| This is borrowed from there, in hopes it might be of help to someone. Sincerely, Dot The following information was barrowed from: Treatment of Bi-Polar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families David A Kahn,MD.,Ruth Ross, MA.,David A Printz, MD., and Gary S Sach, MD Link to whole report on links page. Page 7 What can families and friends do to help? If you are a family member or friend of someone with bipolar disorder, become informed about the patient's illness, its causes, and its tretment. Talk to the patient's Doctor if possible. Learn the paticular warning signs for that person that indicate that he or she is becoming depressed or manic.Talk to the person, while he or she is well, about how you should respond when you see symptoms emerging. - Encourage the patient to stick with treatment, to see the Doctor, and to avoid drugs and alcohol. If the patient is not doing well or is having sever side effects, encourage the person to get a second opinion, but not stop taking medication without advise.
- If your loved one becomes ill with a mood episode and suddenly views your concern as interferance , remember this is not a rejection of you but rather a symptom of the illness.
- Learn the warning signs of suicide and take any threat the person makes very seriously.If the person is "winding up" his or her affairs, talking about suicide, frequently discussing methods of suicide, or exhibiting increased feelings of despair, step in and seek help from the patient's Doctor or family members or friends. Privacy is a secondary concern when a person is at risk of suicide. Call 911 or the hospital emergancy room if the situation becomes desperate.
- With someone prone to manic episodes, take advantage of periods of stable mood to arrange "advanced durectives" - plans and agreements you make with the person while he or she is stable to try and avoid problems during further episodes of illness. You should discuss safeguards such as withholding credit cards, banking privalidges, and car keys and go to the hospital.
- Share responcibility for taking care of the patient with other loved ones. This will help reduce the stressfull effects that the illness has on caregivers and prevent you from "burning out" or feeling resentful.
- When patients are recovering from an episode, let them approach life at their own pace, avoid the extremes of exspecting to much or too little. Try to do things with them, rather than for them, so they will be able to regain thier sence of self-confidence. Treat people normaly once they have recovered, but be alert for telltale symptoms. If there is a reoccurance of the illness you may notice it before the person does. Indicate the early symptoms in a careing manner and suggest talking to a doctor.
- Both you and the patient need to learn the difference between a good day and hypomania, and between a bad day and depression.People with bipolar disorder have good days and bad days just like everyone else. With experience and awareness you will be able to tell the difference between the two.
- Take advantage of the help availible from support groups.
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