3 Ways to Support a Loved One with Severe Mood Disorder

Seeing a loved one struggle with a serious mood disorder is incredibly painful. It could be crippling depression that leaves them immobilized, anxiety that makes life feel unsafe, or the peaks and valleys of bipolar disorder that exhaust them. It’s natural for you to feel helpless in this situation. You want to fix things, but it isn’t really in your power to make that mental pain go away. However, there are ways to lighten their burden. Here’s what you can do about it.

Help Them Research Professional Care Facilities

At some point, once-a-week therapy may not be sufficient for coping with severe and intense feelings. If a person’s well-being, safety, or even ability to take care of themselves is being negatively impacted by a mood disorder, stepping into a more professional care facility is generally the way to go.

The truth is that dealing with the healthcare industry is never easy, and it’s only going to be trickier when battling negative thoughts from your mind about every situation being impossible. A severely depressed person is going to find it impossible to advocate for themselves, and that’s when you can help them investigate mental health treatment programs that suit their needs. For instance, if they are looking for a safe, supervised environment in Florida, looking into Banyan Tampa mental health treatment can help identify an evidence-based psychiatric program based on their needs.

Your goal should be to step in and help them make initial phone calls, ask the tough questions about waitlists, and even call their insurance provider to know what’s actually covered. Handing them an easy-to-understand list of realistic options takes a massive barrier completely out of their way.

Trade the Open-Ended Questions for Direct Action

We’re all guilty of this. When your friends are going through rough patches, you often tell them to let you know if there is anything you can do. It’s said with good intentions, but when it comes to those living with high-functioning depression or a severe mood disorder, deciding on what they need becomes another exhausting thing on their list.

The issue here is that they won’t be able to decide what they want. Therefore, you have to take the initiative in this case. Send them texts saying something like, “I will deliver dinner to your doorstep. There’s no need to answer it.” Go to their house and start folding their laundry that has been sitting in their chair for a week. Go shopping for them or even walk their dog. Even these seemingly small gestures tell them you’re around to make them feel better.

Validate Their Reality

It is natural to pitch in and offer solutions when a loved one vents about how terrible they feel. You might suggest they should drink more water, try yoga, or just look at the bright side. The problem is that this toxic positivity is only going to make matters worse for those with severe mood disorders, as it makes them feel misunderstood and isolated. 

You should understand that you can’t just fix a mental illness simply with a positive disposition. The right way to handle the situation is to avoid becoming their therapist or life coach and simply listen to their thoughts without judgment. The goal is to validate their pain in a safe, zero-judgment space. The more they feel heard, the easier it becomes for them to overcome their pain.

Endnote

Being a support system for a loved one struggling with a mental illness is never going to be easy. And it’s okay to admit it. However, you really don’t have to be hard on yourself. Remember, there’s no need to be perfect; you just have to be present, and they’ll feel empowered.