Feeling Lost When Your Partner is Living with Bipolar Disorder by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
What expectations should I have?
Individuals living with bipolar disorder can lead successful lives. The path to living a successful life takes a lot of strategizing, planning, and practicing. There may be times when the individual is struggling, and although it may not seem like they’re trying, they really are. Action steps are tougher when living with bipolar disorder. The adversity individuals face when living with this diagnosis includes unhelpful expectations from others, such as “Why can’t they just get it together,” or “How come they did that...again?” Oftentimes it takes looking back on a past episode to plan for the next one.
Here are some tips:
Learn as much as you can about the diagnosis.
Find out about your partner’s own experience with the diagnosis.
Know your partner’s limits when they’re in an episode.
The words you use matter.
Ask questions with curiosity, not with a tone of judgement or condemnation.
Find out what they would like from you when they’re in an episode.
Acknowledge their successes, even if they seem small.
Go easy on yourself; being in a relationship with an individual living with bipolar disorder is a learning process.
Seek support. This could be from friends or from others in a similar position. There are support groups for loved ones through NAMI and the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance.
Want to know more?
You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in bipolar disorder. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.
My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
**IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. **