How to React to a Manic Depressive Person

How you react to a manic depressive person can help prevent further episodes, or even suicide. Manic depressive people have periods of normal behavior, but may swing from moods of extreme energy to hopelessness in a short period of time. This behavior and dramatic mood swing is called bipolar disorder. Coping with someone who has a bipolar disorder can be stressful. Often family and friends require support and stress management tools to react appropriately to someone with manic depression, or bipolar disorder.

Instructions

• 1

  Help the manic depressive person access health care. Typically, bipolar disorder is treated with a combination of drug therapy and cognitive therapy. A bipolar person may leave the hospital feeling confused, overwhelmed, and uncertain about what to do next. Keep a journal noting any symptoms, progress, side effects or personal setbacks involved your therapeutic process, as it may be linked to theirs.

• 2

  Support the bipolar person by maintaining daily eating and sleeping routines. Pay special attention to the tone of your voice and your capacity for listening. Discuss any confusion concerning their illness. After identifying the condition, talk about the importance of good nutrition, exercise and avoiding alcohol or other mind-altering substances.

• 3

  Encourage a manic depressive to continue with their medications. Recovery from manic depressive symptoms is possible with treatment. Remind the person in crisis that while they might be able to identify negative things, there are also a number of positive things they still would like to do. Discuss with them the things that need to happen for them to achieve their goals. Stay in the present and ask what you can do to help immediately.