DBSA Tennessee Past President, S.L. Brannon
share
  • Home
  • About
  • FIRST BOOK: Two Agreements
  • My new book: A Brand New Day
  • Advocacy
    • Letters to our Governor
    • Advocacy Action Items for DBSA Tennessee
    • Submitted Relative Articles
  • Network Resources
  • Additional Events
  • I\\\\\'ve been there
  • Forums
  • Contacts

Helping your loved one with bipolar

10/23/2016

0 Comments

 
I gained a better understanding of my role and limitations by reading the follow ing article. I trust you find it beneficial also.
10 Ways to Support Someone with Bipolar
When family and friends understand how things are for those of us with bipolar, it helps move us along the road to recovery and helps us all live more harmoniously.
By Stephen Propst


For those of us who have bipolar disorder, we are kidding ourselves if we think we can go it alone. While one of the most profound determinants of making a positive recovery is having support from family and friends, supporting someone with a chronic illness is not easy. When family and friends understand how things are for those of us with bipolar, it helps move us along the road to recovery and helps us all live more harmoniously.
For those who support us, there are ways to reduce stress, improve relationships, and make for a better overall quality of life for everyone. Whether the person has been diagnosed as having bipolar and is compliant, or refuses to admit that anything is even wrong, having the right attitude and the necessary basic knowledge is key. Here are 10 points to keep in mind if you’re serious about offering support that helps, not hinders.
1. Never give up hopeLooking back, the first 10 years of my more than two decades of dealing with bipolar disorder were a seemingly insurmountable struggle, but my loved ones never gave up hope. Despite a situation that often created frustration and hopelessness, they never doubted my recovery. Today, they continue to instill that same undying confidence.
There is one piece of advice for anyone who loves someone with bipolar disorder, and it is this: keep the faith and never give up. There have been many times when there was nothing but hope, and you have living proof that it kept me going. So, let your hope for a loved one spread--it’s contagious.
2. Take some timeTime is one of the hardest concepts to convey to people. We all want immediate results, but with bipolar disorder, so-called overnight success can, in fact, extend to years. Studies show that it can take 10 years or more to even obtain an accurate diagnosis (Living with Bipolar Disorder: How Far Have We Really Come? Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance [DBSA] Constituency Survey, 2001). In my own case, it took eight years before someone accurately put a name to my struggle.
With bipolar disorder, there are simply no quick fixes. Thinking there is a miracle cure only makes matters worse, so instead, help your loved one set realistic goals. The road to recovery is not a straight shot; it’s a winding path with delays, downtimes, and detours. Remember progress can be made, but it takes time. Let patience be your guide.
3. Face the factsBe willing to acknowledge that bipolar disorder is a legitimate disorder. Saying something like, “It’s all in your head,” or “Just snap out of it,” denies that reality. As with diabetes or cancer, bipolar disorder requires medical treatment and management. And as with other chronic conditions, bipolar disorder is initially unfamiliar and frequently unpredictable. It can be gut-wrenching and at times, scary.
It also helps to face the facts when it comes to our current mental health system. If you find it to be disorganized and disconnected, imagine what the patient is experiencing. With your support, a patient can be guided through the maze, find the best care, and stick to a workable treatment plan.
4. Adopt the right attitudeHow you see things does matter. With the amount of stigma and discrimination that exist in society at large, the last thing a patient needs is misguided thinking coming from family and friends. More support is needed, not more shame. The more your response is based on reality and not on myths, the more your support can make a difference.
All too often, family members make a loved one feel as though it isn’t bipolar but rather a character flaw or something brought on by the person. Some even view an occasional setback as though it spells permanent doom. Such flawed thinking may be common, but it’s harmful to the person facing bipolar disorder who needs constructive feedback, not destructive rhetoric.
5. Get educatedPeople who have bipolar disorder often deny that anything’s wrong, and frequently, they don’t stay on their medications. It’s important to learn about these and other nuances of the disorder. Fortunately, there are many resources available today, especially compared to 25 years ago, not the least of which is the Internet.
A national clothing store uses the slogan: “An educated consumer is our best customer.” To support your loved one, consider adopting a similar notion. An educated family member or friend is our best advocate and our greatest source of support.
6. Treat us like adultsA psychiatrist once commented that my body (at the time) was 30-years-old physically, but I was 45 intellectually, and 15 emotionally. Talk about a tough pill to swallow! Bipolar disorder can arrest a person’s emotional maturity and produce behavior that appears very childish and reckless.
Please remember, however, that while someone who has bipolar may act like a child, there is an adult underneath. The world of the person who has bipolar disorder can be full of chaos and confusion, and low self-esteem is common. It can make a big difference when you continue to acknowledge and show respect for the grown human being who is struggling behind all the symptoms.
7. Give us some spaceLiving with a serious illness is a daunting task. It can be a foreign concept to separate yourself from someone you want to help. But as a support person, it is best to establish a loving distance between yourself and the person who has bipolar.
Set boundaries and establish consequences that encourage those who have bipolar to seek recovery on their own, all the while expressing your concern and willingness to help. Be supportive, patient, and understanding—without being used. Effective encouragement is helpful; enabling is not.
An educated family member or friend is our best advocate and our greatest source of support.
8. Forget the pastFrustration often accompanies bipolar disorder. Family and friends can spend countless hours—if not years—wondering what went wrong. Avoid making matters worse by wallowing in the past.
Pointing fingers solves nothing, blaming is not the answer, and getting angry only makes matters worse. Bitterness and resentment can sometimes act as a trigger and incite more of the behavior you want to stop. Instead, focus on helping make tomorrow better. That’s true support.
9. Take care of yourselfThe family suffers right along with the person who has bipolar disorder, so, it’s important for you to develop your own coping skills. Only if you take care of yourself can you help. All too often caregivers end up becoming ill.
During training, emergency medical technicians are taught to never put their lives in obvious jeopardy to save someone else’s. If they did so, they’d be unable to help anyone. Likewise the same is true for you while you are caring for your loved one. Remember that you have yourself—and probably others—to care for as well.
10. Find a healthy balanceThere are so many questions: “How much should I be willing to do?” “Should we use tough love?” “How long does this go on?” “How long should we wait before we intervene?” and on and on and on. Bipolar disorder is tough. It’s like walking a tightrope sometimes, where you’ve got to learn to balance your own welfare with the interest you have in supporting the person with bipolar.
You also have to find a healthy balance when it comes to the support you offer. Learn to take things in stride, one day at a time. There’s a time to help and a time to step back; a time to speak and a time to listen; a time to be patient and a time to be insistent.
Now, you have some valuable points to ponder as you help your loved one pursue recovery. The more you’re in the know, the better equipped you are to offer the type of support that can make a positive difference. The reward is a brighter, happier future—for everyone involved.
I know it’s worth the effort.
Printed as “Points to ponder: Help from parents, partners, and pals”, Fall 2005 bphope.com

0 Comments

I AM strong . . . but

10/15/2016

0 Comments

 
I am strong but still . . .
0 Comments

. . . not who I am .

10/12/2016

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

National Mental Health Awareness Month

10/6/2016

0 Comments

 
October is a special month because it has a variety of mental health "awareness" days:
  • October 2-9: MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK
  • October 4: NATIONAL DAY of PRAYER for MENTAL ILLNESS RECOVERY & UNDERSTANDING
  • October 6: NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY
  • October 10: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
0 Comments

We must NEVER give up!

10/5/2016

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

National Mental Health Awareness

10/5/2016

0 Comments

 
How Can Mental Health Screening Help?
Screening for Mental Health

Do you think mental health screening can help address deficiencies in our nation’s approach to diagnosing the treating mood disorders? Policymakers certainly think so: mental health screening is an essential component of several pieces of legislation, incorporating the finding that early detection of mental health conditions increases the likelihood of successful treatment.

Mental health screening is private and anonymous, cost-effective, quick, and accessible, and it provides information and encouragement for people to seek help early. This Thursday is National Depression Screening Day, so there’s still time to rally your network to participate! Here, the nonprofit organization Screening for Mental Health tells why screening is important and how it supports workplace mental health.

Why mental health matters in the workplace

It is estimated that about one-third of those with a mental illness are employed. And according to the National Institute on Mental Illness, nearly a quarter of the U.S. workforce (28 million workers ages 18-54) will experience a mental or substance abuse disorder. Despite these significant statistics, 71 percent of workers with mental illnesses have never sought help from a medical or mental health specialist for their symptoms.

When left untreated, mental illness can be costly both to the individual and the workforce, even more so if an employee’s depression is linked to substance abuse.
• A RAND Corporation study found that patients with depressive symptoms spend more days in bed than those with diabetes, arthritis, back problems, lung problems, or gastrointestinal disorders
• Depression accounts for close to $12 billion in lost workdays each year
• More than $11 billion in other costs accrue from decreased productivity due to symptoms that cause problems with energy levels, concentration, memory, and decision making.

As we know, the good news for employers and employees is that depression is treatable. According to the World Health Organization, the vast majority (60-80 percent) of people with depression will improve with proper diagnosis and treatment.

How screening helps workplace mental health

Early intervention and prevention programs can be integral in managing symptoms of mental illness and improving treatment outcomes. Anonymous online screenings are an effective way to reach employees who need help the most. A screening program can also work well for small organizations that lack official EAP services. Quality mental health programs for employees can reduce stigma, raise awareness, teach managers how to recognize symptoms and help organizations effectively assist depressed employees.

It is important to assess work environments for effective mental health policies and programs. From employee morale to the company’s bottom line, mental health can affect all areas of the workplace. When the mental health of one employee is prioritized, the entire organization will benefit.

“Help Yourself, Help Others” to Get Screened on October 10
The nonprofit Screening for Mental Health offers National Depression Screening Day programs for the military, colleges and universities, community-based organizations, and businesses. Held annually during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) raises awareness and screens people for depression and related mood and anxiety disorders. This year, NDSD is on Thursday, October 10.
NDSD is the nation’s oldest voluntary, community-based screening program that provides referral information for treatment. Through the program, more than half a million people each year have been screened for depression since 1991. Anonymous online depression screenings are available for the public at www.HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org.
Your turn
When you had a concern about your (or a loved one’s) mental health, have you used an online screening? How did it help?
Does your employer offer mental health screenings or other programs for a mentally healthy workplace?
For more information on participating in National Depression Screening Day please contact Michelle Holmberg at or by email. Information is also available at the Screening for Mental Health website and www.helpyourselfhelpothers.org.

Care for Your Mind has several posts about workplace mental health! Click on the “workplace” tag in the right-hand column.
0 Comments

    Author - 

    S.L. Brannon D.Div..

    Editor: numerous contributors are personally invited.

    Archives

    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    AARP
    Action Alert
    Action-alert
    Advocacy
    Affirmation
    Affordable Care Act
    Allen Doederlein
    Alternative Medicine
    Bad Law
    Bad-law
    Barber Bill Proposal
    Bipolar
    Borderline Personality Disorder
    Bp Magazine
    Branding
    Budget
    Caregivers
    Compassion
    Co Occurring Disorders
    Cooccurring Disorders
    Coping
    Crazy
    DBSA
    Dbsa Tennessee
    Dbsa-tennessee
    Dc
    Dc95f383fe5b
    Death
    Deaths Of Thousands
    Demi Lovato
    Democrat
    Denial
    Depression
    Dual Diagnosis
    Education
    Elected Officals
    Elected-officals
    Forced Commitment
    Grieving
    Health Care
    Health-care
    Health Care Law
    Health-care-law
    Health Reform
    Health-reform
    Help For Depression
    Homelessveterans
    Homeless Veterans
    Hopeworkscommunity
    Huffington Post
    Hurts Most Vulnerable
    Hurts-most-vulnerable
    I'm Here
    Immoral
    Jobs
    Larry Drain
    Leading Researchers And Clinicians
    Legislative Bill
    Legislative-bill
    Malpractice
    Mc Donaldsa18086f9b6
    Medicaid-expansion
    Medications
    Medicine
    Memorial
    Mental Health
    Mental Health Care
    Mental-health-care
    Mental-health-day-on-the-hill
    Mental Health In Tennessee
    Mental-health-in-tennessee
    Mental Health Services
    Mission
    Money
    Mood Disorders
    Moving Backwards
    Moving-backwards
    Murphy-bill-proposal
    National-institues-of-mental-health
    New Laws
    Outstanding-performance
    Parity
    Patient-protection
    Peer-specialist
    Peer Support
    Peer Support Centers
    Peer-support-centers
    Personal Stories
    Personal Story
    Personal-story
    Petition
    Petition-to-save-service-centers
    Politics
    Prejudice
    Proposed Legislative Bill
    Proposed-legislative-bill
    Protected Health Information
    Ptsd
    Pushing Back Against Stigma
    Recovery
    Republican
    Resilience
    Resulting In Death
    Scientific Advisory Board
    Self Advocacy
    Self Help
    Senator Murphy
    Silence
    Social-security
    State Organization
    Steve L Brannon
    Steve L Brannonf11c90eedf
    Stigma
    Suicidal Ideations
    Support Groups
    Teens
    Tennessee Department Of Mental Health And Substance Abuse
    Tennessee-department-of-mental-health-and-substance-abuse
    Tennessee Government
    Tennessee-government
    The Leading Patient Directed National Organization
    The Leading Patientdirected National Organizationf0151a2bc0
    Themighty.com
    Therapy
    U-s-congressman
    Vanderbilt-university
    Veterans
    Veterans-employment
    Victimized
    Vulnerable
    Washington
    Wrap-training
    Youth

    RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from DominusVobiscum