Have An Adult Child With Bipolar Disorder? What You Can Do To Help Them

9 April 2018
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When you have an adult child suffering from bipolar disorder, you may find yourself wondering what you can and should do to support and help them. It can be difficult to know how to handle a serious mental illness like bipolar disorder and because the disorder affects everyone differently, it can be tough to be a support system for your child. Get to know more about some of the steps you can take to help your adult child with bipolar disorder. Then, you can be sure you are doing everything you can for your child. 

Encourage Them to Work or Go to School

While bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that requires regular medical care and management, it does not mean that it has to take over your adult child's entire life and focus. They need to have something else to focus on besides their illness if they ever hope to get their condition under better control. As such, you will want to encourage your adult child to pursue work opportunities and/or go to school.

Now, there may be some limitations to what your adult child can do when it comes to work because of their bipolar disorder. They will likely need a job with some flexibility so that they can go to doctor and therapy appointments. Your adult child may only be able to work part-time because of their disorder and may need to find a job that is relatively low-stress to better maintain their moods. However, there are jobs out there that can accommodate their needs. They just have to work hard to find the right fit for them. 

School is another good option with bipolar disorder. Pursuing a degree in an area that interests your child will not only give them career opportunities in the future but will also help them to focus their energies in the here and now on something productive. 

Consider In-Home Care Services

If your adult child with bipolar disorder lives alone and has trouble managing their condition on their own, in-home health care services may be a good option to consider. In-home care services run a wide range of options that can be customized to suit your adult child's needs. From basic companionship and housekeeping services to medication management, schedule management, and more, these services can help your child immensely with their bipolar disorder. 

When a person with bipolar disorder becomes manic or depressed, their entire life and world can shift and change. If that person lives alone, it can be difficult to keep track of these phases and provide the help they need as their parent. Knowing that they have caregivers checking in on them daily can help to alleviate some of these worries and help you to know your child is being well taken care of at all times. 

Now that you know some of the things you can do to help your adult child with bipolar disorder, you can be sure that you are providing them with the support and encouragement they need to live a full and healthy life.