I recently met Cassandra and her family. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder four years ago, this beautiful, articulate young woman is early in the process of understanding, accepting, and successfully treating the illness. Her parents have just moved beyond denial (SO NORMAL!) and are trying gain knowledge and understanding so that they can release their frustration and anger, and support Cassie’s wellness.

Impressed by this family’s eagerness to find balance and peace, I was also touched by their raw and tender emotions.

I said then, I say now, continue to work together toward wellness.

It will get better!

To the millions in this predicament, here are some suggestions that help their loved ones to better understand and support.

**LEARN THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ILLNESS**

If you know what behaviors are symptoms (substance abuse and promiscuity and risk-taking…the inability to get out of bed or eating disorders or poor hygeine) then you can release judgment of those symptoms and help treat the illness.

Help your loved one to help herself.

Set kind and realistic limits.

Support –Insist– on treatment.

Refuse to be impatient, angry or judgmental.

Remember that she is already directing vast amounts of negative energy toward herself. Do all that you can to counteract that negativity with loving support.

Blessings!

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health, Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.