The burden on families and caregivers

http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/homes/...FRssVAod-kdcgQ

Tensions in the family

In addition to the profound impact that the illness has on patients, there can be an equally severe impact on the patient's family and caregivers.
Inappropriate behaviour during manic periods and severe lack of interest during depressed periods can lead to many difficulties between patients and their families. If symptoms cause an individual to become aggressive, or unable to fulfil their responsibilities, their relatives may well become angry. Typically, these relatives also experience feelings of extreme guilt after the individual is diagnosed. They may be concerned about having had angry or hateful thoughts, and may wonder whether they caused the illness by not being supportive, or by being short-tempered.

Incorrect feeling of responsibility

Moreover, much literature and other media content in the past few decades has supported the incorrect notion that parents may in some way be responsible for producing mental illness in their child. Consequently, parents and other family members may find that their feelings of guilt and the wish to compensate for any wrong doings can prevent them from effectively setting limits and developing realistic expectations for the affected person. If the person's illness creates an ongoing burden for the family, because of factors such as a reduced family income or continual disruptions to family routines, it is common for family members to experience alternating feelings of anger and guilt. They often experience a sense of loss due to the awareness that, in severe cases of recurrent bipolar disorder, the individual may never again become their 'normal' self.

Potentially dramatic impact on quality of life

Anxiety may be constantly present, as family members keep anticipating a change in mood or a return of symptoms. Families may find that planning events is fraught with worries about the ill relative. Children may fear inheriting the illness, and may worry about looking after the patient in the future. In severe cases of bipolar disorder, the social network of the family begins to shrink. Families are often embarrassed by the symptoms of an ill relative. Visitors may feel awkward about what to say, or how to help the family. Often both the family and their friends prefer to say nothing, and eventually it becomes easier to avoid each other. Family members often feel exhausted by the effort spent on issues relating to the illness, and there may be little energy left for activities or relationships. Increased tension leads to risks of marital problems and stress-related physical symptoms. In addition, siblings may experience jealousy if most of the parents' attention is devoted to the affected sibling. In general, the emotional welfare of all family members is at risk because of ongoing stress.

How can families get help?

Having a family member with bipolar disorder is a serious burden. It is important to ask external help. Ask mental health care professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatric social workers and psychiatric nurses for advice on how to cope with a family member with bipolar disorder.
Speak about how you feel with your doctor. Family members or caregivers may need psychological help themselves.
The best way to decrease the burden, however, is to make sure that the patients are loyal to their therapy. When properly treated, people with bipolar will have a much more stable mood, and become less of a burden to their families and caregivers.

bizi - the points covered in this article really hit home for me, and I'm the only 'normal', not BP one of this little family . I especially associated w/ the family involvement part, and about the WORRY THAT COMES WITH PLANNING AN EVENT OR OUTING WITH THE AFFECTED FAILY MEMBER. COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF, AND IT WAS VALIDATING TO SEE IT IN WRITING!

Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Jacquie

Wow - great post - my issue is the opposite being bp and trying to be a caregiver for my mom and being ill with the flu at the same time.

You would not believe what she has put me through lately, time for a long talk or a move. I have really had it this time.

Hugs, Nikko

p.s. will explain in another post