- Contents
- Introduction: Bipolar Disorder
- What is bipolar disorder?
- What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
- How does bipolar disorder affect someone over time?
- What illnesses often co-exist with bipolar disorder?
- What are the risk factors for bipolar disorder?
- How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
- How is bipolar disorder treated?
- What can people with bipolar disorder expect from treatment?
- How can I help a friend or relative who has bipolar disorder?
- Support for caregivers
- How can I help myself if I have bipolar disorder?
- Where can I go for help?
- What if I or someone I know is in crisis?
- Citations
- For more information on bipolar disorder
Support for caregivers
Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can be difficult for spouses, family members, friends, and other caregivers. Relatives and friends often have to cope with the person's serious behavioral problems, such as wild spending sprees during mania, extreme withdrawal during depression, poor work or school performance. These behaviors can have lasting consequences.
Caregivers usually take care of the medical needs of their loved ones. The caregivers have to deal with how this affects their own health. The stress that caregivers are under may lead to missed work or lost free time, strained relationships with people who may not understand the situation, and physical and mental exhaustion.
Stress from caregiving can make it hard to cope with a loved one's bipolar symptoms. One study shows that if a caregiver is under a lot of stress, his or her loved one has more trouble following the treatment plan, which increases the chance for a major bipolar episode.50 It is important that people caring for those with bipolar disorder also take care of themselves.
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