Having a spouse who has recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder can be a difficult experience. You may have a number of questions, such as, “Is this the same person that I married?” How will it effect our relationship?
Not being supportive of a bipolar spouse can make the illness worse, as they rely on you for certain amount of emotional support, even if they won’t admit it. Here are ten ways to help your bipolar spouse.
Book a Psychiatrist
Oftentimes, recently diagnosed manic depressives are too tired to locate a medical professional, or they don’t realize that they are having mood swings. It is your responsibility to locate a qualified psychiatrist that can help your loved one.
Insurance
Become informed of how well your insurance company covers mental illness, as well as co-pays. The last thing someone with bipolar disorder needs to deal with is calling an insurance company and managing medical paperwork
Household Tasks
If your bipolar spouse has recently been diagnosed, they are probably overwhelmed. Performing the daily necessities of the household such as paying bills, playing a larger role in watching the kids, and shopping for groceries, will alleviate much of the burden until they find the right treatment plan.
Be a Snoop
While there is a line not to be crossed, tracking the medications of your spouse and ensuring that they will take them is an important part of having a successful bipolar marriage. If your spouse is unwilling to take their medications, it may it be time to sever ties, as you are just enabling them to wallow in their illness.
Keep Learning
Learning about bipolar disorder, including the symptoms and treatment options of the disorder, is essential. This includes reading books, keeping up to date with his or her psychiatrist, and researching treatment options, both natural and pharmaceutical.
Nag
While it is probably not a good idea to nag, especially if you have a bipolar husband, being persistent when something needs to be done is an essential part of managing bipolar disorder. Maybe your bipolar spouse doesn’t realize that they need treatment or that one of their mood swings has been triggered. On the surface they may seem to resent you having said something, but appreciate it deep down.
Meeting with a Psychiatrist
While you yourself may not need psychiatric attention, meeting with your spouse’s psychiatrist or joining in on their regular meetings is important to staying informed about the medications and treatments that your husband or wife are receiving.
Running Cover
Someone suffering from mood episodes may not always feel like dealing with friends and family, staying out of contact. As a bipolar spouse, it is helpful if you run a cover by keeping friends and family informed of your spouse’s condition.
Be Patient
Treatment options can take time. There must be hundreds of possible combinations of drugs and all of them take time to work, with different combinations working for different people. It is important to stay patient and helpful in order that a successful recovery and treatment can take place.
See a Therapist
Living with someone who has bipolar disorder can be mentally and physically demanding. Seeing a therapist can be helpful to work out any issues you have with your new living situation.
There is only so much strain that the average person can take. If you or your spouse did not recognize bipolar before you were married, you may have some thinking to do about the future. Keep in mind that bipolar disorder is a manageable and treatable illness, but some bipolar spouses refuse to get help for their disorder. In this instance, you must make the decision whether to continue the relationship. It is unreasonable for someone with bipolar disorder to put you through unnecessary suffering, as a result of their unwillingness to become properly treated.