8 Ways to Help Your Bipolar Loved One Cope

8 Ways to Help Your Bipolar Loved One Cope

Tips and tools for being there through the ups and downs of bipolar disorder

Depression and bipolar disorder are family diseases. Everyone who shares a kitchen and a bathroom is affected. In fact, in his book Understanding Depression, J. Raymond DePaulo Jr., M.D., writes, "Depression...has a much greater impact on marital life than rheumatoid arthritis or cardiac illness. One study found that only severe forms of cancer affected a family as adversely as depression or bipolar disorder."

My manic depression could have easily wrecked my marriage and my relationships with my two children. Instead, we emerged as a tighter, stronger unit. How? Here are eight ways my husband Eric helped me cope-tips for families on how, exactly, to hang in there with a loved one who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Read the first way to help your bipolar loved one.

Therese J. Borchard is the author of Beyond Blue, Beliefnet's spirituality and mental health blog.