Other Ways To Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder
You can also support your loved one by:
Learning about bipolar disorder. Learn everything you can about the symptoms and treatment options. The more you know about bipolar disorder, the better equipped youll be to help your loved one and keep things in perspective.
Encouraging the person to get help. The sooner bipolar disorder is treated, the better the prognosis, so urge your loved one to seek professional help right away. Dont wait to see if they will get better without treatment.
Being understanding. Let your friend or family member know that youre there if they need a sympathetic ear, encouragement, or assistance with treatment. People with bipolar disorder are often reluctant to seek help because they dont want to feel like a burden to others, so remind the person that you care and that youll do whatever you can to help.
Showing patience. Getting better takes time, even when a person is committed to treatment. Dont expect a quick recovery or a permanent cure. Be patient with the pace of recovery and prepare for setbacks and challenges. Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process.
The importance of support in bipolar disorder recovery
People with bipolar disorder do better when they have support from family members and friends. They tend to recover more quickly, experience fewer manic and depressive episodes, and have milder symptoms.
Tips For Interacting With Someone Who Experiences Bipolar Anger
Interacting with someone who experiences the symptoms of bipolar anger can be challenging. So first, practice healthy coping skills to avoid the common pitfalls discussed above. As you begin to understand your loved ones condition better, youll also learn to anticipate and manage their anger.
In the meantime, here are a dozen quick strategies to help you cope until you can find a therapist:
How Common Are Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are relatively common in adults, with depression and bipolar disorder being the most common. Approximately 7% of adults in the United States have depression, while about 2.8% have bipolar disorder.
Mood disorders are commonly seen in children and adolescents approximately 15% have any mood disorder.
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Strategies To Deal With An Angry Person
- Find out the root cause of anger. If possible, do not take an angry persons words personally. Remain objective and calm while listening to what they have to say. Avoid getting into a heated argument by taking responsibility for your actions if you are in part responsible for their emotions being triggered.
- People may get mad at you. You should stay away from them for a while or ask how to fix the problem with them. If they are angry, this will just make it worse, and they will become even angrier.
- Dont make the situation worse by yelling back. If someone is carrying a weapon, they might get violent if you do this.
- Walk away if things get too heated, and avoid places where the potential for an altercation is high.
- Take a time-out yourself to regain your composure before attempting to talk again.
Various therapies can help deal with an angry person such as anger management therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. If you know someone who tends to fly off the handle easily, it might be worth suggesting they seek out professional help to learn how to better manage their emotions in healthy ways. Its not always easy to stay calm when dealing with someone elses anger, but hopefully, these tips will give you a place to start.
Seek Support & Therapy
If dealing with bipolar rage becomes overwhelming, it is appropriate to seek support. Especially when the individual is a loved one, lives with you, or lives in close proximity. Seeing a counselor in an outpatient setting may provide a safe space to discuss your experience and devise adaptive coping skills.
In-person or online support groups are also helpful. Here, you can meet with others in similar situations to find common ground, provide support, and share adaptive coping skills and resources.
To find a therapist who specializes in anger management and bipolar disorders, you can ask your primary care provider for a referral or check in an online therapist directory.
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You’re Acting Like A Maniac
Though the historical definition of “maniac” referred to someone experiencing mania, today the term carries with it a host of extremely negative and misleading connotations.
Maniacs are often portrayed as violent and deranged in popular culture. Experiencing bipolar mania does not automatically mean that a person will be dangerous. Bipolar disorder is also not the same thing as antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy.
You should also be wary of any language that defines a person by their disorder. A person is much more than a disease or illness.
How To Deal With Someone Who Is Bipolar And Angry 16 Helpful Ways
Dealing with mental health issues is never easy. Its always this emotional rollercoaster where you end up feeling dizzy after the ride. Thats why were here to help.
While every case is different, there are a few common methods on how to deal with someone who is bipolar and angry. Remember that tough times dont last, tough people do.
If you have a relative or loved one experiencing bipolar symptoms, do everything you can to help them. Just remember this: none of this is in their control and being diagnosed with this disorder wasnt a choice.
The first step in helping someone with bipolar disorder is understanding their problem. Everyone has mood swings to some extent. However, in bipolar people, their moods go into overdrive. So, what is bipolar disorder specifically?
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. This brain disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from manic to depressive episodes.
A manic episode is a period of high energy and productivity, euphoria , and/or irritability, all leading to a loss of sleep.
A depressive episode generally includes symptoms such as low energy, sadness, excessive crying, and general disinterest in daily activities. According to WHO, approximately 280 million people in the world are in depression.
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Understand That People With Bipolar Have Limitations
Treatment can certainly help people with bipolar manage their symptoms, and some people go a long time without experiencing any manic or depressive episodes, but this doesnt mean the bipolar has gone away. For most people, bipolar is a life-long condition that can be managed but not cured. Its entirely possible for someone with bipolar disorder to live a normal life and have healthy relationships, but there has to be a level of understanding from those around them that they may need some consistent adjustments to help them achieve this.
Its important to remain empathetic to what your loved one is feeling without ignoring or enabling unhelpful behaviour. The key lies in communication and understanding. A person with bipolar is not always able to balance their emotions in the same way that you might be able to, and they may take longer and find it more difficult to gain composure. If theyre experiencing a manic episode that is causing anger, they may need guidance and help from you or a medical professional to allow them to regulate their emotions.
Help Them See Rationally
They may calm down a little once they have expressed their rage through physical exercise, art, or words. This is when you should help them realize that the issue they were unhappy about can be dealt with by being calm.
Explain to them how their situation could be seen differently and paint it more positively. If no environmental factors caused the anger, they realize that their anger stems from their negative thought patterns and that treatment is necessary to overcome this.
You can also voice if their words affected you or if you were scared or concerned about their actions. Voicing your concerns will help them reflect and think about their actions. Eventually, their anger outbursts will be more controlled.
Step 11 on how to deal with someone who is bipolar and angry:
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How To Manage Your Anger
Most importantly, you need to get professional treatment for bipolar disorder. This is a serious mental health condition that is also chronic. To improve symptoms and stabilize moods you need ongoing care. A good option is to start with a stay in residential treatment, which will give you the ability to focus on treatment and learning strategies to use once you leave the facility.
Residential treatment is especially beneficial in the treatment of bipolar anger because, in addition to intensive psychotherapy and medication management, it allows you to focus on specific ways to manage anger, outbursts, and aggression:
Begin Your Recovery Journey.
Bipolar Disorder And Anger: Why It Happens And How To Cope
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unexpected and often dramatic shifts in mood.
During whats known as a manic period, these moods can be intense and euphoric. During a depressive period, they may leave you feeling sad and despairing. Thats why bipolar disorder is also sometimes called manic-depressive disorder.
The changes in mood associated with bipolar disorder cause changes in energy too. People experiencing a bipolar disorder episode often have different behaviors, activity levels, and more.
People with bipolar disorder often experience irritability. This emotion is common during manic episodes, but it can occur at other times too.
A person whos irritable is easily upset and often bristles at others attempts to help them. They may be easily annoyed or aggravated with someones requests to talk. If the requests become persistent or other factors come into play, the person may anger easily and often.
Keep reading to learn more about what may be behind this emotion and what you can do about it.
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Stay Calm And Approach Slowly
Sometimes trying to help also could be an annoying gesture to them, therefore, try to avoid any compulsive behavior like provokingly questioning them or using physical strength to bring them down. If they are not acting dangerously trying to harm themselves or others, its better to give them the space they are asking for and try to talk to them in a calm manner.
When To Seek Medical Treatment
Bipolar illness is a chronic condition that must be evaluated and handled on an ongoing basis throughout a lifespan. If you notice the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder in someone, encourage them to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Staying silent will not make it go away on the contrary, it will almost likely exacerbate it. While they may be in remission and doing well, they must be attentive to detecting and coping with possible triggers and collaborating closely with their treating doctors to preserve stability.
Treatment for bipolar disorder can be beneficial and can considerably enhance the overall quality of life if given enough time. To discover the best combination of medications and the most effective dosages might take a long time. Furthermore, finding effective therapy might also take some time.
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Getting Access To The Right Bipolar Disorder Treatment & Support
It is important for someone with bipolar disorder to engage with the right treatment. At Priory, we work with people on both an outpatient and inpatient basis to help them manage their symptoms and reduce the intensity of any future episodes. We also work with family and friends to make sure that everyone is fully supported for life going forward.
Changes In Sleep Routines Or Sleep Deprivation
Changes in sleep routines or sleep deprivation can lead to an increased likelihood of irritability and anger. Trouble sleeping is a common symptom when someone with bipolar is experiencing mania or hypomania and can lead to increased irritability if there is a crash or low period following the manic period.
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Bipolar Disease And Anger Issues
It is not an easy task to keep all your natural instincts and emotions aside, understand the mindset of a bipolar person and assist them, who are in need of you. Its a great support that you are staying by their side and even trying to help, understanding the situation and provide good care to the person you care about.
Let us help you figure out how to deal with someone who is bipolar and angry?, what you can do to maintain a good relationship with them while helping them to get a hold on their condition.
Overview Of Bipolar Disorder
If you want to know how to support a friend or loved one with bipolar disorder, learning more about the condition can be a helpful first step. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood. These shifts in mood make it difficult for a person to function in their daily life including at work, at home, and in relationships.
The mood fluctuations that people experience can include mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. It is also important to recognize that bipolar disorder is strongly influenced by genetics, but environmental factors, such as poor social support and trauma, are also thought to play a role in triggering the onset of the condition.
Statistics suggest that around 4.4% of adults in the U.S. have bipolar disorder.
Some things that you should never say to someone who has bipolar disorder include the following.
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Bipolar Disorder And The Family
Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can cause stress and tension in the home. On top of the challenge of dealing with your loved ones symptoms and their consequences, family members often struggle with feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and helplessness. Ultimately, the strain can cause serious relationship problems. But there are better ways to cope.
The first step to successfully dealing with bipolar disorder is for families to learn to accept the illness and its difficulties. When youre feeling frustrated or guilty, remember that bipolar disorder isnt anyones fault. Accepting bipolar disorder involves acknowledging that things may never again be normal.
Treatment can make a huge difference for your loved one, but it may not take care of all symptoms or impairments. To avoid disappointment and resentments, its important to have realistic expectations. Expecting too much of your family member can be a recipe for failure. On the other hand, expecting too little can also hinder their recovery, so try to find a balance between encouraging independence and providing support.
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Signs Of Uncontrolled Anger
Signs of uncontrollable anger associated with bipolar disorder are similar to those of traditional anger and rage and those with other diagnosable conditions such as intermittent explosive disorder . There are many common warning signs that one is becoming angry. These warning signs provide an opportunity to enact adaptive coping skills to return to a healthy baseline.
Physical warning signs of bipolar anger include:9
- Racing heart rate
- Property damage
- Threatening or assaulting people or animals
Ultimately, the explosion may lead to individuals being hurt or killed and the offender receiving social and legal repercussions, including compromised relationships, financial penalties, and time in prison.
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Effects Of Anger On Complacency
Some relationships that orbit around bipolar anger symptoms can turn abusive, and thats not okay. Neither is just dealing with abuse to keep the peace. There needs to be mutual respect and understanding despite any underlying, undiagnosed, or untreated mental health conditions.
Meanwhile, abuse can take many forms. It can be physical, mental, emotional, financial, sexual, or verbal. Heres how to tell the difference:
- Physical abuse consists of hitting, pushing, grabbing, kicking, or other unwanted physical contacts.
- Mental abuse is when someone uses manipulative tactics to coerce certain reactions and behaviors.
- Emotional abuse involves passive-aggressiveness, controlling, and blaming others for bad behavior.
- Financial abuse is defined as unfair or manipulatively restricting living expenses to incite behaviors or reactions.
- Sexual abuse is when someone inappropriately touches you, becomes uncomfortably suggestive, or harasses you about sex.
- Verbal abuse consists of throwing insults, belittling, calling names, and trying to embarrass or shame you.
Remember, having a mental illness is not an excuse to be abusive. If you or your loved one becomes violent or cruel, seek help right away.
How To Cope With A Loved One With Bipolar Anger
If you want to learn how to help someone with bipolar disorder, the first thing to know is that youre doing the best you can. Loving someone with this condition means being willing to face an array of challenges and obstacles that can be incredibly difficult. Its important to acknowledge just how taxing this relationship is on you. Then, you can focus on remaining patient when you face challenges like bipolar anger or rage.
The following tips can help you maintain the best relationship possible with your loved one who has bipolar anger:
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