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Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression, is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic, episodic mental illness. The Mayo Clinic explains that bipolar disorder “causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression)” with intervals of stable moods. The duration of an episode will vary and can last from days to weeks long. Dating someone with bipolar disorder can be challenging, because a person with bipolar disorder will have moods that are unpredictable, which can make it difficult to predict how they will react or cope in any given moment. Fortunately, there are many ways to cultivate a healthy, successful relationship with someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Consider the following tips to help your relationship thrive:

  • Educate yourself: Learn everything you can about bipolar disorder, including understanding the symptoms and triggers to enhance empathy. 
  • Be curious, not shy: Ask your partner about their typical behaviors, how they act during shifts in mood, and their management strategies for when symptoms present. You can also ask them what and if there is anything you can to do support them during these episodes.
  • Communication goes both ways: It is imperative to communicate openly with your partner and share your feelings, perspectives, and desires.
  • Be patient: it can be frustrating when your partner’s mood shifts interfere with your dating plans. When these challenges arise remain calm and remember to separate the condition from the person. Avoid shame and blame. It is not your partner causing the frustration, it is their disorder. Still, do not hesitate to take a break when you need one (e.g., walk away, spend a night or the weekend apart, etc.). 
  • Be active in their treatment process: Treatment plans for bipolar disorder often include a combination of psychotherapy and medication, which involves attending many different appointments. Offer your support by accompanying them to doctor visits or therapy sessions and waiting for them until their appointment is over.
  • Remember to self-care: It is crucial to take care of your own physical and emotional needs.

When dating someone with bipolar disorder, it is important to recognize that their disease is only one aspect of their life and does not make up their whole identity. As is true for any healthy relationship, a fulfilling and loving partnership with someone who has bipolar disorder will require dedicated work from both sides, strong boundaries, and at some point, may involve guidance from a mental health professional.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options. 

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

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