I hope every smile you have in the future is genuine.
—Nan He, “Deep Sea”
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Everyone will have moments of emotional fluctuations and states, but for individuals with bipolar affective disorder, their emotions are like a roller coaster, at times soaring with excitement, and at times pessimistic and despondent.
Bipolar affective disorder is a psychological illness that presents with both manic and depressive episodes. Individuals in a state of illness may feel a loss of control over their lives, thus affecting their quality of life. Therefore, we can try some effective ways to help individuals with bipolar affective disorder improve and alleviate the impact of symptoms.
If I were a person with bipolar affective disorder,
what can I do?
1. Identify triggers and signs of emotional changes
You can try to observe and record your emotional states and fluctuations, identify daily habits or behavioral changes before manic or depressive episodes, recognize triggering events that lead to emotional changes to avoid or reduce their impact on your well-being.
2. Establish a regular and reasonable daily life plan
You can create a regular and reasonable daily life plan based on your actual situation, aiming to maintain healthy habits such as regular and balanced diet, sufficient and timely sleep, moderate and regular exercise, effective relaxation, and suitable hobbies.
3. Make effective use of social support networks
Learn to establish connections with your closest family members or most trusted friends. When your emotions are very low, seek their support and assistance.
4. Seek professional medical help
When there are significant changes in emotions, temper, speech, or behavior, or when abnormal emotional states persist for a long time, leading to hallucinations, delusions, impulsive attacks, self-harm, or suicidal behavior, it is recommended to seek consultation at a psychiatric department in a hospital.
If I were a close friend or family member of a person with bipolar affective disorder, what can I do?
1. Maintain an open and accepting attitude
Externally, individuals with bipolar disorder may simply exhibit extreme emotional fluctuations, but internally, they may have some irrational thoughts and feelings. We can try to listen to their experiences or emotional states with an open and accepting attitude, making them feel supported, accepted, and understood.
2. Engage in timely and effective communication
When they experience hallucinations or delusions, it may be difficult for us to understand their thoughts, but for them, the current feelings are real. At such times, we need to remain calm, not provoke or upset them, show empathy even if we can’t see or hear what they do. When they calm down, try to share your feelings with them, avoid judgment, focus on your feelings towards what they have done, rather than making excessive statements or accusations about the events.
3. Encourage actively seeking help from professionals
Scientific and professional treatment plays a vital role in improving and alleviating symptoms. We can encourage or accompany them in seeking help from professionals such as psychiatrists and therapists. Additionally, educating oneself about bipolar affective disorder and understanding that treatment of psychological illnesses requires time and persistence can help comprehend their emotional changes and states.
4. Practice self-care and self-awareness
It is normal to worry about family members or friends with bipolar affective disorder, but this may lead to emotions such as sadness and fatigue. Recognize your own emotional state, dedicate some time and effort to care for yourself.
Source: Zhuhai Psychological Crisis Intervention Center
