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Hi,I just wanted to say something about non BP people trying to understand BP sufferers. It must be incredible frustrating for BP sufferers when their partners / s/o'S / spouses etc simply dont seem to understand... From my own experience as a non BP whose loved one is BP II, it has been a very difficult journey trying to really understand what my 'friend' goes through. It has taken me at least 12 months to achieve some understanding.. and I just want to offer some advice to other people out there who want to try and understand their BP partners: 1. It will take some time 2. When the light gradually dawns its a great feeling - like you have found the missing piece of a jigsaw. 3. Nothing about it is rational - so attemtping to rationalise behaviour wont work 4. The only place I have truly learnt from is Bipolar community forums - by reading reading reading - firstly, what the Bipolar sufferers talk about amongst themselves i.e. not friends and family areas. Secondly, reading the words of others who are with BP sufferers. Soon you start to see that everything that has happened to you has happened to countless others. Anything you may write has been written word for word by someone else. Gradually you start to see the 'illness' and then soon you see that all the irrational behaviour is just a symptom of that illness and not personal. Then you can start to get to grips with helping the BP sufferer manage it. If i sound patronising I dont mean to, its just that I feel I'm getting close to being able to support rather than be a trigger, and thats a wonderful feeling. |
