For most people who live with bipolar disorder, depression is more common than mania. And, in general, medications for treatment of bipolar disorder are more effective for controlling or preventing mania than for controlling or preventing depression. So persistent depression is, unfortunately, a common experience for people with bipolar disorder and for their families or loved ones. It’s a challenging situation, but we do know about some things to avoid and things to try.
Confrontation and criticism are generally not helpful. Dramatic “interventions” where friends or family confront a loved one about their behavior may make for compelling daytime TV talk shows. But we know they don’t help people to recover from depression.
Behavioral activation – scheduling specific positive activities – is a proven effective treatment for depression. Partners and family members can certainly help with that. There are more and less helpful ways to encourage that activation. One simple rule is: When suggesting someone experiencing depression get more engaged in positive activities, it’s usually best to start the suggestion with “You might feel better if we….” rather than “You might feel better if you….”
