Dealing With Bipolar Anger - For Relatives and Friends

I'm particularly interested in ways of working with anger where there is a biological, neurological or chemical basis for the anger. Bipolar could arguably fit into all those catergories depending on what view you take. At any rate the anger in bipolar can at times be exceptional, unpredictable and even dangerous! I'd like to write more about dealing with anger where there is bipolar, but for now I just wanted to share part of an article I read which dealt with how you can help someone suffering with bipolar anger.

It might seem unfair to focus on the needs of the person on the end of the bipolar anger at all, after all - shouldn't we all take responsibility for ourselves and our
own emotions? Of course! But life is love and love dictates that we help others where their loads become a burden and bipolar anger is certainly a burden. Likely the anger is a bigger burden for the one carrying it then for those who experience it in the sense that bipolar anger can break up marriages, threaten employment possiblities and even lead to imprisonment. Yet people with bipolar will sometimes experience their anger as something they cannot 'control' making it an even bigger burden.

For many with bipolar the reflective nature of the illness during calm periods may lead to them making drastic decisions over their life which mean they limit meaningful interractions, exit relationships and avoid situations which might be enjoyable but which might also spark off bipolar anger. The self-limiting actions of those who have suffered a long time with this issue might cause them to have a lowered quality of life as a result. For those who have the hard but often enjoyable job of loving, living or caring for someone with bipolar it would be useful to know if their might be any technieques that could help.

The following tips are taken from an article at:  www.healthyplace.com

1. Remain as calm as you can, talk slowly and clearly
2. Stay in control. Either hide your fear, as it may cause the situation to escalate, or tell the person directly his or her anger is frightening you
3. Do not approach or touch the person without his or her request or permission to do so
4. Allow the person an avenue of escape
5. Do not give in to all demands, keep limits and consequences clear
6. Try to determine whether the anger is completely irrational and thus a symptom of bipolar disorder, or if there is a real cause that you can validate
7. Do not argue irrational ideas
8. Acknowledge the person's feelings and express your willingness to try to understand what the person is experiencing
9. Help your relative figure out what to do next
10. Protect yourself and others from injury; some bipolar anger outbursts cannot be prevented or stopped

I recently found this book online so am adding this as an unchecked reference! 

Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder

Click Here To see more

Feel free to leave comments and feedback on this article. 

The next article will focus on techniques a person struggling with bipolar anger might be able to put in place.