Anyone suffering from bi-polar disorder?

Question

my sis is and I need help coping and being a better sister to her. Any sincere suggestions? Getting ready to start going to a support group....thanks

Answer 1

My mom has this and she can't control her mood swings at all, also refuses medicine.  You have to become more aware of your mood swings and what triggers them.

Answer 2

i am. it is tough, and its great you are helping her out so much. the worst is when you feel all alone. get her on some medication it will really help. understand that if she is moody not to get mad at her itll make it worse. if you see she is getting depressed try to get her out and cheer her up. a support group will be great. most people who aren't bipolar don't understand what it is like and they treat you like you're a psycho or you're just plain stupid. i've lost friends by telling them. good luck!

Answer 3

my suggestion would be to just be patient and understanding. its not the easiest thing to go through but being there for her can definitely help. don't be pushy, or make her feel like she cant have control of her life. be supportive. its amazing how much help it is to have some one there by your side supporting you instead of just criticizing you.

:)  

Answer 4

My son has bipolar with manic tendencies.  I was very worried for my daughter.  I am very proud of her too.  My son, when my daughter was away, took everything out of her room and threw it out the window.  He then converted her room (the bigger room) to his own.  

My daughter, realizing how sick he is, NEVER said a word.  She took the smaller room and never held any hard feeling.  He is, however, still sick as we are trying to stabilize him on his meds.  I understand it can take years to get on the right mix of meds.

The mere fact that you asked the question you did, indicates to me that you are a loving and caring sister.  Just do what you are doing.  You sound like a sweetheart of a sister.

Good luck to you and your family.  I wish you the very best.

Answer 5

From family experiance, here are some things that helped us when dealing with BiPolar.

1. Provide information on how diet (no sugar/caffine/or alcohol) can decrease symptoms of BiPolar.

2.  Swimming/baths/showers calms a BiPolar episode.

3. Getting out in nature for walks with your sister will help with her mood.

4.  Interactions with pets/animals will calm the spirit.

5.  Being a good sister means educating yourself and sharing what you learn with your sister and reassuring her that you love her and that her uniqueness just means you will be closer by sharing healthly lifestyles as sisters and this will make you both stronger.

My best wishes to you and your sister on a healthy future.

Answer 6

You need to talk to her.  A lot. And when she's mad give her space. When she's sad give her a hug. Just stay in touch with her. Don't let her feel alone, epically if she knows she had something that's considered a "mental illness".  

Answer 7

Even now, my brother is my tether.  When I'm down, he has me over to lay on the couch staring at the TV holding his dogs and not talking much for however long I need it.  When I'm amped up, he has the patience to listen to me yammer on.  I even can turn my credit cards over if I'm getting to up.  If I start talking about stopping meds, he has a way of putting into a realistic perspective that I can work with my pdoc on side effects and that the meds aren't the real problem, the illness is - it would be worse off them.  There's more.  We have this relationship because we've always been close and when I was diagnosed he didn't stop seeing me as the same sister he'd always known.  He has common sense and he is calm and caring.  He doesn't try to tell me what to do or how to be.  He just accepts me for me.  

The first year or two after being diagnosed can be very difficult.  It can take time to find the right mix of meds that manage the illness and don't cause undue side effects.  There is a big blow to ego and sense of self being diagnosed with a mental illness, too.  It's hard for a while to imagine that your life can be normal.  If your family continues to consider you the same person, it helps.  At the same time, recognizing that the mood states aren't by choice and can be hard to control is important, too.  More important is that you instill in your sister faith and hope that the meds will work and that the episodes will get better.  Learn what you can about bipolar.  Attending support groups with or without your sister is great.  If the first one your go to doesn't feel right, try another.  Some are more high functioning, some have younger people.