Tuesday, 1 November 2016

How To Cope With A Bipolar Spouse

By Robert Meyer


Without a doubt, falling ill occasionally is normal in the life of a human being. This can happen even when adhering to a healthy lifestyle. While many illnesses are easy to manage and wear off with proper healthcare, others can be there for a lifetime. It can be a mentally taxing affair to live with a partner who has been diagnosed with a long term condition that you have no experience dealing with. If you stick to the guidelines given below, you should have a normal life even when married to a bipolar spouse.

For starters, you should understand that having a good support system is essential in improving the mental fortitude of you and your spouse. Ensure you talk to him about joining a local support group. If some members of your extended family or your friends are in the same boat, try to form a support group of your own. One good thing about doing this is that it gives both of you the opportunity to tell your peers how you feel without worrying about being looked down upon. Talking to similar people also helps ease the tension that is common in unions where one person suffers from a difficult condition.

Secondly, ensure you find a good doctor for him. When it comes to treating bipolar, the best doctor is not always the one with the greatest academic qualifications. There are other factors that come into the fray when dealing with mentally unstable patients.

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.

A patient may also find certain activities calming. It could be an activity as simple as jogging or watching TV. As soon as you identify what he likes, let him partake in it often.

Finally, you should ensure the condition does not consume you mentally as well. Take some time off whenever possible. Travel and meet your friends regularly. The fact is your mental health also matters a lot.




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