Always Expect Recovery

In the course of my activities involving family members and companions who are helping a loved one with depression or bipolar, there are several problems that repeatedly come up. A recurring challenge that I believe to be one of the most important for me to meet and successfully overcome lies in that crucial area somewhere between hope and hopelessness.

When months go by without noticeable improvement in your loved one’s behavior, it’s difficult not to give in to discouragement. Who wouldn’t become discouraged if their loved one:

• Stopped taking their meds without telling anyone because they were feeling so well that they decided on their own they didn’t need them anymore.
• Made some inappropriate choices which came to the attention of authorities.
• Started self-medicating again after a long period of sobriety, undoing much of the gains which had taken so long to achieve.
• Withdrew from activities they used to enjoy and is now becoming more and more isolated, some days even having difficulty getting out of bed or leaving the house.
• Blames the companion or family for their illness and all the problems that continue to result from having it.
• Once again has been hospitalized.

If we allow ourselves to get stuck in disappointment we can soon be overcome with a sense of hopelessness. We must not allow this to happen. We need to keep in mind the fact that it is our loved one’s illness that’s causing the problems. We know there are better treatments available and we just have to find them. We must not give up hope. We must continue to expect things to get better with time, and for ever longer periods.

Take care of yourself. Make positive and hopeful decisions. Expect recovery. Always expect recovery.