How To Cope With A Bipolar Spouse

By Robert Meyer


There is no denying the fact that ailments are always unpredictable. No one has the power to tell when illness will strike. While most ailments are easy to treat and manage, there are others that require proper care. Things get even harder when your loved one is suffering and you have no clue how to go about it. Here are insights on how you can live a fulfilling life with a bipolar spouse.

The first vital thing to do is ensuring your spouse has the right support to keep living with a positive attitude. Try to get him to join a local support group if you can. If there are other family members who suffer from the same condition, have them meet regularly. The good thing about support groups is they provide a way to let participants express exactly what they feel. This always releases the stress that commonly arises from the symptoms of the condition especially when the strength of the meds starts wearing off.

Next, you must go out of your way to see to it that your spouse receives the best medical care available. When managing bipolar, a good doctor ought to be more than just academically qualified. There are many other important traits he must possess.

Besides having the right experience and academic papers, the doctor should be a person who shows empathy and compassion. In essence, it takes empathy to be able to put yourself in the shoes of the person suffering. Ask the doctor for advice on important things such as medication time and what to do when the person is out of control.

Besides the aforementioned factors, you ought to have complete understanding of the symptoms associated with the condition in order to prevent them from getting full blown in the first place. Patients always tend to display a habit of irrationality when off medication. It is common to see them verbally abuse their better halves or engage in impulse buying. Depending on how long you have lived with the person, these are things you can easily spot before they arise and act appropriately.

One known way of maintaining great metal health is by ensuring the patient takes the required medication without fail. While doing so may appear simple to some people, the fact is that most patients always resist medication. As a matter of fact, resistance may come in form of physical violence. If you have tried your best to talk to the person to no avail, get your friends and family members to assist you.

Many patients also have specific natural factors that trigger a sense of calmness in them. These may include activities as mundane as taking an evening walk or watching a good show together. Find out what these activities are and engage in them together regularly.

Lastly, you also need to create some time for yourself in order to be in the right mental state. Whenever the person gets off his medication, find something distracting to do. You may go stay with a friend temporarily or take a short trip. In the end, your mental health is just as important as his.




About the Author: