You’re Not Alone: Building a Strong Support System

Dr. Dave Scheiderer: Hi. I'm Dr. Dave, a board certified psychiatrist. Possibly the most important thing I'll say is that you need to ask for help. Ask for help. I'm going to say it again. It is a cornerstone of treatment for bipolar I to have a strong support system around you. Sometimes bipolar I can frustrate, confuse, confound, leave everybody involved feeling helpless, sometimes even hopeless. By prioritizing self care on the other hand, loved ones will be more helpful in the long run, and those experiencing bipolar I will feel more supported.

Now, here are some ways for patients and their friends and family to work together. No one should be left to do it alone. Remember that different people may be able to help in different ways, and it can be useful to build up a support network. Reaching out for help with people who you trust and who your loved ones trust is one of the best things you can do.

Keep in mind that while support is key, it is still the person who suffers from bipolar I that has the ultimate responsibility to manage it. Bipolar I disorder is a complex condition that needs ongoing management and support rather than something that can be cured.

Now, along the same lines. Education is vital. Friends and family will need to be educated, as most of us are unfamiliar with mood disorders like bipolar I and how they work and how they affect the individual suffering from it.

Now, this unfamiliarity can make it difficult to understand what someone with bipolar I is going through. The good news is we now have a deeper understanding about bipolar I disorder and the importance of working with your healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan. Why is this education of our support system so necessary? One of the reasons is that quite often a person living with bipolar I disorder is unable to recognize that they are experiencing a different mood, that they are becoming symptomatic, especially if they have been recently diagnosed.

Friends and family can help by taking note of what they're seeing. “Is this consistent with prior mood episodes or is this something entirely different?” And if they are authorized to do so, they can really help by communicating these changes and symptoms to healthcare providers.

The take home message is ask for help. You cannot do this alone. Resources like this website are a great place to start.