Bipolar's Effect on Family Life

The term "bi" means two. There are two types of bipolar disease. During such episodes a person can become severely depressed. The opposite can also happen where the person becomes hyper to the extreme. Unfortunately, there are also three types of episodes that can happen to a person that is bipolar. The first type of episode is called acute manic. This is when a person can be extremely irritable, happy or restless and can’t sit still or maintain normal conversation. The second type of episode that can occur is called mixed. It’s when someone can be extremely manic and depressed at the same time. The third type of episode is the depressive one. A person becomes severely depressed to the point of having thoughts of suicide. They tend to feel hopeless and sad and see their life as bleak. This is when a family must take great care dealing with the family member.

Families have to learn to cope with severe mood swings in their family member. Often they suffer from insomnia, restlessness or want to sleep for days at a time. Most often bipolar disease becomes apparent between the ages of 15 and 24 and not commonly seen in small children or in those over age 65. It is a lifelong illness and affects every member of the family, not just the afflicted person.

Ongoing encouragement, medication and the help of psychiatrists are the main means of dealing with a loved one with bipolar disease. Due to the course of the disease the patient doesn’t always follow the doctor’s orders and stops medication ad lib. This is also part of the illness. When feeling good they often will refuse medication or medical assistance. It is an illness not of just one individual but of the entire family.