How The Bipolar Spouse Copes

By Laura Collins


Bipolar disorder is something that can leave one feeling fearful, depressed, withdrawn and manic. It is something that can affect you your entire life. However, there is treatment available. Unfortunately, this is a slow process and there are still times when people have their ups and downs. For the bipolar spouse, they especially will have trouble dealing with their partner.

This especially plays a part when the person has just been diagnosed. They won't know how to deal with the sudden change in behavior. Sometimes, they themselves become depressed because they don't know what to expect from their husband or wife. This is where therapy is important because one receives a lot of guidance in this way. There are psychologists who are specialized in dealing with bipolar.

There are also a lot of techniques that one can learn in dealing with the situation. It is important to know what to when the person with bipolar becomes manic or they have outbursts of anger. When there is a sudden change of behavior, often one does not realize what their spouse is going through. Nobody is aware that it is fact bipolar which they are suffering from.

When there is a sudden change in behavior, it is necessary that the couple go to a professional psychologist. The sooner someone assesses them, the better. It can be really difficult to cope with this problem when it drags on for a great length of time. In fact, this is where it can lead to separation. When children are involved in the situation, one needs to make sure that they are not affected.

The spouse needs to make sure that their life does not revolve around the disorder, and that they are still focusing on their marriage. However, some form of support is still necessary. They need to make sure that their partner receives encouragement because this will motivate them in life. This will help them with their goals. One needs to show compassion and empathy as well as understanding.

There are different treatments available, and the spouse needs to make sure that the person with bipolar is getting all the help that they need. This may come in the form of psychologists or psychiatrists. They may need medication. The spouse is the person who can keep an eye on things, making sure that the treatment plan is going well and weather they need to make changes.

Couples may find that anger is a problem. The spouse can be sensitive to this, and this is where it becomes a problem. People with bipolar also take a lot of risks. This often leads to problems with drugs and alcohol. It is just one more problem to deal with. They may have other addictions, such as gambling or eating disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder can also crop up.

Sometimes divorce may be an option because of a spouse who simply can't handle these issues. However, it is necessary to talk to a good therapist before you rush off to the divorce courts. A lot of people feel that they must stick by their spouse who is bipolar, but when you have done all that you can and this is just bringing you down, sometimes a separation is an option.




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