Bipolar disorder: what it is and how it affects relationships
Bipolar disorder: what it is and how it affects relationships
When can we speak of bipolar disorder? How does a bipolar partner relate? What can online therapy do?
Bipolar disorder is characterized by continuous mood and emotional swings, often sudden or drastic, fluctuations ranging from peaks of extreme euphoria to episodes of confusion, depression, emptiness; as well as “manias” (bipolar disorder is also known as Manic-Depressive Illness); which alternate more or less regularly between feeling well and feeling unwell.
This alternation of emotions therefore compromises the adaptability of the individual who suffers from it. It should be noted that to receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (which must be made by a professional), it is not enough to have fluctuating moods, nor to be sad one day and happy the next, since mood swings can occur without necessarily being bipolar.
What characterizes bipolar behavior?
Bipolar disorder is characterized, in addition to an alternating passage between euphoric and depressive states, by intense phases in which good mood (dictated by euphoria) gives way to impulsive behaviors such as making large purchases, major projects (such as the idea of moving, marriage, or having a child), radical changes, accompanied by a reduced need for rest and sleep for at least fifteen days.
The mood can also be euphoric or irritable, dysphoric, very unstable; smiles and anger can alternate rapidly, as thoughts race quickly, making it difficult to keep up, including with words (great distraction, sometimes incoherent speech, attention jumping from one thing to another).
Bipolar disorder in relationships
It is very likely that these sudden mood changes bring problems or complications in romantic relationships as well. Instability may characterize the couple; it is difficult to lay solid foundations when one constantly has to face often drastic mood swings.
Maintaining a romantic relationship with a bipolar partner requires, first of all, an in-depth knowledge of the disorder and of the other person. Both partners must be aware of the dynamics that can arise during a crisis, and above all the partner can learn, also through therapy, to recognize the specific signs that precede a crisis, containing or mitigating it. It also requires being flexible, understanding, and at the same time able to create stability. Relating to episodes of mania or depression that concern the other, and not oneself, requires great empathy, tact, but at the same time firmness and a clear mind.
It is also certain that bipolar individuals, like anyone else, can fall in love. However, it must be verified that the person is not experiencing falling in love during a manic phase, in which one may feel euphoric and full of grand projects, perhaps confusing real feelings and charging them with fleeting positivity.
A well-established couple aware of the disorder should instead maintain as much balance as possible. This also applies to activities and responsibilities, so that the bipolar person is never overwhelmed by commitments or overloaded, since high levels of daily stress, harmful to anyone, are highly fertile ground for crises and major mood swings in a person with bipolar disorder. With proper division, however, one can feel capable rather than incapable of handling everything.
What can help a bipolar person?
People experiencing bipolar disorder must above all keep stress under control and try as much as possible to maintain a regular life (e.g., keeping regular times for meals, going to bed, strictly avoiding alcohol and drugs, avoiding particularly stressful or irregular work situations).
Recreational and leisure activities are also very pleasant and useful for better managing the stress of a bipolar individual. On the other hand, one should avoid extremes, including both sedentary lifestyle and excessive physical exercise, trying to maintain proper sleep hygiene as much as possible.
What can online therapy do?
Online therapy can help better understand bipolar disorder, while also providing the right information and assessments to establish the most suitable approach or path to carry on a relationship with a bipolar partner in the most stable and healthy way possible.
For those suffering from bipolar disorder, participation in an online psychotherapy group for adults who were victims of childhood abuse is also recommended, to explore how unresolved childhood traumas can still predispose adults to episodes of psychological suffering that may develop into: substance abuse, unstable or traumatic romantic relationships, depressive or anxious states, dissociative symptoms, and more, undermining the possibility of reclaiming a happier and more serene life.
For information, contact Dr. Jessica Zecchini
Email: consulenza@jessicazecchini.it, WhatsApp: 370 32 17 351
