This article was co-authored by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin specializing in Addictions and Mental Health. She provides therapy to people who struggle with addictions, mental health, and trauma in community health settings and private practice. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011. This article has been viewed 302,090 times.

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To deal with a bipolar family member, try your best to empathize with them, even though it's not always easy, since sometimes they don't have control over the things they do because of their illness. You should also try to be supportive of your family member's mental health treatment. If they're not currently receiving treatment, gently encourage them to seek the help of a therapist since therapy and medication are the best ways to manage bipolar disorder. Additionally, you can do things at home to help reduce any triggers that cause your family member to experience a bipolar episode. For example, if your family member is triggered by stress, you could try to create a relaxing environment at home for them. However, don't forget about your own needs. It's important that you focus on taking care of yourself too since you'll have a harder time helping your family member if you're stressed or feeling down. For more advice from our Counselor co-author, like how to understand bipolar disorder, keep reading.