Your Spouse Is Bipolar - Now What?

Your Spouse Is Bipolar - Now What?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Georgie_Ellington]Georgie Ellington

So you've just found out that your husband or wife has bipolar disorder..what now?

First of all, realize you are not alone. There are many support groups and more than enough information on mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder (or manic depression) to help you with the new challenges you are facing.

Below is a short summary of suggestions to help you on your way.

A LIST OF DON'TS [Sorry, but these may be more important initially than the "do's", since many people react negatively when they first receive this diagnosis]

- Don't judge them. Realize that this is a chemical imbalance, a matter that is out of their control. It would be as if your spouse had been diagnosed with any other biochemical disorder, such as diabetes. They need your support, not your opinion.

- Don't get into a pity party for yourself. Your spouse is probably already feeling guilty and a burden to you. Try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you would feel if you were them. You probably wouldn't appreciate having a guilt trip thrown in on top of an already stressful and worrying situation.

- Don't order them or tell them what form of recovery to choose - discuss it with them, but let them make the decision. Becoming strident, giving orders or ultimatums only increases everyone's stress level. Remember, they are not able to control their chemical imbalance.

- Try not to get into a power struggle over possible alcohol or drug usage. If you start to hide or take things away from them it will increase any feeling of alienation and may send them into deeper depression or desperation. Besides, they will probably just find a way of replacing them anyway. This doesn't mean that the abuse of substances should be tolerated. There is a thin line between using and using to excess in order to avoid getting help. This is where you need a professional counselor. If your spouse won't go with you, go yourself - you need to know how to handle these situations and professional mental health advisors will have the answers you need.

- Don't be over protective. This will just cause problems down the road. Just be there to help and support but you cannot handle their illness for them - you will just burn out. Let them be responsible for their own recovery - taking their medications, going to doctor appointments, etc., but don't remove problems beforehand. Let your spouse handle it themselves, of course with your help when needed.

- Don't pretend to understand what they are feeling - no one knows except them. People with mood disorders are usually extra sensitive to other people's attitudes and reactions and can pick up quickly on insincerity and negativity whether verbal or in body language. Just be totally honest, say you don't know how they feel but reassure them you will stand by them to help and support whenever they need you.

LIST OF DO'S - Do educate yourself. The more you learn about this disorder, the more help and understanding you can provide to your spouse. There is enough information on this subject, either in books or on the internet, that you can increase your knowledge in this area to both prepare you for the unexpected and inform you to be the support that your spouse will need. Just to begin, you may want to go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website at www.nami.org and branch out from there.

- Do realize that bipolar disorder is treatable. It is not the end of the world. Many people diagnosed with this illness have managed to go on with their lives and some to great success. Examples from the past are Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens. Today some well-known celebrities have spoken openly of their own personal experience of being bipolar: Dick Cavett, Richard Dreyfuss, Carrie Fisher, Linda Hamilton, Margot Kidder and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

- Do get the appropriate professional help. Your spouse needs it and you will need it too. Find a support group (or two) for spouses and families living with someone who has mental health/mood disorder issues. You will find great comfort and support from these groups and will realize you don't have to do this alone.

Georgie Ellington is a regular contributer to the information resource websites of Information Hill. For more information on this subject, you may visit [www.informationhill.com/bipolar]informationhill.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgie_Ellington http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Spouse-Is-Bipolar---Now-What?&id=570552

Related News:

Being Bipolar disorder will disqualify you to become a surrogate mother because you are deemed as physiologically unhealthy.

The Online Bipolar Test - What's It All About?
An online bipolar test should not be used as your sole means of diagnosis! You will be doing yourself or your loved ones a great disservice if you try to self-diagnose. Only a trained and qualified medical professional has the ability to evaluate you for any type of mental illness.

Bipolar Type 2 And Type 1 - What Is The Difference?
Both bipolar disorder categories share the same characteristics in mood swing levels. However, the drawing line between the bipolar type 1 and the bipolar type 2 is on the varied episode levels of each mood swing.

Related Articles:

Does Your Teen and Child Syptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
Everyone has their ups and downs, but you will also discover that there are many emotions that you are going to have; euphoria, sadness, anger, frustrations, and more. You will also find that the essential part of the disorder is where you are going to feel the mood swings and loss of control. Your feelings and mental health will just seem to be going around in circles.

Bipolar Disorders in Children
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, was once believed to affect adults only. But researchers have found that children as young as seven years old can have this disorder. Bipolar disorder is a treatable neurobiological brain illness, characterized by severe fluctuations in mood and activity levels.

Identify Bipolar Disorder Triggers
is of huge advantage for disorder patient to identify the triggers of your mood swing in order to control your bipolar symptoms. You can do this by having your very own personal mood chart. all you need to do is record all your emotions and the corresponding events that took place. After sometime, you will be able to notice that there are certain patterns of your mood swings.

Your Spouse Is Bipolar - Now What?
Your spouse has just been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, so what's next for both of you? Here's a short check list of do's and don'ts to put things into perspective, to let you see that you do not have to face this alone and that there is hope.

Bipolar Affective Disorder - You Are Not Alone
A number of instances may set off the mood swings which include - inadequate sleep, drug abuse, not taking medications, illnesses, fall outs with family and friends, bereavements etc. It's also common to trigger mood swings when placed in a new environment such as starting a new job or going to university.

Sufferers of Bipolar Disorder - Good Parent, Bad Parent
Although no child should have to experience some of the problems that come with having a bipolar disorder parent, no upbringing is perfect, and like most bad experiences in life, good lessons can be learnt from them. Most children of parents with bipolar disorder learn a great deal about mental illness during their parents depressive and manic episodes, and grow into extremely understanding adults. The unique positive traits that come with bipolar disorder can create a very open and loving relationship between the child and the parent with bipolar disorder that is full of deep emotion and understanding. Its up to you to decide whether the pros make up for the cons for children of parents with bipolar disorder.

Information for Spouses of Husbands and Wives with Bipolar Disorder
There is no blueprint for success when you're looking for information about how to support a husband or wife with bipolar disorder. I wish I could give you a checklist of things to do to guarantee whatever success you're seeking. I wish I could promise you a happy ending. But bipolar disorder manic depression doesn't work that way.

From Outcast To Insider: Overcoming The Stigma of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complicated mental illness that often brings with it much social stigma and discomfort. Patients with bipolar disorder face many challenges when addressing society at large. Fortunately for patients with manic depression, there are many steps you can take to overcome social stigma. Roughly one in five people suffers from a mental illness. That means you are part of a large family of patients and friends.

Learn More About Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bipolar affective disease is a recurring illness that means if left untreated it can continue indefinitely. It is very important that a patient who suffers from bipolar affective disorder is treated for the disease not only when it is diagnosed but also through the course of their lives.…

Why Do You Stay in Your Bipolar Relationship?
Bipolar disorder runs roughshod over relationships. The divorce rate is three times higher in these marriages than in the general population. The pressure on us from friends, family and professionals is unrelenting. Those who ask, "Why do you stay in your relationship?" are not supportive.

Symptoms of Bipolar in Children
Early prevention and treatment for children with bipolar will increase the chances of getting better and living a normal life. Properly treating bipolar children will help reduce any adverse effects not only in the life of the children with bipolar but in their families lives as well.

Trouble In Mood City - the Bipolar Brain
This article actually is an appeal to a Medicare Part D provider who thought I should have to pay double the co-payment on a medication I had been taking for years because of it's high expense. (It's somewhere around $555.00 for a month's supply.) But I knew trying other medications would be at best an exercise in futility.

Ways To Cope With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, has a very serious effect on the sufferer's life. It also effects those closest to the patients in a detrimental way and getting treatment as soon as possible is paramount. Sufferers need the attention of physicians, psychiatrists…