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Loved One With Bipolar Disorder? |
Bipolar Disorder - Life in the Balance
Currently, as high as 15% of people in the United States have bi-polar - a
mental illness plagued by extreme mood swings ranging from elevated mood (mania)
to severe depression. With this illness, life can truly hang in the balance. In
fact, experts say the lifetime risk of suicide in patients with Bipolar Disorder
averages between 8% and 20%. Unfortunately, that is 10 to 20 times higher than
that of the rest of the population. Suicide has had a stigma associated with it for too long. When a person with Bipolar Disorder is undergoing treatment, they need to have a strong connection with the doctor. Since suicide is a common thought for these individuals, the shame that goes along with that can actually interfere with the therapeutic progress, making it difficult to treat the disorder successfully. Studies show that more than 50% of people with bipolar that committed suicide never even received mental health services. That means people with a treatable mental illness are dying unnecessarily. With better education, support, and care, bipolar can be treated giving that person a chance at life, a chance to life normally in a productive environment. The depressive "black hole" is commonly thought about when someone becomes suicidal. Although we know that suicide is not the reasonable solution, when in the midst of a bipolar episode, it sometimes seems like the only viable option. In truth, recovery from depression is the solution. The good news is that today, new treatments and medications are available whereas years ago, not only was there a stigma toward manic depression (Bipolar Disorder) but few effective treatment options. If you have a family member or friend with Bipolar Disorder, you should always be aware to the risks associated with suicide. Some of the more obvious include the following:
Keep in mind that these signs of suicide risk are just a few examples. If you have a loved one with bipolar, you should invest in a number of books that outline all the risks of suicide so you are prepared and knowledgeable about all the warning signs. Even so, there is no substitute for making sure your friend or loved one gets help from a licensed and caring therapist. The person with bipolar needs to understand what is happening so a proper evaluation can be performed, leading to the right type of treatment. One action you can take to help is by creating a suicide prevention list, which would consist of 10 people along with their contact phone numbers. The list should include people known to the individual with bipolar and who are willing and able to provide support and comfort. The list should include friends who can be reached at specific hours of the day or night along with people available 24 hours a day. Most importantly, make sure one or more contacts can be reached at any given time. Another excellent action plan is to create a list of reasons for living. Then, place this list someplace obvious in the home to provide the person with bipolar with solid affirmation. Included on this list you might add things such as:
Please remember that for the suicidal person, he or she feels so bad that it seems as if nothing can make it better. For the person with bipolar on a suicidal path, there seems to be no way out. This individual experiences tunnel vision when wanting to do self-harm. It is also important to remember that suicidal people are not bad. The problem is that the level of depression being felt is so intense and the pain so deep, that only other people having been in this same situation could truly understand the pain and the overwhelming sense of needing "out." For the friend or family member who has never been in this type of situation, it can be frustrating but even so, they would do anything required to help the loved one. However, the fact remains that friends and family give up - all the time, leaving the person with Bipolar to deal with something far too great. If you do intervene, stopping someone from completing suicide, expect to be
met with both anger and resistance. In fact, the person with bipolar is likely
to yell and scream while threatening never to speak to you again, or worse.
Remind yourself that this is normal behavior for this person at that time and
you must take the chance to help. If the individual chooses never to speak to
you again, then so be it. At least you took the measures to save that person's
life. The pain you might feel from having a broken relationship is far better
than the pain you would feel if he or she carried out the threat of suicide. If you have Bipolar Disorder and are at an emotional extreme, never make any
major life-altering decisions. This time of emotional turmoil is the absolute
worst time to make serious decisions and by delaying the gratification of
wanting out or wanting it all to end will save you, your family, and friends,
tremendous heartache. Most importantly - suicide is permanent! Once that line is
crossed - there is no point of return. Therefore, do not leave your friends and
family asking what they could have done to help you, making life for you easier. Although suicide is a dark topic, we need to turn the table to look at this
subject in a positive light to keep friends and family members alive. Bipolar
Disorder is not an easy illness to life with but it can be done. This disease is
complicated, frustrating, and challenging. To help open your eyes, I will share
a few things of importance with you to help increase your awareness as to the
seriousness of this problem. I am living proof that a good therapist, several doctor changes, and numerous
medication regiments later - life can be good. I honestly believe that my
therapist is the reason I am here today. For one, he never gave up on me. I have
been in the "black hole", not wanting to live but with hard work, I
have discovered just how rewarding and fulfilling life can be. Medication and psychotherapy are essential - NEVER give up About The Author Gaylene Jarnes is a contributing author for www.BipolarCentral.com. Back to Article List |
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Featured Article:
Being the Ultimate Perfectionist By Michele Soloway Sexton
I am the ultimate perfectionist. Yes, me. I even got a fortune cookie one time that said, "You have a yearning for perfection," do you believe that?" Even Confucius knows it!
But it's a real battle for me. I expect things from myself that I would never expect from anyone else, and it really messes with my bipolar disorder, because, well, no one's perfect, and no one can live with that kind of stress.
So I was talking to someone about it lately, and they told me, "It's ok to strive for perfection, as long as you don't expect to arrive at perfection."
It's ok to make mistakes. That's what I've been learning. If you don't learn that, you'll be bound up in fear (another thing that's bad for our bipolar disorder). |
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