Living with Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder

Have you ever been in a relationship that was easy and all things good? Did you ever experience a relationship where there were no conflicts, fights, and coming back together? Chances are the answer to both these questions are no. People are very different from each other; therefore, relationships tend to vary depending on how each person handles situations they’re faced with.

Most relationships in the world are complex; you’re required to work day and night to progress your relationships, make compromises, and meet each other half way. However, that’s not all. Sometimes, you have to accept your loved ones as they are, with the many complications they feel, and experience.

To make your relationships work and last, it’s your duty to put in a lot of effort and make compromises. However, your duty towards your relationship can be even more important if you are living with someone who has bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience a wide range of emotions, and don’t have a lot of control over their impulses. Being with someone who suffers so much can be difficult to be around, but if you really want to make it work, we might be able to help you out.

One of the first things you need to do is understand what the disorder entails, what you will be experiencing with them, and how to help them in the best ways possible. Let’s begin!

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Before you start trying to help someone around you who has bipolar disorder, first make sure you understand what the condition means for you and your partner. In essence, bipolar disorder is a mental illness that changes how a person feels, behaves, and reacts. People with bipolar disorder experience unusual shifts in moods, energy, concentration and a lot more.

The constant ups and downs in everyday feelings often make day-to-day tasks very difficult for people with bipolar disorder. The illness isn’t limited to their mood shifts and reactions. In fact, it affects their relationships with other people drastically. While the exact cause of developing the disorder is unclear, here are common possible reasons:

• Genetics such as a history of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.
• Biological differences such as your brain being wired in a different way, creating hormones that often cause such turmoil in personalities.

Some Common Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

You can read a number of books on mental health, and still not be able to tell whether or not someone has a mental illness. This is because each person experiences different sets of symptoms, behavioral changes and more. In order to get a vague idea of what bipolar disorder entails, here are some common symptoms that they experience:

• People experience elevated moods such as being too excited or happy.
• Bipolar disorder patients experience increased energy levels and an uneasiness in their behavior.
• They range between too much or too little self-confidence.
• They may experience prolonged hours or sleep, or experience insomnia.
• They may become more depressed over time.
• They might lose interest and the ability to show interest, be excited, or keep concentration in trivial matters.
• They may get tired easily and far more quickly.
• They may want to end their own lives, or hurt themselves in different ways.

Some Common Preventive Measures

We understand how overwhelming it can be to learn that a loved one is suffering from bipolar disorder. The mental illness takes a toll on all their decisions, feelings, and how they react with you. While therapy can help a little, it’s important to look out and take preventive measures to make the process easier for both you and your loved one.

Here are a few common preventive measures that can help ease the symptoms:

• Pay attention to warning signs, learn triggers, and try your best to avoid them.
• Make sure to avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Doctors, and therapist might also advise some medications to help ease the symptoms, so make sure that any kind of medication isn’t missed.

Living with People with Bipolar Disorder

If you’ve just recently learnt that your partner suffers from bipolar disorder, here are some things you can expect.

Different Intimacy Levels

People with bipolar disorder might experience hormones differently at every waking hour, which can make intimacy a difficult process. Sometimes, they might need and demand for more intimacy than usual. While on other occasions, they may appear withdrawn, distant, and not interested at all. The key to working through this is to not take any of this personally, and discuss whatever they’re feeling.

Work Life Balance

With extreme mood and neurological shifts, people with bipolar disorder can find it difficult to have a healthy balance when it comes to their job. They tend to become inconsistent or engage in behavior that makes it difficult to maintain a job. While it may become extremely overwhelming, you need to understand that how they react or what they do is sometimes out of their control. You can help them in any capacity you can.

Treatment Involvement

Therapy sessions and treatment for bipolar disorders can be overwhelming, but it’s important that you’re equally involved. Being involved will help you get some closure and help you navigate the relationship in a healthier manner.

Practice Self Care

Tending to someone who has drastic emotional needs can be extremely overwhelming which can make you overlook your own mental and physical health. If you want to keep your relationship healthy and successful, it’s imperative that you take some time out for yourself. Go for a walk, take a break, or do absolutely nothing.

If you want to know how people can work through mental trauma and several mental health problems, then give A Notebook of Love a read. Luis Trivino talks about the several problem him and his wife encounter throughout their marriage, and how they face each adversity with courage, persistence, and love. Grab a copy of the book, today!