Bipolar disorder is a major mental illness characterized by a significant disruption in mood. There are many ways that this illness can manifest in individuals. The Depression and
Bipolar Support Alliance offers education about the illness, its course and treatment options.
At one end of the spectrum, mania consists of an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting for at least one week. There are several associated symptoms. Distractibility, inflated self-esteem, increased goal-directed activity, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, pressured speech, or excessive involvement in high-risk activities (for example, spending sprees or sexual indiscretions).
At the other end of the spectrum is
depression. Qualifying for a diagnosis of depression requires five of the following symptoms to linger over a two-week period: low mood, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, changes in appetite, feeling worthless or excessively guilty, sleeping too much or too little, poor concentration, psychomotor agitation or retardation (restlessness or slowness), loss of energy, or recurrent thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the extreme consequence of depression. You can find out more about the symptoms of depression from the
National Institute of Mental Health.
Bipolar type I is diagnosed in individuals who have had at least one manic episode in their lifetime, with or without depressed periods. Bipolar type II fits for people who tend more towards the depressive phase of mood along with some hypomania (less extreme symptoms of mania). Others will oscillate somewhere in-between the extremes. For example, Bipolar mixed episode is another diagnostic class. This diagnosis requires that within a given day, a person is manic one moment and severely depressed the next – this leads to exhaustion, confusion and is also a psychiatric emergency.
Medical Conditions
When talking about mood disorders, it’s important to keep in mind that they may be triggered by a medical condition or drug (either a prescribed medication or an illegal street drug).
A few medical causes/substances contributing to a depressive episode are: endocrine abnormalities (thyroid disease, hypoglycemia), cancer (pancreatic, lymphoma), viral illness (mononucleosis), alcohol, anti-hypertensives, corticosteroids, diuretics, and sedative-hypnotics.
A few medical causes/substances that can lead to mania include metabolic factors, neurological disorders, corticosteroids, cocaine, stimulants, antidepressants, and bronchodilators.
The above lists are not exhaustive. But they do underscore the importance of having a thorough medical work-up before reaching a psychiatric diagnosis.
Treatment
Good news for people who have bipolar is that it is very treatable. Finding a
compassionate psychiatrist is the first step. Psychiatrists are skilled at treating people and getting them back on a path towards health and happiness using a comprehensive approach to care including lifestyle modifications, therapy and medication.
Medications used in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder run the gamut from traditional mood stabilizers like Lithium to antipsychotic medications The
NIMH has a list of commonly used medications and their side effects. Of course, there’s not one best fit for treatment. Doctors customize the recommendations for individuals and measure the potential efficacy of any medication against its adverse side effects.
In psychiatric care, as with other medical practices, doctors work collaboratively with patients. Even when it comes to difficult to invasive measures – such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or psychiatric hospitalization – doctors work with patients to best assure that they are treated with dignity.
Stigma can sometimes be worse than a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder itself. It’s what causes people to avoid treatment and suffer in silence. There are things that you can do to help loved one’s get the help they need. Talk openly about thoughts and feelings without imposing judgment. Embrace your power to make change at a school, organizational and community level. And above all else, hold belief that one’s illness does not define them.
Finally, watch
this video to learn more about depression, mental illness and how you can help to change the way people think about mental health.
The problem is that many people are not enough informed on how the people with a bipolar disorder feel. So I can support them with understanding how they feel and behave. I tolerant them more than any other person.
Supporting organizations that work to destigmatize mental health issues.
I am 55 years old, and I have suffered from Bipolar disorder for many years. The cycles can vary in degree of intensity. That said, so can the symptoms that are associated with each cycle.
Less intense cycles are more responsive to just "bootstrapping it", and going to coffee shops, spending time outside, etc. More intense cycles lead me to want to shut myself off from the world till it passes. I call it "getting small". I do it by sleeping more, studying through online courses, like Coursera. I interact with others in limited periods, so it does not become overwhelming.
Overwhelming feelings can lead to frantically trying to get back to the "safe place", or, in the case of being forced to stay engaged, developing a very irritated presence, which will hopefully lead to being dismissed from the situation.
The question is about how to help someone suffering this. I would say patience, try to hear or know what the person needs at that moment. Criticism does not help.
As a long time sufferer, now 72, I finally decided to look into medication about 20 years ago. Prozac like medications work well for me, despite everyone saying that they are just placebos. Any placebo that works is good enough for me. With a doctors help I tried to wean myself off of the medication when I felt much better, but soon learned that was not such a good idea. I have resigned myself to the fact that I should just take the medicine regularly, and I have not had a prolonged or deep depressive period since.
The fact that I was able to retire securely might account for some of the reason for my well being. There is less stress from having to succeed at work. However, even while I was still working, the stress didn't get to me. I attributed that to calling the pills "my I don't give a **** pills". Of course that attitude could also have come from knowing I was going to retire anyway.
Recognizing what makes someone a good friend (to anyone) and strengthening those traits would be the best way to be supportive. Be honest and genuine - people know when a person is lying to spare their feelings. Be dependable - don't make and break plans frequently. Know your limits and be up front about them - doing nice things for others feels good, but if the relationship is too one-sided, it may lead to bitterness and avoidance.
I would invite him/her to talk about his/her feelings without criticism. I'd also be empathic with him/her and invite him/her to visit a psychiatrist. Then I would recommend him/her a lot of resources from where to explore and research about bipolar disorder. Information is a very powerful tool that can give you advantage on how to overcome this disorder. I would invite him/her to sleep better and at a certain hour everyday; and even invite him/her to play a sport with so you can assure he gets excercise (and you too). Finally I would leave with confidence that he/she would do everything in his/her hands to fight and overcome this disorder.
the way i can support one of my loved ones if they have any type of illness is by telling them dont care about the ones that are dissing you care about the ones that are telling you dont worry you got this i believe in you u can do it
the way i help support my love ones are by telling them stop worrying about the ones that are dissing you care about the ones that are not dissing you its okay dont worry about the dissing people just remeber its not just for the ones you love its for you so you can just tell your self to jump out of the dissing felling charecter
Be considerate and try to help and encourage them to get help when and if they need it. Depression is bad but because we love the person it is great when they trust you and you are allowed in to help them out.
i agree with you because people don't know how bipolar people feel and they need to know how it feels before judging them.
I think that supporting those who have bipolar disorders can be very difficult because they might not want to confront the issue. So I think the best way can be giving a notice that you are reliable enough to trust and talk about their abnormality by being around. The signal they send might be very few or invisible. So being around or asking how they really are time to time would help.
I'm sorry that you have suffered such hard time and identified with you as I also had similar symptoms. I'm not quite sure if it has gone or just a matter of degree but the way you used to protect yourself might be helpful for me in the future. Hope you are doing okay!
talk to them like a normal person.
I am 27 year old man, and I have suffered my mom´s Bipolar disorder for many years. Many years ago, we were not aware of this illness because she would keep it as a secret due to the shame of this depression. We now found a psychiatrist that is giving her the right treatment for her which is working very good; as a result, she now lives a normal life so we don´t have to treat her different.
Treat them like you would treat your best friend.
acceptance + less emotional attachment + do what is right for their own good + know your place and respect their privacy
I think we should mainly inform ourselves on the subject, they know how they are the care that we must have with the person who is suffering the disorder
but I think I would start talking to her on the subject, I would say that it is something that should improve to lead a common life.
Well the first thing we must do is to know the subject, to know how to treat the person because he can not arrive and make a cream that must be done, everything has a procedure, in this case it is important to talk about it about it, which is a better quality of life than you can have, a better way and you feel comfortable.
I would surely not see that person as a person suffering from a medical condition . I will constantly try to help him , recommend him to exercise daily, have a healthy diet and SAY NO TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL . Treating the person as a friend will surely help that person fight depression.
Be loving and show that you care be supportive. Depression and bipolar is a hard thing but you have to help someone get through it.
I consider that it could be supported by a healthy living together, making talks where at no time it will damage it and depends on how that person reacts after letting him know how one considers that this person is and that he is attended
Take them to a psychiatrist and don't always ask if they're okay because they'd get insecure and think something is wrong with them. Offer them some alone time to walk and enjoy some sun and take them out to eat.
I think that you need to gain their trust and hear them out. Once they get comfortable enough with you and know that you view them as normal people, then you can help them seek help from a professional.
You can support them by treating them like everyone else and making them feel better about themselves.
i think that supporting them when they are going through phases of extreme highs or lows as if it was just a hard or difficult time in their life not a spell which occurs often which may help calm whoever it is without making them feel isolated from the rest of society
Keep involved/ attend other bipolar local NAMI groups.
I've been helping with a student who have bipolar disorder in high school. Actually, those who do not have "serious" disorder adapt to the society, most of the time. In that case, just let it go. They will feel themselves marginalized if we criticize/care them much. Criticizm's the worst, but too much care is also the same.
You can treat just as you would treat anyone else. Don’t make them feel like because they have a mental illness they are different.
Making them feel like their just like everyone. Not pointing it out, Don’t make jokes or little jabs about their disorders, and the biggest one is to support them no matter what.
Strengthening traits in your friendships with your friend who has bipolar and strengthening that friendship is a good way to be supportive.
I think the best way would be to treat them like anyone else but to be prepared for episodes and be extra patient.
It is tough to direct someone who has bipolar disorder to a psychologist because they are terrified of being stigmatized. We can tell them that this is not their fault and they don't have to feel bad about it. We can also help them to find a psychologist or psychiatrist.
We need to give education about mental health and also we need to try to create a judgment free society. Not easy but it can start from you. Become a better person by respecting people who they are.