Symptoms of bipolar are generally straightforward and they are important to know in case you suspect someone you love has this mental illness. People with a firm diagnosis can live a healthy and happy life with medication and therapy, as having a mental illness is not a death sentence.
Instructions
1. Watch for signs of psychosis, hallucinations, anxiety, or any other type of abnormal behavior for that person. Is this person sleeping more or awake for days on end? A decrease in appetite is another thing to watch for.
2. Write down sleep patterns as they often change during the different phases of this mental illness. When a bipolar patient is depressed they will sleep often, while in the mania phase sleep is put off for much longer then usual.
3. Note feelings of overwhelming sadness are common in the depressive stage but are gone in the mania stage where the bipolar patient thinks that they can accomplish anything they can think of.
4. Notice hallucinations as they occur. The bipolar patient gets fixed on one idea and believes it to be true. Spouses or other family members can easily see that the hallucination is just that, but there is no persuading the bipolar patient that they are wrong.
5. Structure daily life to allow the bipolar patient to minimize anxiety, keep to a routine where possible. Spur of the moment events and changes are usually enough to send a bipolar patient into a depressive phase. Talk out problems as they occur, and at times the person's family members will have to take charge and handle everything.
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