It can be difficult to understand a friend or relative diagnosed with bipolar disorder. One day everything is magical and beautiful, they are full of energy and life. The next day (or minute, if they are a rapid cycler) the world is black and everything is a waste of time. As frustrating as it can be to know a person suffering from this disorder, it is ten times more frustrating to be the person suffering. If there is someone in your life who is bipolar, it's important that you take the time to understand a little bit about their disorder so you can be there for them in times of crisis.
People with bipolar disorder cycle have mood swings of varying severity. Some may have deep troughs of depression and only experience a mild mania (usually referred to as hypomania). Others will lead their lives in an almost constant manic state, only to crash suddenly for months to years at a time. In between are the "rapid cyclers", those who will reach states of depression and mania throughout the day. When bipolar illness is at its worst, sufferers can experience extreme states of psychosis. Psychosis is the most dangerous state, often marked by a mixture of mania and depression. When in a psychotic state, the bipolar patient may exhibit many of the hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia: paranoia, hallucinations, sleeplessness, irritability, and delusions of grandeur.
A person suffering from bipolar disorder is not in complete control of their mood swings. There are, however, many coping strategies people can use to help temper the mood swings. It is important that a person with bipolar illness be in treatment - for some that means being on medications and for others it may just mean talk therapy with a solid rescue plan in times of emergency. It's helpful for the bipolar patient to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and all other non-prescribed stimulants or depressants. Regular exercise goes a long way in combating depression, though patients with a tendency towards mania need to be careful to avoid excessive exercise which can stimulate mania. Yoga has been found to be very therapeutic for those with bipolar, particularly in helping to calm those in a state of hypomania.
If you have a person in your life who is suffering from bipolar disorder, the best thing you can do is to try to be supportive. If you see them slipping from their treatment plan, gently encourage them to speak with their counselor. You can offer to do regular exercise or yoga routines with them to help them stay on a schedule. Most of all, be there to listen and try not to be mystified when they change from sunny to gloomy. Remind yourself, and your friend, that this too shall pass.
