People with bipolar disorder can lead a normal life as a couple, although as in other disorders, it is necessary that they comply with the stipulated treatment, trying to achieve internal emotional stability that will allow them to achieve external stability in relationships.
In this sense, to achieve stable love relationships, it is important that both members do their part.
In this article We will talk about people with bipolar disorder and how they experience romantic relationships and how to act as a couple to maintain a stable relationship.
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that is classified as a mood disorder. As its name indicates, in this psychopathology there are two poles, a sad or apathetic mood and a euphoric mood. That is, criteria for a depressive episode and for a manic or hypomanic episode will be met.
The symptoms are specific to each episode. In depressive patients the following may occur: depressed mood, loss of interest or ability to feel pleasure, loss or increase in appetite or weight, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation or motor slowing, fatigue, feeling of guilt, difficulty concentrating or repetitive thoughts of death. To make the diagnosis, at least 5 symptoms must be present for 2 weeks.
For its part, in manic or hypomanic episodes we can observe: increased activity or energy, exaggerated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, verbosity, flight of ideas, distractibility, increased activity or agitation, involvement in pleasurable activities. In both episodes the symptoms are the same and must be present for at least 3, but in the case of mania the duration of the episode must be at least 5 days; On the other hand, in hypomania only 4 days are required. Furthermore, in mania we can observe psychotic symptoms or the need for hospitalization.
We could diagnose two types of bipolar disorder, bipolar I, where a manic episode will be shown, in this case it is not necessary to wait for the presence of a depressive episode to make the diagnosis or bipolar II, where it is required to show a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode. .
The course tends to be chronic, presenting a high recurrence rate. It usually starts at age 20 and no difference is observed between sexes, neither in terms of prevalence nor in age of onset.
What are people with bipolar disorder like in relationships?
Now that we know better what the symptoms of bipolar disorder are, characterized by ups and downs in mood, it will be easier to understand what their behavior as a couple may be like or how they experience romantic relationships. Like any other disorder, one of the necessary criteria that must be met is the impact on the functionality of the subject who suffers from it different areas of their lives being affected.
The possibility of leading a more or less normal life will depend on compliance with treatment, both pharmacological and psychological. If the subject is stable, it is more likely that her actions in the love sphere will develop without problems. We will see how his behavior can be very similar to that of individuals without this pathology.
Even so, despite the normality achieved with the intervention, we can observe changes in the activation state. That is, there will be days with greater activation where the subject will want to do things and interact and others where he will appear without energy and will not feel like leaving the house. This is the variable behavior that bipolar people tend to exhibit more and not so much a change of opinion or preferences. Likewise, we can also observe relative difficulties in communicating and relating, due to changes in mood and energy.
Thus, people with bipolar disorder they can have a stable partner, as long as they follow the indicated treatment. If they remain stable internally it is easier for them to be stable externally, otherwise it will be very difficult for them to maintain continuity.
How to behave in love if you have bipolar disorder?
Apart from the impact on functionality, it is also very common to observe discomfort in subjects with this psychopathology, adding to the stigma that society gives to people with mental disorders. For this reason, although we have seen that subjects with bipolar pathology can maintain a romantic relationship, it is normal that fear arises in them and they have a hard time deciding to be with someone or have doubts about whether they will be able to carry out the relationship normally.
If you want to start a relationship, there are some tips that can help you.
1. Comply with treatment
As we have already seen, one of the key points to remain stable and make it easier to have a partner is to follow the treatment, both taking the necessary psychotropic medication (the medication is a continuous treatment for bipolar patients) and continuing indications for psychological therapy which apart from benefiting us by reducing the symptoms of the pathology, can also help us show appropriate behavior in the relationship.
2. Involve your partner in your pathology
There is a lot of misinformation about mental health problems, so it is very likely that your partner does not really know what bipolar disorder entails. Thus, talk to your partner and explain the changes you may experience, what behavior you may observe will help them understand you better and address many of the situations that may arise.
Likewise, it may also be good to share the techniques you use to regulate your mood or how you act when symptoms appear. Making him/her aware of your condition and treatment will unite you more finding support in him/her.
3. Don’t hide anything from him
This advice is suitable for all types of couples. It is important that when you notice a change in your state, when you see that things are not going well, share this feeling with your partner. Since, no matter how much we want to hide it so as not to worry the other person, sooner or later they will surely notice our change in behavior. So don’t wait for the situation to get worse and make it more difficult to act.
4. Maintain good communication
Another tip that works for all couples is to communicate. Sometimes we try to deduce what is happening to our partner, why he acts that way, We waste time making assumptions and we can even get angry without really knowing the reason for their behavior. Maintaining good communication is one of the fundamental factors to achieve a good relationship.
Explain how you feel and allow your partner to do so as well, so that he can communicate to you the changes he observes in you, since these are also signs that can help us act preventively and avoid a more serious episode.
How to help your partner with bipolar disorder
In the same way that the work and involvement of the bipolar patient is important for the relationship to work, it is also essential that the other member collaborate and help for the purpose of a good relationship. Below we mention some tips that may be useful to you.
1. Collaborate with the health professional
Following treatment is not always easy and sometimes it may be difficult for the patient to comply. It is crucial that we collaborate with the mental health professional to try to ensure that our partner follows the treatment as he should and has been prescribed. It is good that we participate and communicate with the professional, since we are the person who spends the most time with the patient and who will be able to detect possible changes in her behavior sooner.
Related article: “How to help a person with bipolar disorder: 9 useful tips”
2. Treat your partner normally
As we have already seen, if the subject receives treatment, the affectation caused by the disorder is controllable and is largely reduced. For this reason we should not treat our partner very differently than we would with another person; we should not overprotect her, we must treat them as equals. This does not mean that, in situations where your condition becomes destabilized, we are at your side and help you in every way possible.
3. Be understanding
Despite being able to have a normal relationship, we must be aware that psychopathology is chronic and, therefore, there may be behaviors or symptoms that our partner cannot control and performs them without the intention of bothering or hurting us. In this point communication will be essential ; Express how you feel, without attacking him, so you can talk about the situation.
