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Having a patient of bipolar disorder in the home can see substance abuse, lying, promiscuity, suicidal inclinations, and hallucinations which are all a threat to family peace and integrity. To defuse this threat, family of the bipolar patient need to consider some points that will help them retain their integrity while living with bipolar disorder.
Awareness of Bipolar Onslaught
To avoid living with bipolar disorder at all, the foremost care one can take is to be informed about the symptoms of the disorder and seek treatment immediately if and when observed in a family member. It is very hard to nip manic-depressive disorder in the bud since the initial stages of the condition are too mild to be noticed. Still, keep an eye on your family member (s) if they keep displaying any erratic behavior (lying, substance abuse, hallucinations, and fits of elation or blues).
Handling Bipolar Patients
It is important to know that few bipolar patients are dangerous and you need not feel physically threatened from them. Seeking immediate treatment is the foremost step in helping your family and yourself. Try to accompany your bipolar patient to the doctor in order to win the patient’s trust.
Identifying Triggers
One point to consider while living with bipolar disorder is identifying triggers. Triggers are stressful life events that spark the manic/depressive episodes in the patient. These might be memories of events like deaths, anniversaries, traumas, or the like. Keep a record of such events in your journal and learn to insulate your bipolar family member from them.
Fighting the Patient’s’ Fear
Living with bipolar disorder requires fighting not only your own irritation but also, and more importantly, the fears of the bipolar patient. Such patients have a craving for being in control of situations. This craving in turn is rooted in their fear of losing control and attention of the family. By unfailing care for your patient and wining his/her trust, you help abate the sufferer’s fears and hence his/her mood in social situation can side with stability.
Accepting Relativism of Reality
Manic-depressives may experience hallucinations-voices, sounds, or whole events that never existed. These events may or may not include other family members. Thus, while the patient narrates his experiences, his/her family is apt to think the stories as lies. It is important to understand that reality is then different for the sufferer and he/she is simply telling what his/her senses perceived. Learn to accept things as such and do not let anger take your temper. This will practically help you to cope with living with bipolar disorder.
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