Bipolar disorder is an especially complex disorder, where the patient switches between mild to severe mood extremes, i.e., from manic highs to depressive lows. While not curable, bipolar disorder can be managed through a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The support that family members lend becomes a crucial success factor in the management of the disease.

If you are currently caring for someone in your family with bipolar disorder, you need to equip yourself with both information and the tools required to better fulfill your role, while also ensuring that your own physical and emotional needs are not neglected.

Here is a list of factors to keep in mind that can help.

• Gain an understanding of the disorder: To give proper care, it is essential that you have a strong basic understanding of the characteristic features of bipolar disorder, which type of the disorder your loved one has, what are the treatment plans possible, and what are the drugs and therapy modalities currently being administered to them. Knowledge is power, and knowing what you are dealing with, will help you in a major way
• Participate in doctor visits: Be present in all the doctor visits and treatment processes, so that you are up-to-date about treatment plans and the progress shown by the patient. This will help you make observe any changes manifesting in the patient on your own. Your observations can help the doctor make important treatment decisions.
• Enlist support: Caring for someone with a mental disorder can be severely challenging, and you do not have to do this alone. Identify friends and family members, your own and those of the patient’s, and reach out to them for support. Educate them about the illness, and help the patient to try and reconnect and bond with his/her support group. This can be especially difficult for patients with bipolar disorder, as their extreme mood swings often cause relationship problems. This could be an important healing step for the patient, and a major source of relief for you, the caregiver.
• Plan for emergencies:  People suffering from bipolar disorder can be at risk of exposing themselves to significant harm through risky behavior and possible self-harm. As a caregiver, you must develop a plan to face any emergencies. Who will you call? What about money and logistics? Share your plan with someone who can help.
• Take care of yourself: Do not neglect your own needs. Set time aside for exercise, make sure you eat healthy and sleep enough. Develop calming, mindful practices such as yoga, tai chi or meditation, and pick up an enjoyable, soothing hobby.

In the world of psychiatric illness, where patients and their conditions get much of the attention, it is easy to forget the role that immediate caregivers provide, their struggles and challenges, and their own psychological wellbeing. Keep in mind that your own psychological health is a matter of utter importance too if you are to care for someone else in need. With planning and preparation, much of the anxiety in caregiving can be lessened, if not avoided.