Helping a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder

You love them dearly, but some days it’s tough: they’re up one minute, down the next, and you never know what to expect — and neither do they. You want to help your loved one with bipolar disorder — but how? Here are our expert tips.

Bipolar disorder impacts nearly 3% of Americans, causing extreme mood swings that include intense emotional highs (mania) and severe lows (depression).

Living with or helping someone you care about manage the condition is a tall order, but worth the effort. With the right strategies and mindset, you can be part of the solution and help your loved one live a fuller life.

At Sound Psychiatry and Wellness, we specialize in helping individuals and families living with bipolar disorder. Drew Pittman, PMHNP, our board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, provides personalized care through our convenient telehealth services, helping mental healthcare fit seamlessly into your loved one’s life.

If you’re supporting someone with bipolar disorder, check out these strategies to help them stabilize their moods.

1. Learn about bipolar disorder and its symptoms

The first step in offering support is understanding the condition. Bipolar disorder is more than the typical ups and downs of daily life — its mood swings can disrupt relationships, careers, and basic daily functions. Some common symptoms include:

Racing thoughts or unusually talkative during mania episodes
Depressed mood or excess fatigue during depressive phases
Sleep problems, whether in excess or insomnia
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

By learning about the disorder, you’ll gain empathy for what your loved one experiences and feel more equipped to help.

2. Encourage professional treatment

People with bipolar disorder often struggle with recognizing their need for professional care. Encourage your loved one to connect with a mental health provider like Drew Pittman at Sound Psychiatry and Wellness. Medication management, therapy, and lifestyle changes can decrease mood swings and improve overall quality of life.

Our telehealth services make accessing treatment easier than ever. You and your loved one can connect with Drew from the comfort of your home over secure video calls — no waiting rooms, no commute. As we like to say, “We don’t have a couch, but you can relax on yours.”

3. Build a solid communication foundation

Communication is everything when supporting someone with bipolar disorder. Use empathetic, open-ended questions like, “How are you feeling today?” or affirming phrases like, “You’re not alone in this.” Avoid minimizing their experiences by saying things like, “Just focus on the positive.”

Being patient is just as important as listening. Recovery is rarely linear, and it’s normal for progress to be slow. Just your presence and attention are often all it takes to reduce their feelings of isolation and build trust.

4. Help them establish healthy habits

Help your loved one create stress-free routines that stabilize mood swings and make them feel more in control. For example, help them:

Develop regular sleep patterns
Get daily physical activity
Eat a balanced diet
Create manageable to-do lists

Routines can provide a sense of security and stability — keys to reducing symptoms.

5. Know the warning signs of relapse

Even with treatment, there may be times when symptoms worsen. Watch for signs of mania, such as increased activity or decreased need for sleep, or signs of depression, including fatigue or withdrawal from others.

Spotting these changes early can prevent more severe episodes. If you’re concerned, call us to discuss next steps.

6. Take care of yourself, too

Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can take an emotional toll, so we encourage you to prioritize your own well-being to avoid burnout.

Self-care looks different for everyone, but some popular techniques include keeping up with your favorite hobbies, setting boundaries, and seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals like Drew. It’s easier to help your loved one — and more effective — when you’re mentally and physically healthy.

Supporting someone with bipolar disorder may not be easy, but you’re not alone in this. To learn more about how Sound Psychiatry and Wellness can assist, call us or schedule a telehealth appointment with Drew online.