1. Educate yourself about your friend or family members illness, the symptoms and treatments. Read all you can about it, from reliable sources.
2.Give said family members or friends, your unconditional love and support. Offer reassurance for the future, but mostly hope.
3.Do not try to fix your friend or family members problems on your own, you will frustrate yourself. Instead encourage him or her to get professional help.
4.Always keep in mind, that a mood disorder affects a person’s attitudes and beliefs. If the person in question says things like, “nothing good will ever happen to me”, “no one loves or cares about me”, “I have learned all there is to know of all the secrets in this

world”, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that it is their illness speaking for them. With treatment your friend or family member will realize that what they had been thinking is not a reflection of reality.
5.You should have realistic expectations of and for your loved ones. He or she can recover fully,though it will not happen over night. Be patient and have a hopeful attitude.
6.Keep in mind this is a real illness, also that this is a treatable condition. This is a real physical illness that affects the brain. It is as real as is Diabetes or asthma. This is not a character flaw or personal weakness. It is not caused by anything you or anyone else did. It is a genetic disorder.Though it may not show up till many years later.
7.Do Not demand that your friend or family member “snap out of it”.
They cannot snap out of it anymore than, say a person with cancer, liver disease,or high blood pressure without treatment.
8.Most importantly take good care of yourself. Keep in mind that there are many support groups out there.Understanding family and or friends can and usually will help you through this.

You may ask yourself, How can i help my loved one who has bipolar disorder, or symptoms of severe depression?

1.Take threats of suicide or any mention of it seriously. Do not assume this person is just trying to get attention.
2.Encourage he

or she to get immediate help. Then you yourself should contact a professional right away.
3.Do not promise your friend or family member you will keep this secret. You may need to tell a Doctor or a family member the plan’s of suicide or the thought’s that are being harbored, in order to save their very life.
4.Find out if your friend or family member has a plan in place. Talking about it does not have to mean you are helping them to plant the seed of suicide. Most often He or She may need to talk about it and welcome discussing it.
5. Listen to them, listening is very important.Offer your help.
6.Suggest that your friend or family member contact a suicide hot line such as (800)442-HOPE if he or she is alone and in need of immediate help.
7.Let your loved one know that he or she is very important to you, and others. Remind this person that these thoughts of suicide are another symptom of the illness they suffer from,and is treatable.
8.Make sure that your friend or family member do not have access to weapons and or large quantities of medications, or anything else that could be dangerous.

You may also ask yourself, how can I help someone I care about during a manic episode?

Remember a manic episode may cause a person to believe things that are not true. Make big plans or life altering

decisions. Spend money to excess, or do things that may be quite dangerous. Sometimes a person may be more outgoing or enthusiastic during the early onset of a manic episode. Do your best to help your loved one not to do anything that can potentially harm them or others. Urge him or her to put off any grand plans, or the spending of large amounts of money,driving long distances,or anything that sounds dangerous to you. Keep in mind that they may insist all is well and He or she are in control. You may need to ask other friends, and family members, or a professional to intervene. Help to keep your friend or family member safe.
This point cannot be expressed enough. Encourage your loved one to seek professional help as soon as possible. Do not make demands,threats, or ultimatums unless you are fully prepared to follow through with them. Keep yourself safe. If your friend or family member becomes abusive, call a friend, a family member, a professional, or the police, for help.

The Author of this article is Romain Levesque Owner of http://www.bipolar.findurfuture.com If you would like to republish this article, make sure the resource box and link stay intact. Thank You.