1.07 Gareth, Emma's Husband, Supporting and living with someone who lives with Bipolar
Lets Talk Bipolar - by Bipolar UKShow Notes
My guest for this episode is my Husband, Gareth. Bipolar also affects those that support those living with bipolar, so in this episode I wanted to ask Gareth how things felt for him, how they impacted him and how he copes with being the partner of someone living with Bipolar.
We talk about how he felt when I first told him that I have Bipolar, how this changed when we started living with each other and how him witnessing me through highs and lows feels for him and what he things about it.
He also shares some of what he does that can be helpful or not so helpful through the different ranges of mood that present themselves within me and the importance of sharing our big feelings with each other regardless of if there is mental illness in the couple-ship or not.
We also talk about suicidal phases and how that impacts him and our relationship, the importance of safety plans and care plans and how they will need revisiting as time goes on as we will always be changing as people and encountering different life stressors that may affect how we cope.
Please listen with care as we do discuss topics that may feel difficult and triggering as we do discuss a specific trigger for myself when I experience suicidal phases.
If you have any questions please email me on [email protected] and we will answer them directly or at the beginning of a future episode of Let's talk Bipolar.
We hope that this may speak to those partners/support people who support those living with Bipolar.
Thank you for listening
Emma and Gareth
Please find support and resources on our website www.bipolaruk.org
Insta: @bipolar_uk
Twitter: bipolaruk
Facebook: bipolaruk
Hosted by Emma Belle
Insta: @emmakbelle
www.emmakbelle.com
More from Lets Talk Bipolar - by Bipolar UK
In our last episode of the series 2 I am joined by Melissa Duncan and Jihan Gabart - Melissa was diagnosed with Bipolar 1. Jihan has been her best friend since the age of 14 and they have lived together and Jihan is a carer to Melissa to support her whilst living with this diagnosis.
Professor Allan Young MB, ChB, MPhil, PhD, FRCP (Edin.), FRCPC, FRCPsych answers your questions on bipolar:
Anastasia was seeing psychiatrists since the age of 9 so her journey has been a long one and coming to terms with her diagnosis was hard as all she had heard was fear and stigma around the diagnosis. After some research the diagnosis brought relief and made things make sense.
Paul’s son is one of 3 children and the whole family is very supportive to do what they can and be as supportive as they can in his journey of learning to manage and live with Bipolar.
Yogini, triathlete, vegan, mother and lover, Natalie Leeke, has created and enjoys an unconventional and beautiful life with her 7 year old daughter in South west Florida.