Information for Spouses of Husbands and Wives with Bipolar Disorder
I wish I could promise you a happy ending in your marriage to a spouse with bipolar disorder. I wish I could give you a checklist of things to do to guarantee whatever success you re seeking. But bipolar disorder manic depression doesn t work that way (as if I need to remind you of that).
Each bipolar case is different. Everyone comes with a unique brain, so each manifestation of the illness is different. The most important information I can give you for handling your spouse s bipolar disorder may sound counterintuitive:
Identify who YOU are. Figure out what in your life you hold closest to your heart (other than your spouse). Remember to nurture these ideals so
...who are at high risk for behavioral, emotional, and academic problems that can affect their ability to succeed in school. Our goal is to connect parents of troubled teens to the information and resources they need to quickly identify risk ...
There is no blueprint for success when you read information about how to support a husband or wife with bipolar disorder. Every well person is unique, too. Making a marriage work with two normal people is hard enough. Witness how today s divorce rate tops 50%. Throw in a wild card of bipolar disorder, and you re penalized with a handicap right from the start.
But you can learn concrete strategies for handling unexpected mood swings, uncontrollable outbursts of anger, inevitable guilt and remorse (yours and his!) You can learn to talk to a husband or wife with bipolar disorder and even handle the emotions that
...if these processes are interrupted by obsessional thoughts. Delusions or hallucinations, or pervasive thoughts of suicide present grave risks. Sleep difficulties and appetite changes, fatigue and lethargy, headaches, and unexplained muscle aches can add to an already trying scenario. When ...
If you re Married To Mania , you must make critical decisions everyday that take into account your spouse s best interests but don t eradicate your morale
and self-esteem in the process. But you can learn how to still be you, and know that you are a good person who doesn t deserve any of this.
You can learn tips for dealing with the bipolar medical and insurance establishments without second-guessing yourself. You can learn to accept that the mental illness professionals are decidedly not on your side.
Counseling is helpful. I recommend it, in fact. But your therapist will not be
...has bipolar disorder, you must understand that there are usually risk factors for suicide. And these risk factors include having a substance abuse problem, a previous suicide attempt, having a family history of physical or sexual abuse, having family members ...
Your therapist cannot help you decide whether you should call the police or the mental hospital admissions desk. Your therapist cannot be there everyday to help you figure out what to say to your bipolar husband or wife. The therapist isn t there at the exact moment you must explain to your children what s wrong with mom or dad, and how it s not their fault.
You can learn life-tested
...average age for bipolar disorder is approximately 25. There is plenty of research to indicate bipolar disorder behavior may be hereditary in nature. Anyone who is affiliated with bipolar disorder often feels like they are living on a roller coaster ...
Lastly, you can find the strength to merge two seemingly impossible objectives: staying married to your bipolar spouse and taking charge of your own life (instead of waiting to see what your partner s mood is before deciding what yours will be that day). Or you can develop the insight
...bipolar could also be indicative of other physical or mental conditions. This makes it even more difficult to provide the appropriate treatment. For example, prescribing pain relief for the physical symptoms instead of digging deeper to identify psychological problems could ...
Elizabeth Atlas is the author of Married To Mania, a book that helps spouses and partners be in relationships with someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her book teaches how to live life on purpose, despite the unfair hand you were dealt in love and marriage and despite the chaos and emotional mine field you must avoid everyday in a [http://www.marriedtomania.com/index.php/marriage]marriage to someone with manic depression (another name for bipolar disorder). Elizabeth shows how to construct a plan to take charge of your life and to retain control of your life’s goals, without getting caught up in the bipolar drama no matter how much you
...a bipolar disorder, the chances are greater that their children may develop it at an early age. Family history of drug or alcohol has also been associated with greater risk for bipolar disorders. Symptoms of bipolar disorders in children and ...