Bipolar Disorder and Relationships WisdomCard™
Our Guides and Physician Review team have organized the Top 10 Health Resources on Bipolar Disorder and Relationships and compiled helpful research notes below.
Success!
Thanks for helping us improve this WisdomCard. We'll let you know if your resource makes the Top 10!.
Have another great resource to share? Go ahead and nominate another resource!
Nominate a Resource for this WisdomCard™
We have 9 top resources but need 1 more. Are there additional great resources about Bipolar Disorder and Relationships that we should add here? The OrganizedWisdom team looks forward to reviewing your nomination!
Research Notes on Bipolar Disorder and Relationships
Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, is a chronic illness that affects not only the individual who is diagnosed, but also the family and friends of that person.1 Coping with extreme mood swings and personality changes can be stressful for everyone involved, but the proper medications can ease the strain and tension felt by everyone.1 Because many people diagnosed with bipolar do not realize how significantly their illness affects them (and the lives of those around them), they may refuse to accept responsibility for their actions which makes relationships difficult.2 It is very important that you give encouragement to the bipolar patient so that he or she will seek out or continue treatment in order to get better.2 If you suffer from bipolar, it is important that you acknowledge your disorder to others you become involved with, as the symptoms of this condition are often hard to understand by those who are unaware of its presence.2
Fast Facts
- Family members should consider taking part in psychiatric therapy sessions with the bipolar patient.3
- It is important to recognize the increased risk of suicide among bipolar patients. Family members and significant others of those with bipolar should be keenly aware of potential warning signs that their loved ones are in danger of taking their own life.3
- The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but it is believed to be biological. Those who have a relationship with a bipolar patient must be aware that just as they are not the cause of the disorder, neither can they simply "cure" it by their behavior. The same wisdom applies to the patient - he or she cannot simply change their behavior as it is a biological condition, not a chosen way of life.3
- If your spouse or loved one has not yet been diagnosed, a simple questionnaire may help you determine if they are indeed suffering from bipolar.
There's more WisdomCard content below this ad.
Advertisement
Research Notes References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bipolar Focus (via Pendulum): Bipolar Disorder Coping Resources for Family Members
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Institute of Mental Health: How Can Individuals and Families Get Help for Bipolar Disorder
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bipolar Significant Others: Mutual Education, Support and Advocacy
About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Susan Scroggins
- Reviewer: Emily Lapkin
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 15, 2009
Each WisdomCard is handcrafted by our team of physician-guided health advocates. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find the most useful health resources for any health topic. In addition to filtering out spam and bad links, WisdomCards highlight tips and warnings, such as:
- Guide Favorite
- Guide Warning
- Scroll down to reach relevant content
- Video
- In Memoriam
Help improve this WisdomCard by suggesting great links.
Advertisement
Are You Depressed?
1. Have you been feeling blue, or "down in the dumps"?
About WisdomCard
Meet our contributors and reviewers
- Contributor: Susan Scroggins
- Reviewer: Emily Lapkin
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Redirects: Bipolar disorder and relationship, How to deal with persons with Bipolar Disorder, Dealing With Persons With Bipolar Disorder, How to cope up with persons with bipolar d/o
- Last update: Oct. 15, 2009
Each WisdomCard is handcrafted by our team of physician-guided health advocates. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find the most useful health resources for any health topic by filtering out spam and bad links.
