Friends and families of those with bipolar disorder can experience a range of difficulties. Support groups (see below) and other options are available to help. Here are some examples of the difficulties faced:
- Emotional strain: Watching a loved one struggle with bipolar disorder can be emotionally taxing. Family and friends may feel helpless, frustrated, or anxious about their loved one’s wellbeing.
- Relationship strain: The unpredictable nature of bipolar disorder can strain relationships. People with bipolar disorder may have difficulty maintaining relationships, which can be challenging for their loved ones.
- Financial strain: Bipolar disorder can be expensive to manage, with costs associated with medications, therapy, and hospitalizations. This can put a financial strain on the individual and their family.
- Role changes: When a loved one is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, family members and friends may need to take on new roles and responsibilities to support them. This can be difficult to navigate, especially if the loved one’s behavior is unpredictable or challenging.
- Stigma and social isolation: There is still a significant amount of stigma surrounding mental illness, including bipolar disorder. Family and friends may worry about the social repercussions of disclosing their loved one’s diagnosis, which can lead to social isolation and further strain on relationships.
- Balancing support with self-care: Supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder can be demanding, and family and friends may struggle to balance their caregiving responsibilities with their own self-care needs.
These are just a few examples of the difficulties that friends and families of those with bipolar disorder can experience. Loved ones should seek support for themselves and take care of their own mental health needs, as well as supporting their loved one with bipolar disorder.
Support Groups
Support Groups are just one way of dealing with a loved one who has bipolar disorder. There are many available.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family Support Group: NAMI is a national organization that provides education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness. The NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness, including bipolar disorder. The group provides a safe and confidential space for participants to share their experiences, learn coping strategies, and find support. Meetings are free and held weekly or monthly in person or online. See: https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Family and Friends Support Group: DBSA is a national organization that provides support and resources for individuals and families affected by mood disorders, including bipolar disorder. The DBSA Family and Friends Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members and loved ones of individuals living with mood disorders. The group provides a safe and confidential space for participants to share their experiences, learn coping strategies, and find support. Meetings are free and held in person or online. See: https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/chapters-and-support-groups/family-and-friends-support-groups/
- International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) Family and Friends Support Group: IBPF is a nonprofit organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families affected by bipolar disorder. The IBPF Family and Friends Support Group is an online support group for family members and loved ones of individuals living with bipolar disorder. The group provides a safe and confidential space for participants to share their experiences, learn coping strategies, and find support. See: https://ibpf.org/support-groups/family-friends-support-group/
- Mental Health America (MHA) Family and Friends Support Group: MHA is a national organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families affected by mental illness. The MHA Family and Friends Support Group is an online support group for family members and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness, including bipolar disorder. The group provides a safe and confidential space for participants to share their experiences, learn coping strategies, and find support. See: https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups
- Support Groups Central: Support Groups Central is an online resource that provides a directory of support groups for various mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder. The directory includes support groups for family members and loved ones of individuals living with bipolar disorder. The groups listed are led by peers, licensed therapists, or other trained facilitators. See: https://www.supportgroupscentral.com/mental_health.html
What Other Support is Available?
There are several support options available to friends and family members of individuals with bipolar disorder. Here are some examples:
- Education and information: Learning more about bipolar disorder can help friends and family members understand the condition and better support their loved one. This can include reading books or articles about bipolar disorder or attending educational workshops or support groups.
- Therapy and counseling: Therapy or counseling can be helpful for family and friends of those with bipolar disorder to work through their own emotional and psychological reactions to the condition. This can also help them develop effective communication skills and coping strategies for managing the challenges of supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder.
- Family-focused therapy: Family-focused therapy is a type of therapy that involves the whole family in treatment. It aims to improve communication, reduce family conflict, and help family members work together to support their loved one with bipolar disorder.
- Respite care: Respite care provides temporary relief for family members who are caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder. This can involve arranging for a trained caregiver to provide in-home support or temporarily placing the loved one in a respite care facility.
- Self-care resources: Friends and family members of those with bipolar disorder may also benefit from self-care resources, such as stress-management techniques or support for their own mental health needs.