The low point of the bipolar biorhythm is a tough one. Often medication can be a horrible influence. We have seen the dark side of mixing medication with the low point turning sadness into violent rage. The low point is characterized by the amplification of negative emotions, thoughts and beliefs.
One of the key learning a for the support group is to understand what this all means. To give an example, if the patient feels neglected even for a moment, than the negative emotion is amplified to be unloved ALL the time. If the patient feels an activity was chosen over her, then that activity is loved MORE than her for all time. This makes life very difficult for the support group during the down period not knowing or understanding what will be taken to these high levels. No one is certain which act will be seen as a slight and then amplified to the extreme.
When it happens, all that remains is trying to make it out of the down period with minimal collateral damage. This is about minimizing the hurt to the family, to the extended family and to the support group. We all have to keep reminding one another that the patient is not in control of the amplification and that often the criticism is justified, just not to the nth degree.
The patient often has a valid point to make about feelings of neglect, about misplaced use of time and about feelings of support but those feelings are lost in the amplified emotions.
The support group must keep reminding the patient of their importance, of their being loved and about their involvement in the core social group to help them follow the path back to the middle ground of the biorhythm.
The patient is the suffering. Though the support group bares the brunt, everyone must remember that one true fact.
