They Have Bi-Polar Disorder, What Do I Do?
So, you have found out that a loved one—be it a family member, partner, or roommate has received a bi-polar diagnosis. It’s expected that you may have some concerns, given how those with bi-polar diagnoses are portrayed in the media—adjectives like ‘moody’, ‘unpredictable’, and ‘unsafe’ litter different creative avenues that utilize bi-polar and other mood disorders as ‘red flags’ in a story. The truth is, living with a person who has bipolar disorder can be just as safe and manageable as living with a neurotypical person—with your understanding and support. Individuals with bipolar disorder have full capacity to lead fulfilling lives and maintain healthy relationships, and by recognizing and supporting that, you have a unique capacity to be able to help and assist that person to have a stable home to return to when facing the world’s prejudices. One common misconception is that bipolar individuals are always unpredictable and prone to violent behavior. However, this is not the c...