The most common expression of Manic Depression is Bipolar Disorder II, which alternates between serious depressive episodes, followed by bouts of manic episodes that are characterized by manic behavior.
During these manic episodes patients report needing less sleep, high achievement of goals and super active behavior. During the depressive period, patients report irritability, sadness and suicidal ideation.
Understanding the Person and the Bipolar Illness
In understanding a manic depressive or bipolar person it is important to realize that these episodes often have little rhyme or reason and this unpredictability of the mood swings can severely impair daily functioning.
The most important step in understanding manic depression is education. In knowing the symptoms one can better know how to approach the patient where the patient is at. It does little good to treat someone in a manic period with soothing anti-depression platitudes.
It is also important to know how severe the illness is, whether it is characterized as bipolar I or II, since those suffering from bipolar I, the most serious form of manic depression can become psychotic, experiencing hallucinations and delusions. In such a situation hospitalization may be required.
Secondly, understanding requires knowledge of the particular person. To understand the situation of a loved one and appreciate what they are experiencing requires knowledge of medications that person is taking and the past history of how the illness has presented in the past.
It is also important to remember that certain things can trigger episodes of either mania or depression. These triggers can include anxiety, social stressors, and criticism from others. In addition prolonged absence of medications can serve to trigger a dormant illness. In dealing with a manic depressive person one must be aware of these things in order to understand and assist them in dealing with behaviors.
Oftentimes within the illness, despite treatment, minor episodes can occur that result in impaired functioning. Awareness of this can help loved ones to look out for a change in functioning levels and see that as a clue that the illness is in an active phase.
Understanding the manic depressive becomes very important when the illness becomes out of control. During both manic and depressive periods those who suffer from this illness, when in extreme, can become suicidal. At such a time true understanding requires professional intervention that the person may not be to see them self.
As in any mental illness, in order to understand the sufferer, one must be careful not to be judgmental of the behaviors involved. When one is alerted to an increase in symptoms, one can intervene in a positive, gentle way providing understanding of the person while still encouraging the needed intervention.
In trying to understand the manic depressive it is important to not identify the person by their illness alone. This illness, like most mental illnesses can be controlled by medication and therapy and as such the patient should be treated with human dignity and not patronized because of their symptoms.
Professional Intervention
At its most extreme manic depression is dangerous. While delusions, hallucinations and suicide occur only in the most serious cases, it is important not to confuse understanding with behavior that enables the dysfunctional behaviors.
When patients are at their most extreme professional intervention is most important. Sometimes getting that help even when it is against the patients wishes is the most understanding thing a loved one can do.
