Lack of boundaries
- Acknowledge that you have needs too.
- Devote some time to outside interests and goals; doing something that you enjoy.
- Maintain contact with friends and family.
- Use the time when the person is well to focus on things that are important to you, besides the illness.
- Encourage the person’s efforts to maintain their own identity and interests.
Loss of identity
- Keep in mind that although you can help, the person needs to find ways to deal with their own illness.
- Learn to say “no” to demands that are unreasonable or unmanageable (both caregiving and other demands).
- Set limits with risky, dangerous or inappropriate illness behaviour you find unacceptable (see dealing with risky or inappropriate manic or hypomanic behavior).
- If the person you care for refuses to get their bipolar disorder treated or to take any responsibility for managing their illness, consider the impact this has on you and how to respond.
