Like other serious illnesses,
bipolar disorder can be difficult for spouses, family members, friends, and
other caregivers.
Relatives and friends often have to cope with the person's
serious behavioral problems, such as wild spending sprees during mania, extreme
withdrawal during depression, or poor work or school performance.
These
behaviors can have lasting consequences.
Caregivers usually take care of the
medical needs of their loved ones.
But caregivers have to deal with how this
affects their own health as well.
Caregivers' stress may lead to missed work or
lost free time, strained relationships with people who may not understand the
situation, and physical and mental exhaustion.
It can be very hard to cope with a
loved one's bipolar symptoms.
One study shows that if a caregiver is under a
lot of stress, his or her loved one has more trouble following the treatment
plan, which increases the chance for a major bipolar episode.
If
you are a caregiver of someone with bipolar disorder, it is important that you
also make time to take care of yourself.
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