Living with bipolar disorder can make you feel like you’re riding an emotional roller coaster, even if you’re not the one with the diagnosis. The spouses, partners, children and parents of people who suffer from bipolar disorder must cope with the mood swings that characterize this disorder without losing their patience or giving up hope. How can you offer your help and support to a loved one who has this condition without sacrificing your own emotional well-being? Education, self-care and professional counseling hold the keys to your success.

Getting the Right Education

Also known as manic depressive disorder, bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes dramatic fluctuations in mood, behavior and energy levels. Moods may change daily, weekly or monthly depending on the individual’s pattern. Some people with bipolar disorder have periods when they feel and act very stable, while others cycle so rapidly that their moods seem to be in a constant state of flux.

These changes aren’t like the usual mood swings that people without bipolar disorder experience. The mood swings of bipolar disorder are intense, uncontrollable and exhausting. They can interfere with a person’s ability to establish a stable sense of identity, go to school, hold a job and form lasting relationships. Educating yourself about the condition and its treatments can help you handle this challenging condition.

Dealing with someone who has bipolar disorder can be extremely difficult. As the partner, friend or relative of someone with this illness, you may have noticed symptoms such as these:

• Impulsive, reckless behavior and grandiosity
• Low energy, fatigue, lack of motivation and despair
• Irritability, anger or anxiety
• Difficulty focusing on one project or following through on plans
• Sleep disturbances
• Changes in eating patterns and weight
• Using drugs or alcohol to control moods

It’s important to remember that bipolar disorder is an illness that requires the same level of care and self-maintenance as any physical disease. Treatment strategies may involve:

• Medication to stabilize mood
• Behavioral modification therapy
• Group therapy
• Couples counseling or family support groups

Although the medical community doesn’t know exactly what causes this condition, the Nemours Foundation states that it may be caused by a combination of neurological and hereditary factors. If you have a genetic or neurochemical predisposition to bipolar disorder, stressors in your environment may also trigger the condition. Understanding the sources of this disorder will make it easier to empathize with your loved one when times get tough.

Creating a Healthy Environment

Building a stable, healthy living environment at home can help you and your loved one deal with the symptoms of bipolar disorder. A study published in the journal Bipolar Disorder indicates that up to 48 percent of people who have this condition will abuse alcohol at some point in their lives, and up to 44 percent will abuse drugs. For those who suffer from a dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and substance abuse, the effects of addiction are usually much more severe.

If the person you love is using drugs or alcohol to “manage” their moods, he or she is actually doing more harm than good. Use these tips to create a supportive, safe atmosphere for your loved one:

• Avoid having drugs or alcohol in the house.
• Attend a support group for bipolar individuals and their families.
• Seek individual counseling for yourself and other family members.
• Build a network of professionals and friends who understand the illness and who can provide support when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
• Seek help from an addiction treatment center if your loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol.

Here at Axis, we offer a variety of programs to help people with bipolar disorder and their loved ones meet the challenges of this condition. Whether your spouse, partner or child needs intensive residential treatment or an outpatient program, we offer the resources you need to build a positive, rewarding future.