how to support someone with bipolar

[bitoanissue]

Hello,
I've name changed for this but any advice on how to support DD who has just been sectioned. She is a young adult and has had diagnosis for a while.
What is good/practical that I can do to help support her? Anything that isn't useful too?
DD is rational about some areas of her life but not others. The idea is that hospital will be able to treat her better there than in the community

Bump, if anyone can offer any advice?

Sorry to hear that. How old is she? I think all you can be is there for her. Can you take in any puzzle books or things that occupy her mind? My mum had bipolar and we suspect my son may have it (he is in his 20s and on some serious medication!). I think the hardest is them not wanting to take the meds because they don’t like the impact of them but then deteriorating seriously without them.

i have a close relative with BP. All I can say is look after yourself first. Then support them.
Also encourage them to take their meds, and keep working if they can. Routine is really important… good luck!

Thank you

If you've met one person with BPAD you have met one person with BPAD. You know your daughter best and you know how to support her when she's distressed. I would focus on that rather than the diagnosis.

Like someone said, look after yourself first.

And as a side note being asked if I have taken my medication makes me incandescent.

This sound hard and you sound very caring... 💐
Getting back to a baseline / just getting discharged has to be the priority for now...

Bipolar presents differently in men and women...

I dont want to depress you too much by getting into what I went through with my dad in depth but topline.

1. put your own oxygen mask on first. Bipolar will take... and take.
2. Impress she needs to stay on her meds. (Compliance is terrible with bipolar)
3. Get her on good contraception
4. Help her stay on the meds if you can.

My father was an absolute fucker for not taking them and i've come to the conclusion he didnt give a shit who was collateral damage.

Do the highs involve spending?
My dad would do shit like come home with dogs / cars / skis and random skiboots (none of us could ski) once he brought home a circus tent etc....
He did a short inpatient stay once then discharged himself (it was somewhere very ooh la la like the priory or something)

Obviously the impulsive spending is financially ruinous so might be research ways/ strategies that can help her keep that in check. (I can hear Martin Lewis mumbling in my mind...Do you want it? Do you need it? Can you afford it? 😅)

💐💐💐💐💐

We‘ve been through some of this already. She agreed she needed to go to hospital and wants to get on an even keel. She does need to be there and get medication right. I guess I am thinking about practical stuff and trying to be supportive

My mum had bipolar and so do her sisters, I’ve seen them all hospitalised at various times.

She’s being looked after so that’s important, I think it’s good to keep an eye on what her triggers are for a high or low and try to help her recognise them.

When she can’t, and if another time you do need to insist she goes to hospital then do it for her own good, even if she’s not keen/not listening.

Whilst I’m not suggesting arguing with her, if she’s having strange delusions or ideas don’t agree with her just to keep the peace, it won’t do her any good in the long run.

Once they’ve got her on meds and if they’re helping encourage her to keep taking them, my mum was terrible for deciding she was ok now and stopping, failing to realise it was the meds that were making her ok…

I have bipolar. Sleep and meds are essential for me to stay well.

I also find that the lows match the highs so the slightest hint of upturn of mood and I take extra meds for a few days to nip it in the bud, otherwise I'm in for a longer period of low mood. This is advice for further down the line once she's more stable

Also I would say that the first thing you need for recovery is to accept that it is a lifelong condition. She doesn't have to like it, but accepting is key. Easier said than done though...

DD got a bed yesterday evening. I hope now that they begin to look at her meds and begin to start helping her to find ways to cope with rapid cycling between highs and suicidal lows

I have bipolar and the most important things for me is routine and taking my meds.

I’m really careful at monitoring my moods and recognising when I’m going high or low but sometimes it’s my DC who will notice which is heartbreaking.

Make sure you take care of yourself first. My xdh told me is was draining watching me go and up and it was a major reason why we eventually broke up.