How do you deal with a bipolar person during a manic episode?
When my husband is having a manic episode, he acts really hyper and can’t seem to sit still. He is also argumentative and more sensitive than usual. If I say something and he takes it the wrong way, he freaks. If I try not to say much, he gets upset that I’m not speaking to him. I’ve read a lot about bipolar, and it says to be patient and supportive, yada yada yada, but it doesn’t tell you what to DO or SAY during a manic episode.
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Act like he’s not having one. Treat him exactly how you would on a normal day. Don’t talk about him being manic, just talk to him about how your day was or something.
When I get like that, any confrontation or anything that I consider negative just kinda sets me off, but not being treated like i’m crazy calms me down quite a bit.
Theres really nothing you can do, theres no way to stop an episode. the best you can do is try your hardest not to call attention to it and be positive. Talk about good stuff.
I hope that your husband is on some sort of moodstabilizer and taking it regularly. When he first starts getting manic you can still talk some sense into him to get his meds adusted temporarily. But once he is real manic there is not much else you can do other then wait for him to calm down again. If he is one of the people who do stupid things during manic episodes you can actually get him hospitalized if you get him to the ER. If he is just not sleeping- make a plan together with him before he gets another manic episode that keeps him busy. He will have enough energy and time to do all those projects he has lying around that wait for him to have time. You just need to talk to him when he’s not in a manic episode and agree to the plan and a few choice words that will remind him without getting him angry or defensive. Good Luck.
I worked with two bipolar individuals.
One would not take his medication, ended up doing physical harm to his wife. Lost his job, his family, everything. Nobody could figure out what to do with him. That happens, and it is very sad because it isn’t the victim’s controllable but there are limits to what people will put up with.
The other individual was my supervisor. He managed to keep himself on medication and survived to retire (barely, several people almost killed him).
The best way of dealing with both those people during manic swings was just avoidance. Every case is a little different.
Sorry, but I don’t think you will get any reliable magic solution here.
Hit him over the head with a shovel. My brother has the same problem and this is what I do to help him. Then when he becomes conscious again he’s completely fine.
Go to a movie. Go have coffee with your friends. Ask your physician about mutual support (self-help) groups. Take care of yourself.
I would be extremely PATIENT…….trust me a bipolar individual can act like a berserk child. They fly off the wall at the least little remark, they`re suspicious, they can`t follow a conversation……you need to keep eye contact with them, and in a loving, and calm voice tell them that you need to walk away for a few minutes and regroup. He`ll calm down, ( give him a half an hour), and then when he`s calm, ( he may not be rational), but he`ll be calm, tell him he needs to rethink his meds and you`ll do ANYTHING in your power to support him in doing that…..you`ll even go with him to the doctor. Tell him you`re very concerned and you love him, he needs to calm down, and you`re going to help him get better.