Commented [MW1]: Missing MLA Format (Your name,

instructors name, course number, and date (07

November 2017)
Mondimore, Francis M. Chapter 22: The Role of the Family. Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Commented [MW2]: You are also missing your heading
Patients and Families, vol. 1, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, pp. 240249. (Norford (pg #))

This chapter covers a lot of the basics of what to do and what not to do when it comes to

having a family member or friend that suffers from bipolar disorder. One of the main points the

chapter makes is do not use predetermined biases when it comes to judging someone with

bipolar disorder. Many people are hardwired to think that people who do not control their

emotions are lazy or immature, when it comes to bipolar disorder you must completely rewire

your brain to emphasize with them. You cannot criticize a patient for things they cannot help.

That will only reinforce their feelings of hopelessness. This goes back to being understanding

and rewiring your brain to know what is really going on with them. You also have to understand

that everything risky or silly that they do isnt always their illness. When dealing with someone

who suffers from bipolar disorder it is also important to know a lot of the time when they are

going through an extreme high or low, their illness speaks for them. Your loved one isnt being

mean or rejecting you, it is their illness clouding their perception of how they are. To help them

even when their perception is clouded you must have trust. If the patient trusts you they will be

more likely to come to you for help, going behind someones back is one of the worst ways to

lose their trust. To build trust, communication is key. Open communication where the patient

can talk to you and you can talk to the patient. It is important to stay involved in their lives and

always be there for them to talk to you. The last point this chapter makes is that its okay to need

help yourself. It isnt selfish to need support and encouragement while dealing with a bipolar

patient. Bipolar disorder not only effects the patients but their loved ones as well.

While reading the chapter of this book I learned a lot, coming from a family where I grew

up with my mother being bipolar I thought I knew everything but this has really opened my eyes.
One of the main things I learned is that you cannot always jump to conclusions about the person.

The book touched a lot on when a bipolar patient starts behaving in a silly or foolish manner it

isnt always their illness. People act out in foolish ways all the time, including bipolar patients.

With my mom we always assume when she tries to do something that just seems stupid that she

is getting sick, when reality she is just portraying basic human behavior. Another thing I really

learned is that communication and trust is the key. The patient needs to be able to trust you so

they can come and talk to you when they need help. They also need to trust you so you can go

and talk to them when you are concerned. Communication is extremely important because you

need to stay involved in their lives in a loving and caring way so you know when they need help.

Things like going to doctors appointments or even just simple conversations about how they are

feeling at the time can really help the patient out.

This source can be proved credible for a few reasons. The first reason being the author,

he is and M.D. at John Hopkins Bayview Medical center in Maryland. Dr. Mondimore Commented [MW3]: Consider rephrasing this as it may be
unclear what youre trying to say.
specializes in Adult Psychiatry, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Mood Disorders, Psychiatry, and
Commented [MW4]: I believe you meant to write an M.D.

Behavioral Sciences. He is also the associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at

John Hopkins. He works on a team that helps discover the best practices for treating psychiatric

patients. Dr. Mondimore is also a certified board director of the American Board of Psychiatry &

Neurology / Psychiatry. The book was written in 1999 but the chapter of the book I used

includes practices and advice that are still relevant today and will probably be forever

unchanging, as it isnt involving any sort of medical practices that could be advanced.

Final Notes:
This looks good, Audrey. Thank you for opening up about something that my be difficult for

you.

- Mike Watson