name atleast 6 do's or don'ts when you have a girlfriend thats bipolar?

Answer 1

Do's

1. Do verify that it is a doctor's diagnosis and not just what your gf is telling you. If so, do realize this is a lifetime condition.

2. Do encourage her to take her prescribed medication at the prescribed time of the day, on a daily basis (and doesn't forget when she feels better). Put a small calendar up in the bathroom so she can check the days off . (You don't have to play nursemaid though, this is a bipolar's responsibility, not yours). Keep a journal of her moods (and missing of, or taking of meds) and go with her on the next doctor's visit to give some feedback to the doctor.

3. Do make sure that she doesn't use alcohol or other drugs.

4. Do make sure she's on an even sleep/wake schedule, not staying up late several nights a week.

5. Do encourage her to work a schedule that is more stable M through F vs. one that includes evenings and weekends.

6. Do daily walks/prayers/meditation/church together.

Don'ts

1. Don't blame every little argument or disagreement on bipolar, that's not fair. Sometimes feelings are feelings.

2. Don't assume that you are the one to "rescue" her. Once she is being seen by a doctor, it's up to her to kind of take the reigns of responsibility for her life, especially to take her medication as prescribed.

3. Don't assume, however, that medication, once prescribed, will ALWAYS have the SAME effect, ALL year 'round, for many years to come. She needs to see the doctor on an ongoing basis for updates. Also, her moods will vary with her monthly menstral cycle, so don't assume that PMS is "bipolar - time. "

4. Don't think of bipolar as a mental illness. In many ways it is like epilepsy and is being treated that way, more and more, by the medical community. Depakote (valproate) and lamictal are two forms of mood stabilizers that are currently prescribed to epileptics, now being used regularly with bipolar individuals, to regulate the brain's functioning of electrical "circuitry" if you will.

5. Don't sacrifice your own goals and life pursuits at the expense of her illness. Continue to live your life.

6. Don't break up with her due to the illness. Love does much to counter the effects of it.

Answer 2

1Don't touch her if she doesn't want to be touched.
2Hold her often and when she wants to be held.
3When you have a fight don't say you don't care and walk away give her a hug and tell her everything will be o.k. stay until she has calmed down.
4Don't make her do things she doesn't think she's up to doing it will back fire and cause more damage then good a week later.
5Cook for her once in awhile - for crying out load!
6Do dishes when you see she's falling behind in them. Heres one more just incase she already has a dish washer. 6 again Read behind the scens everything may appear to be fine on the outside but it could be a cover up - intervein if things get really bad she may not realize it and may need to be told to go see a Dr.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

This isn't so much an answer but a question to everyone else who has said to just deal with it, I'm kind of in the same boat, and somedays it feels like being in an abusive relationship, so just dealing with it, and smiling everytime there's a fight kind of seems a little hard to do.

Answer 4

do understand that her mood swings are not under her control.
do not escalate a bad situation by voicing your opinion of her conduct.
do be patient, realise that mood swings always swing back in time.
encourage her to take her medication every day, or encourage her to see a doctor and get medication.
do remain calm, she can't.

Answer 5

just be yourself. don't say anything that could offend her or make her mind trigger some thing in the past. Say nice things not mean things.