Bipolar disorder, like any health condition, can introduce challenges to a relationship. It provides clear, concrete ways of giving the support. I try like many others i am sure to keep bipolar disorder from wrecking my family. Apr 19, 2012 loving someone with bipolar disorder really is a mustread for anyone who does.
Friendships are quite difficult to maintain when you have bipolar disorder, so it is very special when you find people willing to go through the highs and the lows with you. Loving someone with bipolar disorder, second edition. Jun 04, 2019 bipolar disorder is a treatable mental illness from which recovery is possible. Everyone sharing a kitchen and a bathroom is affected. This second edition is fully updated with the latest research findings on bipolar disorder. Its possible to have a healthy, happy relationship with someone living with bipolar disorder. Loving someone with bipolar disorder really is a mustread for anyone who does. However, living with bipolar or a bipolar person can be extremely challenging due to treatment issues and the issues around bipolar disorder itself. These experiences run the gamut from wonderful and exciting to confusing, disappointing and devastating. My happy sad mummy is an engaging and sensitive picture book. With the supportive and helpful information, strategies, and reallife examples. Study up on the symptoms, so you can recognize them in yourself, and research all your available treatment options.
When his son is arrested for breaking and entering and. My life with bipolar ii disorderthe other side of me. Russ federman, phd, abpp, director of counseling and psychological services at the university of virginia and author of facing bipolar. Bipolar disorder is a treatable mental illness from which recovery is possible. The author has thoroughly explained bipolar disorder through her book for anyone, whether they have someone who struggles with bipolar or not, to understand what it is and what to do about it.
Living with someone whos living with bipolar disorder on. The book gives an open, honest account of what it is like to care for a family member with bipolar disorder. Over the coming weeks we will be featuring key chapters from his book. Nov 26, 2014 living with someone who has bipolar disorder can be difficult.
Living with a husband or wife who has bipolar disorder can be difficult. As someone living with a significant other with bipolar disorder, not only is it a challenge for the individual, but also for their family, friends and caregivers. Living with bipolar disorder a guide for individuals and families michael w. Natasha tracy is an awardwinning writer and speaker and an expert on living with bipolar disorder. Loving someone with bipolar disorder offers information and stepbystep advice for helping your partner manage mood swings and impulsive actions, allowing you to finally focus on enjoying your relationship while also taking time for yourself. This category does not include the mental disorders that we evaluate under trauma and stressorrelated disorders 12. Tips on living with someone with bipolar the recovery. Being married to a person with depression or bipolar. After seeking treatment holliday has found a balance that allows.
If bipolar is not well managed or if previously reliable management strategies or medications become ineffective, mood episodes can rear up and pose new obstacles not just for the person with bipolar but also for those around us. Great book with a detailed introduction to living with someone who are suffering of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder affects about 1% of the population. Be a full and active participant in your own treatment. Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can be very hard, whether youre a partner, parent, child, or friend of someone who has this condition. In her book, when someone you love is bipolar, psychologist cynthia last, ph. Living with someone who has bipolar disorder can be difficult. Examples of disorders that we evaluate in this category include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and obsessivecompulsive disorder. Living with manic depressive illness bantam, 1992 patty duke wrote her memoir call me anna in 1987, but was approached to write another book specifically about bipolar disorder. At the age of 36, after decades of living with erratic and selfdestructive behavior that tortured her family, julie kraft finally received a diagnosisbipolar ii disorder. Consider reading a set, including a memoir for insight. Living with bipolar disorder means youre dealing with challenges every day that other people may not always understand. About 3% of adults in this country experience the condition, which. Apr 11, 2019 holliday is diagnosed with bipolar disorder type ii.
From the highs of mania and hypomania to the lows of depression, it can be a lot to manage thats why it can be so comforting to read books written by andor for people with bipolar disorder. Jul, 2010 10 tips for coping with a bipolar spouse. She also wrote a book about her life with bipolar disorder. Discovering how someone else is finding their way through daily life with bipolar disorder can give you ideas for how to approach some of your. Imagine 10 people holding your hand through all of those ups and downs. In his book bipolar life hacks, a personal guide to the selfmanagement of bipolar disorder david hillman provides strategies, hints and tips that he has found useful to manage his condition over the years. You learn from people, but you also help other people. The book includes guidance for identifying bipolar disorder symptoms and how to get the diagnosis confirmed strategies for dealing with rants, attacks, blame, depression, mania and other behaviors crucial information on medication and its effectiveness and potential sideeffects techniques for dealing with attempts to selfmedicate with drugs. Great resource of resources for get this living with someone whos living with bipolar disorder. From psychotic behavior that requires medication to milder mood swings with disturbing ups and down, this book offers a warm and often humorous userfriend guide for coping with bipolar loved ones. Pete earley is an award winning journalist and devoted father to his son living with bipolar disorder. The author jean johnston recounts how she dealt with the diagnosis, treatment, and. This book will help the loved ones of people living with bipolar disorder to better understand its challenges. Bipolar disorder is, on average, diagnosed around age 25, but it can be spotted in teens and more rarely even younger children.
If you love someone who has bipolar disorder, this warm, sometimes humorous, userfriendly book will give you the information you need to deal with changing. I would recommend this book to anyone who has or anyone who knows someone else who struggles with bipolar disorder. Living with someone whos living with bipolar disorder. Ten years later, i published a book about our marriage, and have had a lot of sleepless nights and many lessons learned about loving someone with bipolar disorder.
Living with bipolar and living with someone who is bipolar. However, living with bipolar or a bipolar person can be extremely challenging due to treatment issues. Navigating bipolar relationships book bipolar lives. Living with someone with a mental illness can present a unique set of challenges, and bipolar disorder is no exception. Hear our revealing conversation about how she nearly destroyed her family and read an excerpt from her memoir. Try these tips for coping with the inevitable mood swings. I highly recommend it even for those who actually have bipolar disorder so they can understand a little bit better how their loved ones perspective is as their own symptoms surface.
This article addresses some of the issues that can arise when dealing with a spouse with bipolar disorder. Ive been going for almost two years now, and i can tell you that it has really helped me. Here are 9 books that will help you better understand. Sometimes the problems are so severe that a person must be. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Understanding and helping your partner 1st by fast, julie a. In a lot of cases, it comes down to taking my medication on a regular basis which historically i have not always done. People with bipolar experience high and low moodsknown as mania and depressionwhich differ from the typical upsanddowns most people experience. Feb 01, 2004 buy loving someone with bipolar disorder. When youre married to someone with bipolar disorder. There are as many experiences with bipolar disorder as there are people with bipolar. It also gives good insides to how it must feel to have the illness yourself. A variety of selfhelp books can help you or your loved one manage this illness. This book explains the symptoms of your partners disorder and offers strategies for preventing them.
At bipolarlives, were constantly seeking to help others discover the healthiest, most effective ways of dealing with bipolar disorder. In a recent nami meeting i attended, the parents of children with bipolar disorder shared their experiences with the sudden changes in behavior that make each day, week and month a. If you love someone who has bipolar disorder, this warm, sometimes humorous, userfriendly book will give you the information you need to deal with changing moods, turbulent ups and downs, depression, mania, and other behaviors that are disturbing. You learn how to manage your condition with the help of others. Jan 01, 2004 great book with a detailed introduction to living with someone who are suffering of bipolar disorder. Some aspects of my life could have been much simpler had i read this book 20 years. However, there may also be specific indicators that suggest taking another look.
Maintaining a relationship is hard enough without the added challenges of your partners bipolar disorder symptoms. Mar 12, 2020 living with someone whos living with bipolar disorder. Holliday is diagnosed with bipolar disorder type ii. Here are 9 books that will help you better understand bipolar. It really is a great book with very useful information. Author cynthia last, phd, a therapist in boca raton, florida, treats patients with bipolar and suffers. Living with bipolar disorder provides worksheets and forms to help readers reinforce skills and practices learned in therapy, as well as useful information about the details of living with bipolar disorder, advice on the best ways to avoid relapses, and strategies for anticipating problems. Mental health books international bipolar foundation. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a persons mood, energy and ability to think clearly. The book is all about helping those who are friends with someone living with bipolar disorder. For years she lived with cycles of hypomania followed by a deep depression. Bipolar disorder affects between 1 2% of the population and can affect young parents in particular as it usually begins in late adolescence. Living with someone with bipolar disorder the recovery village.
A practical guide for family, friends, and coworkers audible audiobook unabridged chelsea lowe author, bruce m. Understanding and helping your partner the new harbinger loving someone series paperback january 2, 2012. However, there may also be specific indicators that suggest taking another look at the relationship. Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can cause stress and tension in the home. This book provides a muchneeded resource for family and friends of the more than 5 million american adults suffering from bipolar disorder. And while the most obvious aspect of bipolar treatment might be helping the sufferer alleviate his or her symptoms, just as integral to achieving happiness is learning to enhance and maintain the quality of relationships between those. Cynthia last and her husband, authors of when someone you love is bipolar, is reprinted with permission of guilford press. This week we are sharing his advice on how to prevent mania. Depression and bipolar disorder are often family diseases. 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. The charttopping singer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, but she told people magazine she lived in denial and isolation for years. I am not able to evaluate if the methods in the book are usable in real life, but they sound reasonable.