Strong, stable personal relationships are of great importance to people struggling with moods. Take a minute to reflect on your own experience in this area. Do the people you have important, intimate relationships with help or hinder your mood stability?
Two recent conversations with patients helped us drive this point home. On the same day we met with two men in their 30’s with bipolar who each spoke to relationship changes as key to mood changes. One of them said he had never had a manic episode when he was in a relationship with a woman. The other said that he always had depressive episodes when he was in a divorce with a spouse (he had been married three times).
Research and clinical experience consistently shows that people who have strong, satisfying relationships, including spouse/partner, friends, and other family members, have better health, fewer mood episodes and longer life. We have also observed that resilience and stability hinge on skills that one can develop, such as control of anger and temper, doing harder work during periods of higher energy, and reflecting and integrating lessons from negative experiences.
All of which is to say that tending to interpersonal relationships is a key life skill, and something that we neglect at our peril. Healthy connections and supportive friendships help you grow and move towards your goals in life. While a relationship may not cure all your problems, it can certainly keep you grounded and steady on course.
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