Supporting someone with bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming, but you can make a real difference by staying calm, steady, and informed.
Learn the signs to watch for, how to keep conversations safe and respectful, and practical ways to help with daily routines so mood swings interrupt life less.
Start by building trust, knowing warning signs, and encouraging consistent treatment. This combination gives the person the best chance to stay stable.
This article will walk you through spotting early shifts, offering emotional support, handling crisis moments, and getting professional help.
You’ll also find clear tips on protecting your own wellbeing while helping someone else.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder causes big mood swings that affect energy, thinking, and daily life.
You can learn the main symptoms, common myths, and what to expect during diagnosis so you can support someone clearly and safely.
Symptoms and Types
Bipolar disorder has two main mood poles: manic (or hypomanic) and depressive.
Mania brings very high energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsive choices, and sometimes risky behavior.
Hypomania is a milder form that still changes mood and function but usually doesn’t cause full loss of control.
Depressive episodes bring low energy, persistent sadness, trouble concentrating, changes in appetite or sleep, and sometimes thoughts of death or suicide.
Symptoms and severity vary by type: Bipolar I includes full manic episodes; Bipolar II includes hypomania and major depression.
Cyclothymic disorder causes many mild mood swings over years.
You can spot warning signs early by watching for sudden shifts in sleep, activity, or judgment that last days to weeks.
Track patterns and share observations calmly with the person and their clinician.
Myths and Facts
Myth: Bipolar is just moodiness.
Fact: Bipolar is a diagnosed mental health condition with measurable mood episodes that impact daily life and work.
Myth: People with bipolar can’t lead stable lives.
Fact: Many people manage symptoms with treatment and routines and live full, productive lives.
Myth: Medication fixes everything.
Fact: Medications help reduce symptoms but work best with therapy, routines, and social support.
Myth: Mania is always joyful.
Fact: Mania often causes poor decisions, irritability, and harm that the person may regret later.
You should treat concerns seriously and avoid blame.
Encourage evidence-based care and steady routines like sleep consistency and medication adherence.
If you need help, Tides Mental Health offers adult therapy, mostly virtual with in-person options in Chicago.
Diagnosis Process
Diagnosis starts with a clinical interview where a clinician asks about mood history, symptom length, family history, and substance use.
They often use standardized questions and may ask you or others for behavioral examples.
Accurate diagnosis depends on full symptom timelines—clinicians look for patterns over weeks or months.
Doctors rule out medical causes (thyroid issues, medications) and other mental health conditions.
They may use mood charts or questionnaires to track episode frequency and severity.
Diagnosis can take time because bipolar symptoms can overlap with depression, anxiety, or ADHD.
If you suspect bipolar in someone you care about, encourage a full evaluation.
Tides Mental Health provides adult-focused assessments and ongoing therapy that can be mostly virtual, with in-person care in Chicago if preferred.
Recognizing Early Warning Signs
Knowing what to look for helps you spot changes early and act quickly.
Watch for shifts in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior.
Small changes often come before full mood episodes.
Identifying Mood Changes
Pay attention to concrete shifts in sleep and activity.
If they sleep much less but seem unusually energetic, or they suddenly need far more sleep and withdraw, note the change.
Track patterns: write dates, hours slept, and major mood swings for at least two weeks.
Watch changes in thinking and judgment.
Rapid ideas, risky spending, or sudden confidence can signal mania.
Slow thinking, hopeless talk, or loss of interest in daily tasks can signal depression.
Use a simple checklist: sleep, energy, talkativeness, risk taking, appetite, and concentration.
Look for changes in routine and social contact.
Missed work, skipped appointments, or cutting off friends are red flags.
If you see a cluster of these signs over days, encourage a timely check-in with a clinician or contact Tides Mental Health for virtual or Chicago-area in-person support.
Encouraging Open Communication
Start conversations calmly and without judgment.
Use “I” statements like, “I noticed you’ve been sleeping less and seem wired,” to avoid blame.
Ask specific questions: “How many hours did you sleep last night?” or “Have you been spending more than usual?”
Keep your tone steady and short.
Offer practical help and set boundaries.
Say, “I can come with you to a telehealth appointment,” or “I can help track your mood this week.”
Be clear about limits: “I can’t handle phone calls after 10 p.m., but I’ll check in at noon.”
This keeps support sustainable.
Encourage professional care and medication checks when you notice persistent signs.
Suggest Tides Mental Health for adult therapy focused on anxiety, depression, life transitions, and family work, available mostly online with in-person options in Chicago.
How to Offer Emotional Support
You can help by staying calm, listening with care, and showing consistent respect.
Small actions—like checking in, keeping plans, and suggesting professional help—matter a lot.
Listening Without Judgment
Sit down where you both feel comfortable and give them your full attention.
Put your phone away and make eye contact when you can.
Use short prompts like “Tell me more” or “What was that like?” to keep them talking without steering the conversation.
Avoid offering quick fixes or comparing their experience to yours.
Say things like, “I hear you” instead of “You shouldn’t feel that way.”
If they talk about risky ideas, ask direct questions about safety and suggest help if needed.
Reflect what you hear by repeating a short phrase back: “It sounds like you felt overwhelmed.”
This shows you understand and helps them organize their thoughts.
Keep your tone steady and calm; that steadiness reduces escalation during intense moods.
Building Trust
Show up when you say you will.
Keep small promises—call at the agreed time, meet at the set place, follow through on tasks.
Reliability builds safety and makes them more likely to accept help or treatment suggestions.
Respect privacy and ask before sharing details with others.
Explain limits clearly: “I want to keep this between us unless you’re at risk.”
That clarity prevents surprises and keeps trust intact.
Encourage routine gently.
Offer to attend appointments with them or help set reminders for medication and therapy.
If you can, mention Tides Mental Health as a resource for therapy options; we provide mostly virtual care with some in-person services in Chicago, which can fit many schedules.
Validating Feelings
Use plain language that names emotions: “You seem really tired and frustrated right now.”
Naming feelings helps them feel seen and less alone.
Validation does not mean you agree with every action—just that their emotions are real and understandable.
Avoid minimizing statements like “It’s not that bad.”
Instead, acknowledge difficulty and follow with a supportive question: “That sounds hard. How can I make things easier right now?”
Offer specific options—sit together for 10 minutes, go for a short walk, or help contact their therapist.
When their mood shifts, remind them that feelings can change and that support is available.
If they are open, suggest scheduling a Tides Mental Health appointment together or help them join a virtual session.
Practical Ways to Help Daily
You can support daily by helping keep routines steady, tracking medications, and reducing stress with simple shared plans.
Small, consistent actions often make the biggest difference.
Supporting Healthy Routines
Help your person set a clear sleep and wake schedule and encourage sticking to it.
Offer to set alarms or join them on a nightly walk to wind down.
Consistent meals matter — plan grocery trips together and prepare easy, balanced meals that reduce skipping or bingeing.
Create a simple weekly plan with blocks for work, exercise, social time, and rest.
Use a shared calendar or a paper planner you both can see.
Praise small wins like two days of planned exercise to build momentum without pressure.
Limit late-night screen time and bright lights in the evening.
Suggest calming activities — reading, gentle stretching, or a warm shower — and model those habits yourself when possible.
If routines break down, calmly help them return to basics: sleep, food, and sunlight.
Assisting With Medication Management
Talk openly about medication schedules and side effects.
Offer to help track doses with a pillbox, phone reminders, or a shared checklist.
Never pressure them to take medications; instead, ask how you can support adherence.
If side effects appear, encourage contacting their prescriber rather than stopping abruptly.
Help prepare for appointments by writing down symptoms, side effects, and any mood changes.
Offer to join telehealth or in-person visits if they want company — Tides Mental Health provides both virtual and Chicago-area in-person options that you can suggest.
Keep emergency contacts and a list of current medications visible.
If you notice missed doses or significant mood swings, calmly remind them and suggest contacting their clinician.
Your steady presence lowers the chance of harmful lapses.
Managing Stress Together
Identify common triggers and build a short plan for each one.
For example, if crowded places raise anxiety, agree on an exit signal and a quiet spot to regroup.
Practice a few quick coping tools together: 4-4-4 breathing, a 5-minute walk, or grounding (name five things you see).
Set limits on heavy topics and ask when they need space versus help problem-solving.
Use “I” statements: “I’m worried because…” instead of blame.
Offer concrete help during stress spikes — run errands, handle a bill call, or sit during a tough appointment.
Maintain your own boundaries and recharge so you can stay helpful.
If stress becomes constant, suggest professional support; Tides Mental Health can connect you with adult therapy focused on anxiety, depression, and family issues through mostly virtual sessions and in-person care in Chicago.
Crisis Situations and Safety
A crisis can be sudden and dangerous.
Know the signs that someone may be at risk and steps you can take to keep them safe and get professional help quickly.
Recognizing Red Flags
Watch for big changes in sleep, appetite, or personal hygiene that last more than a few days.
Noticeable increases in energy, racing thoughts, or spending sprees can signal a manic episode.
On the other hand, deep withdrawal, loss of interest in daily tasks, or talking about hopelessness can indicate severe depression.
Pay close attention to any talk or hints about suicide, self-harm, or giving away prized possessions.
Also note risky behaviors like driving recklessly, substance use spikes, or unsafe sexual activity.
Keep a list of recent triggers, medications, and behavior changes you can share with clinicians.
Use a simple checklist to track red flags:
- Extreme mood swings (hours to days)
- Suicidal talk or plans
- Major changes in sleep or appetite
- Impulsivity or dangerous actions
- Sudden withdrawal from people and responsibilities
How to Respond During Episodes
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services right away.
Stay with them if it’s safe, remove any obvious means of self-harm, and keep your voice calm and steady.
Give brief, clear instructions like, “Let’s sit down and call your clinician now.”
Encourage contact with their mental health provider and offer to make the call or join a telehealth session.
If they have a crisis plan or advance directive, follow it and share it with emergency staff.
For non-life‑threatening but serious episodes, contact Tides Mental Health to schedule urgent virtual or in-person support in the Chicago area.
During calmer moments, document what happened and update medication lists, recent stressors, and any warnings you noticed.
This helps clinicians make faster, safer decisions and supports continuity of care.
Communicating Effectively
You will learn clear ways to protect your time and feelings, and practical steps to solve problems with the person you support.
Use calm words, state limits up front, and work on one problem at a time.
Setting Boundaries
Be specific about what you can and cannot do. Say something like, “I can sit with you for 30 minutes after dinner, but I can’t take phone calls after 10 p.m.”
Give one or two concrete examples so the person knows what to expect. Use “I” statements to avoid blame.
For example: “I feel overwhelmed when plans change last minute, so I need a day’s notice for visits.” Repeat limits calmly if they are tested.
Keep a short written list of boundaries you both agree on and share it when moods are stable. If safety becomes an issue, state a clear action: contact emergency services or your local crisis line.
Consider getting support from Tides Mental Health for boundary coaching or therapy. In-person help is available in the Chicago area, and many services are virtual.
Problem-Solving Skills
Break problems into small, concrete steps. First, name the problem in one sentence.
Then list two or three possible actions. Choose the easiest action to try first and set a time to review results.
Use a calm tone and limit options to avoid overwhelm. Ask one clear question at a time, such as, “Which of these two ideas feels doable this week?”
If mood swings make planning hard, set a short trial period (e.g., three days) and check back. Keep notes on what worked so you can repeat it later.
If you need professional support for recurring issues, consider scheduling a family or couples session with Tides Mental Health. Their therapists work mainly with adults and offer both virtual and Chicago-area in-person appointments.
Encouraging Professional Treatment
Getting professional care helps manage mood swings, reduce risk, and restore daily routines. You can support treatment by helping your loved one find the right provider, keep appointments, and stick with their plan.
Types of Treatment Options
You should know the main treatments used for bipolar disorder and what each does. Medication often includes mood stabilizers (like lithium), antipsychotics, and sometimes antidepressants.
These reduce mania and depression symptoms and lower relapse risk. Expect the prescriber to adjust doses over weeks to months.
Talk therapy helps too. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can teach skills for managing mood, sleep, and negative thoughts.
Psychoeducation shows you both how to spot early warning signs and follow a safety plan. Family or couples therapy improves communication, sets boundaries, and helps everyone support medication and routines.
Tides Mental Health offers adult therapy focused on anxiety, depression, life changes, and couples/family work. Most sessions (60–70%) are virtual, with 30–40% in-person in the Chicago area.
If you want child and teen care, ask about planned expansion.
When to Seek Help
Get urgent professional help if you see severe symptoms that affect safety or daily function. Call emergency services or a crisis line for suicidal talk, reckless behavior, severe mania (no sleep, extreme spending, risky actions), or inability to care for oneself.
Contact the prescribing clinician if medication side effects or sudden mood shifts occur. Encourage help early when you notice persistent changes: several days of depressed mood, weeks of low energy, or days of high energy with little sleep.
Book an appointment with a psychiatrist for medication review and a therapist for skills work. You can offer to schedule visits, join sessions with permission, and help track mood, sleep, and medication to share with the team.
Supporting Recovery and Wellness
Support helps your loved one stick with treatment, build healthy routines, and spot early warning signs. You can celebrate small wins and act quickly on relapse signals to keep progress steady.
Celebrating Progress
Notice and name specific changes your loved one makes, like attending weekly therapy, taking medication as prescribed, or keeping a sleep schedule for two weeks. Say things such as, “I saw you finish three therapy sessions this month — that shows real effort,” to reinforce action.
Use small, meaningful rewards you both agree on. Offer a shared meal, a walk in a park, or extra time doing a hobby together.
Track progress with a simple checklist or calendar so wins are visible and repeatable. Praise effort more than outcome.
Focus on routines and coping skills learned, not just mood shifts. If you see setbacks, acknowledge them without blame and point back to what worked before.
Relapse Prevention
Create a written relapse plan with clear steps: who to call, which clinician to contact, medication reminders, and signs that mean you both should act. Keep the plan where you both can find it, like a shared note on your phone.
Watch for early warning signs specific to your loved one — less sleep, rapid speech, isolation, or sudden spending. Agree on one or two safe actions to try first, such as contacting their therapist, dialing back social plans, or increasing daily structure.
Make crisis steps explicit. Include emergency contacts, nearby in-person options in Chicago, and how to reach Tides Mental Health for virtual or in-person support.
Review the plan every few months and after any episode so it stays useful and realistic.
Taking Care of Yourself as a Supporter
You need practical ways to protect your energy, mental health, and daily routine while helping someone with bipolar disorder. Below are concrete steps for self-care and finding support that fit into a busy life.
Maintaining Personal Well-Being
Prioritize concrete daily habits that stabilize your mood and energy. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep most nights, set regular mealtimes, and schedule at least 20–30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week.
These routines reduce stress and help you stay present during mood shifts. Use specific strategies to manage anxiety and low mood.
Try brief grounding techniques—5 deep breaths, naming five things you see—or a 10-minute walk when you feel overwhelmed. Keep a small list of immediate self-care actions (call a friend, step outside, make tea) on your phone for quick access.
Set clear boundaries with time and money. State limits calmly: “I can help with rides twice a week, but I can’t lend money.”
Reassess limits monthly so they match your capacity. If you start feeling burned out, pause nonessential tasks and reschedule them.
Consider short-term therapy for yourself. Tides Mental Health offers adult therapy focused on anxiety, depression, life transitions, and family issues, mostly via virtual sessions with some in-person options in Chicago.
Seeking Support Networks
Identify at least three people or groups you can turn to when you need help. Include a friend for emotional check-ins, a family member for practical help (childcare, errands), and a professional contact for crisis guidance.
Write their names and preferred contact methods in a note you can access quickly. Join a support group for caregivers of people with mood disorders.
Look for online groups that meet weekly so you can attend from home. Groups teach coping skills, share local resources, and reduce isolation.
Use formal supports when needed. If you need short-term counseling focused on anxiety, depression, or coping skills, book virtual sessions with Tides Mental Health.
Keep emergency numbers and your loved one’s crisis plan in one place—phone contacts, local crisis line, and your therapist’s contact—so you can act fast if needed. Rotate help tasks with others to prevent burnout.
Create a simple shared schedule (Google Calendar or a shared checklist) for chores, appointments, and watchful hours. This keeps support steady while protecting your time.
Long-Term Support Strategies
Build a steady routine together. Consistent sleep, meals, and activity help reduce mood swings.
Encourage small, regular steps instead of big changes.
Learn about therapy and treatment options. Tides Mental Health offers adult therapy focused on anxiety, depression, life transitions, and family or couples work.
About 60–70% of sessions are virtual, with 30–40% in-person options available in the Chicago area.
Keep communication calm and specific. Use clear, nonjudgmental language when moods shift.
Agree on signals or short phrases that let you pause a tense moment.
Create a shared crisis plan. List early warning signs, emergency contacts, and preferred actions for manic or depressive episodes.
Store it somewhere both of you can access quickly.
Support medication and therapy adherence. Offer gentle reminders and help schedule appointments.
Celebrate small wins to reinforce progress.
Set healthy boundaries to protect your energy. Decide what you can handle and what needs professional help.
Boundaries reduce resentment and keep support sustainable.
Encourage social and practical supports. Help with tasks like appointments, work calls, or household chores when needed.
Social connection and routine tasks offer steady, calming structure.
Check in on your own well-being. You stay effective when you rest, seek your own support, and keep hobbies.
Consider couples or family sessions to improve shared coping skills.