abuse are common. In these cases it is important to keep an emotional balance and do not feel aggrieved at what you can tell them. You must remember that it is just one side of them and that it's nothing personal against you or others, but is a consequence of the disease.
During the depressive periods, you should try to encourage them to perform activities such as physical exercise, take a walk, or visit a friend. These attempts don't always have an effect on the person suffering from bipolar disorder in the depressive phase, but do not be discouraged, and calmly keep trying. You should try to convey a positive, and happy sense of mind and try to keep your sense of humour.
If you need further information on bipolar disorder you can read our article: How to treat bipolar disorder.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Manage Bipolar Disorder, we recommend you visit our Mental health category.
- Talk with the doctor about the types of psychological treatments needed and about prescribed medications.