Tips For Managing Romantic Relationships if You have Bipolar Disorder

This post appeared on the International Bipolar Foundation website, here.

If you suffer from bipolar disorder, then you may already know how difficult managing romantic relationships can be. Even being a partner with a bipolar disorder sufferer is difficult.

The manic and hypomanic phases of the disease can include lapses in judgment, promiscuity, overspending, risky behaviors like alcohol or drug abuse, and other problems which can wreak havoc on any relationship, especially a romantic one.

Depressive episodes can be frustrating for everyone involved because a person suffering from depression may withdraw from the world. If you’re partnered with a person going through a depressive episode, you may not be able to draw them out of their shell.

So how do you manage a romantic relationship if you have bipolar disorder? Here are some tips to do just that.

Tip #1: Communicate Honestly

Everyone involved in a romantic relationship needs to communicate honestly with their partners, but this is especially true when bipolar disorder is involved.

If you have bipolar disorder, be honest about your everyday feelings, and let your partner know when you’re tripping into mania or slipping into depression. Bipolar episodes can be disorienting to anyone, not just the sufferer, and especially when people are unprepared for them. Your partner needs to know if you’re becoming manic or depressed.

Financial concerns are also something to be honest about. If you don’t tell your partner that you overspent during a manic episode, he or she might be counting on money in the budget that you don’t have. Similarly, you need to be honest if you’ve cheated on your partner when you’ve been manic because you need to maintain trust in the relationship.

If you are partnered with someone with bipolar disorder, be honest about whether you’re overwhelmed by the disease. You can’t always be a rock, and your partner needs to know when you feel overwhelmed. Do your best to separate the illness from your partner and try not to judge him or her for suffering from bipolar disorder. But be honest with your partner about how the mental illness affects you.

Tip #2: Stick With Your Treatment Plan

Adequately treating your bipolar disorder with talk therapy and/or medication is crucial for managing romantic relationships. If you don’t have your disease under control and aren’t handling your mood episodes properly, then you run the risk of destroying everything you’ve worked for when it comes to your partner.

If you are dating or married to a person suffering from bipolar disorder, regularly ask your partner how they’re feeling and if their meds are working for them. Managing mental illnesses is much easier with an appropriate level of support. Oftentimes, the partner is the one who spots the manic or depressive episode.

But try to avoid nagging. Set up rules about communicating ahead of time, such as “I can only bring up meds three times, and then I need to let it go.”

Tip #3: Practice Self-care

Self-care isn’t limited to bubble baths and painting your nails. Self-care is taking responsibility for your well-being. If you can’t take care of yourself, your romantic relationships will suffer. People suffering depressive episodes especially need to commit to a self-care routine, as they tend to neglect themselves.

So, whether you have bipolar disorder or are partnered with someone with bipolar, practice daily self-care.

If you do these “big six” self-care steps daily, as outlined by a post about self-care at WellandWealthy.org then you will see improvements in your physical and mental health. These improvements will help you be a better spouse.

Every day, try to:

• eat a healthy diet
• get adequate sleep
• go outside
• move your body
• drink enough water
• and socialize with real people.

A special note for the partners of people with bipolar disorder: one way to practice self-care is to not be your partner’s only support. Make sure that he or she has a therapist and/or a psychiatrist to talk to, as well as supportive friends and possibly family. The more you can spread the support around, the better.

You can’t be everything to your partner. Setting up a codependent relationship will only harm you and him or her in the long run.

For a post on how to get a psychiatric evaluation, click here. For a post on how to start seeing a therapist, click here.

Final Thoughts

Managing romance when you suffer from bipolar disorder is not impossible. It just takes a little extra work and self-awareness from both people in the partnership. If you can communicate honestly, stick to your treatment plans, and practice the “big six” daily self-care tenants, then you will be able to better handle your romantic relationships.

I wish you well in your journey.

Related:

• Getting Support During a Bipolar Depression Episode
• Bipolar Disorder in Women
• Disclosing That You Have a Mental Illness, part II: How

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Indefinite Hiatus Announcement for The Bipolar Parent

Photo by Cookie the Pom on Unsplash

Hello, hello!

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing an indefinite hiatus for The Bipolar Parent.

I am hypomanic and experiencing several family emergencies. I’m dealing with severe feelings of anxiety and distress, and I cannot devote the attention to the blog that it needs in order to thrive.

I hope to be back someday but for now, the blog is on hiatus until I am feeling up to blogging again.

Many apologies!

-Cassandra Stout

How to Make a Mental Health Crisis Plan

Making a Mental Health Crisis Plan. Credit to Green Chameleon of unplash.com. Used with permission under a Creative Commons license.

One of the last tasks my doctors at the psychiatric hospital made me do before releasing me to the wider world was to make an emergency health care plan for future mental health crises.

At the time, I thought this plan was stupid. I was manic and therefore invincible, and I would not be having any more mental health crises, thank you very much.

Once I came down from my high, I realized that having such a plan—with emergency numbers and the names of my doctors—in an accessible place was an excellent idea.

But how do you make a mental health crisis plan? And what is it?

What the Plan Is

A mental health crisis plan is a series of steps to take when you experience a psychiatric crisis. You write down the steps when you are well and place the completed plan in a place where you and your loved ones can reach any time you need it.

As a person with mental illness, having a crisis plan is of utmost importance. You never know when a mental health episode will strike and will knock you off your metaphorical feet.

Caregivers and crisis teams can help you best when they’ve been prepared to honor your wishes. So you need to tell them what those wishes are with a mental health crisis plan.

Making the Plan

An emergency mental health crisis plan should include:

• Your contact information and directions to your home.
• A description of what a crisis situation looks like for you.
• Contact information for your supporters.
• Phone numbers for your therapist, psychiatrist, and primary care physician, as well as any other doctors working closely with you to manage your mental health.
• A phone number for the local Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). Do not hesitate to call the emergency number for your country as well.
• A list of all prescribed medications and doctors who prescribed them.
• A signed waiver from you giving all providers permission to speak to your supporters during the crisis, as well as giving supporters permission to speak to each other.
• Anything you need to be mindful about for your health in general (e.g. allergies, dietary restrictions, etc).
• Arrangements for your children should you need to be away from home.
• Similarly, arrangements for your pets should you need to be away from home.
• How supporters should settle disputes.
• A list of all prior hospitalization dates and previous major crises.
• A list of acceptable and unacceptable treatments and why (allergies, etc).
• A list of acceptable and unacceptable people involved in your treatment and why.
• Your signature and the signatures of two witnesses and (preferably) your attorney.

If you type a document up on a computer, you can change it whenever you like. Simply email an attached copy to your supporters. But keep a printed copy available in an accessible place in your home for your supporters as well.

Conclusion

If you are in a crisis, the last thing you need is to make decisions about your care. Make a mental health crisis plan today to prepare yourself and your caregivers to take care of your in a way that you find acceptable.

10 Frugal Gifts for People Who Suffer from Anxiety

Image credit: Freestocks on Unsplash.com. Used with permission.

A racing heart. Panting breaths. Tunnel vision.

Chances are, you’ve felt anxiety in your life, and you know how terrible it is. Many of our loved ones manage anxious thoughts and feelings every day.

But what if you could give a friend or loved one something to help soothe them? If you have someone who in your life suffers from anxiety, this gift guide is for you.

Last holiday season, I wrote a frugal gift guide for people who suffer from depression.

A lot of the gifts on this list overlap with that one, but feel free to check the depression post out for even more ideas!

Preface

I’d like to preface this gift guide by saying that whomever you’re giving gifts to, keep in mind whether the recipient will actually be able to use the gift. People who suffer from depression are easily overwhelmed. You want to offer them a present which won’t overwhelm them, and you definitely don’t want to have expectations that they will use the gift.

Presents don’t have to be expensive, but if they’re thoughtful, your loved one will appreciate them. If you can, do some research to figure out what your loved one likes and is into. Look into their social media posts and find out what he or she is posting about. That can give you a clue as to what your friend or loved one enjoys.

If you are a frugal person buying for a frugal person, the best gifts you can give are practical ones. Most frugal people are content with what they have, and don’t want to fill their houses with stuff they won’t use. So the best gifts you can give, aside from time, are consumables, like food, journals, or gift certificates to places they like.

With that in mind, here are 10 frugal gifts for people who suffer from anxiety:

1. Weighted Blanket

Imagine a situation where you’re antsy and distracted. Then imagine a full-body embrace. Imagine deep pressure enfolding your arms, your legs, your chest. Now imagine a calm passing over your frantic mind.

This is the soothing feeling of a weighted blanket.

Weighted blankets have been used by occupational therapists the world over to help calm their patients, both children and adults alike. Glass beads are partitioned out in pockets and sewn together in sections.

When picking out a weighted blanket, there are two rules of thumb to follow: the chin-to-feet rule, where you use a blanket that covers your whole body, and the 10% rule, where you use a blanket that is 10% of your body weight.

Keep these rules in mind when picking out a weighted blanket for your loved one, and you’ll be golden.

2. Essential Oil Diffuser

Aromatherapy has long been a practice to soothe people. Scents like lavender and pine have calming effects on the mind.

This is due to the fact that lavender has been linked to the same neuron receptors as powerful anti-anxiety medications. Calming scents, and lavender in particular, trigger your brain to produce more feel-good chemicals.

So why not get your loved one an essential oil diffuser? They’ll love it.

3. Worry Rings

A “worry item” is something you can hold in your hands to fidget with. Fidgeting is a natural habit that helps ground people who suffer from anxiety, so a worry item can be very useful.

A worry ring or spinner ring helps take your loved one’s mind off whatever’s distressing them. They will wear their ring and think of you every time they fidget.

4. Mini Zen Garden

Raking sand and setting up stones doesn’t sound like it will relieve anxiety.

But a miniature zen garden is perfect for creating a small environment where your loved one will have complete control over the patterns of the sand. A zen garden can be a very soothing activity for your friend or loved one.

5. Therapy

Everyone needs someone to talk to.

Depending on how your loved one feels about therapy, signing them up with a few virtual sessions with a licensed therapist may be a wonderful gift. Your giftee may benefit immensely from only a few sessions and be encouraged to continue.

But take care when giving this gift.

You must know your recipient well and be able to preempt their reaction. And don’t let the sessions be a surprise. Talk with the person before giving them therapy as a gift, so they know what your intentions are.

If you give therapy to the right person, a few sessions could really help them!

For a post on how to start seeing a therapist, click here.

6. Adult Coloring Book

Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore.

This soothing activity is now for adults in the form of adult coloring books, which show complex patterns of animals, words, and mandalas, among other pictures.

Give your loved one a box of crayons and an adult coloring book, and watch their face light up.

7. Journal

Journaling has been proven to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Give your loved one the gift of a journal this holiday season. A nice Moleskin is a bit on the pricey side, but Moleskin makes excellent notebooks with leather-bound covers.

If you want to make the journal very special to your recipient, purchase it ahead of the gifting and write a positive affirmation or quote on the bottom of each page.

8. Yoga Mat

Downward facing dog. Mountain pose. Warrior I.

These are all yoga poses, from a practice which has been proven to help with stress and anxiety.

Why not give your loved one a yoga mat, so they can enjoy a few virtual sessions of yoga? If you want to go all out, spring for a work out DVD or some sessions with a professional yogi.

Like therapy, only give yoga sessions/mats if you know your recipient well and expect that they would enjoy working out.

9. Bath Salts

One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was a gift basket from my sister containing lotions, soaps, and a set of organic, deliciously-scented bath salts.

The salts were an especially soothing gift for me, as I was able to soak my troubles away in a tub that left my skin soft and my mind calmed with the scents.

Give your loved one the gift of scented bath salts this holiday season. Everyone needs to be clean.

10. Mug of Hot Chocolate to Share

And finally, the last gift on this list but certainly not the least, is a mug of hot chocolate to share.

There are some pretty cute mugs out there, some of which are funny and others of which can be sweet. Purchase a mug and some instant, powdered hot chocolate–or DIY some of your own with a recipe you can find online.

And then offer to share some hot chocolate with your loved one. What your loved one needs most is the gift of your time.

Even during a global pandemic, you can still set aside some time to virtually share a cup of hot cocoa with your loved one, right? You may have to schedule the visit and you can’t exactly hug each other, but your loved one will appreciate seeing your smiling face and catching up with you.

Conclusion

Shopping for gifts for a person who suffers from anxiety isn’t difficult.

You simply have to think about what you think would soothe your friend or loved one the most. Be it a yoga or therapy session, a long soak in the tub, or time spent sharing a mug of hot chocolate, do some thinking about what gift your loved one will enjoy.

I wish you well in your journey.

What gifts are on your list this year?

Related Links:

• COVID-19: 7 Ways to Combat Anxiety about the Coronavirus
• 100 Doable Self-Care Ideas For When You’re Suffering from Depression
• How to Communicate with Family During the Holidays when You Have a Mental Illness

The Bipolar Parent’s International Crisis Hotline Numbers Master Post

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

Trigger Warning: This post discusses hotlines that apply to people contemplating suicide, as well as domestic and sexual violence.

According to Our World in Data, up to 10.7% of the world suffers from some sort of mental health condition. These conditions include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, eating disorders, and a whole host of other issues. That’s over 792 million people. For bipolar disorder specifically, the global incidence rate is 0.6%, or 46 million people.

Needless to say, a lot of people need help. And sometimes, people end up in a mental health crisis, which is any situation where a person’s mood and behaviors impair functioning to the point where he or she can no longer care for himself or herself or perform his or her role in the community at large. This crisis can lead them to hurt himself or herself or others, so it needs to be addressed.

If you or a loved one are in a metal health crisis and need to talk to someone immediately, pick up the phone. You can call a crisis hotline and talk to a line operator who will be able to connect you with resources to tackle your current challenge. Hotlines are available to you whether you have insurance or not, and they are private. Some crisis lines won’t even appear on a phone bill, ensuring the confidentiality of the caller. Thoroughly-trained hotline operators will be able connect you with treatment providers in your area.

What Should I Ask the Hotline Operator?

Calling a mental health hotline doesn’t have to be intimidating. Hotline operators have a wealth of information to answer your questions about your issues  Consider asking some of these questions:

• How do I get diagnosed? (For a post covering this topic from the Bipolar Parent, click here.)
• Are there special techniques will work better for me, based on my diagnosis?
• What happens if I have more than one condition?
• How are metal health conditions treated?
• What treatments are available in my area?
• How do I know which type of doctor to see? (For a post covering this topic from the Bipolar Parent, click here.)
• How long will I have to be in treatment?
• Will I have to take medications, and can I ever stop taking them?
• What is my next step?

If you are calling a hotline because you are concerned about a loved one, your questions may include:

• How can I talk to my loved one about his or her diagnosis without upsetting him or her?
• How can I help his or her recovery?
• How do I know if his or her diagnosis is correct?
• How do I get my loved one diagnosed?
• What treatments are available in my area for my loved one, based on his or her diagnosis?
• How can I encourage him or her to seek treatment?
• What should I do in a crisis?
• How do I ensure healthy boundaries while still caring for my loved one?

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

How to Use the List of International Mental Health Crisis Hotlines

While I’ve made posts addressing mental health crisis lines for the United States and tips and resources for online support groups, I have yet to address international mental health crisis lines. This is that post.

If you need a warmline, which is a line run by volunteer peers who will listen to you vent your troubles confidentially before you hit a crisis, please see this post on the Bipolar Parent.

In any crisis, if you are in immediate danger, call your country’s emergency line. Make sure to let the operator know that you are in a psychiatric crisis and ask for officers trained in crisis intervention.

If you are looking for support, resources, and knowledge from an highly-trained hotline operator, call one of these international crisis hotlines. If you find this list unmanageable, search for your country in the following ways:

• On a desktop, hold down the ‘Ctrl’ + ‘F’ keys. This will bring up a search bar that you can look for anything.
• On Safari for mobile devices, tap share icon (bottom), scroll down, select “Find on page.”
• On Chrome for mobile devices, tap three dots (bottom right), scroll down, select “Find in page.

International Mental Health Crisis Hotlines Resource List

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

International Numbers

• Domestic Violence:
  • Pathways to Safety International: 833-SAFE-833

Algeria

• Emergency Lines: 34342 and 43.
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 0021 3983 2000 58

Armenia

• Emergency: 911 and 112
• Suicide Hotlines: 
  • Trust Social Work and Sociological Research Centre: (2) 538194 and (2) 538197. Trust Social Work and Sociological Research Centre provides 24-hour face-to-face, phone, and letter support for people in Armenia who are lonely, in distress, in despair or having suicidal thoughts.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • National Hotline on Domestic Violence: +374 105 428 280800 80 850

Austria

The Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria has a comprehensive list of hotlines. Here are a few:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Telefonseelsorge 24/7: 142
  • Rat auf Draht 24/7: 147 (youth)
• General Help:
  • Psychotherapy Helpline of the Professional Association for Psychotherapy: +43 720 12 00 12. Daily from 08.00-22.00. Psychotherapeutic crisis therapy offered by psychotherapists. Competent, free, and anonymous.
• Domestic violence:
  • 0800 222 555 from 0.00 – 24.00. Advice for women who are victims of violence.
• Coronavirus:
  • Coronavirus hotline of the AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety): 0800 555 621. The AGES answers questions on the topic of coronavirus (general information about how it is passed on, symptoms and prevention) from 07.00 to 20.00, seven days a week on 0800 555 621.
  • Health advice hotline: 1450. If you have genuine symptoms (a high temperature, a cough, shortness of breath), stay at home and please call the health hotline on 1450 to receive information on the next steps (diagnosis). 0:00 – 24:00.

Australia

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines that apply to Australia. Here are a few:

• Emergency line: 000
• Suicide hotlines:
  • Lifeline: 13 11 141. Lifeline is a 24-hour nationwide service that provides crisis support.
  • Beyond Blue: 1 (300) 22 3646. Beyond Blue provides nationwide information and support regarding anxiety, depression, and suicide.
  •  The Samaritans: 1 (800) 198 313. Samaritans is a not for profit organization working on reducing the suicide rate and promoting the importance of mental health. They are one of the only 24/7 anonymous crisis support services in Australia.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse:
  • Alcohol and Drug Foundation: 1 (300) 858 584. Celebrating more than 55 years of service to the community, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) is Australia’s leading organization committed to preventing alcohol and other drug harms. They were established in 1959 to support the many post-war veterans who were suffering from alcohol dependence as a release from the trauma of war. 
  • Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1 (300) 887 000. Support and referral services for people with drug and/or alcohol problems.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Bravehearts: 1 (800) 272 831. Bravehearts sets the standard in the provision of specialist therapeutic services and support to children and young people, adults and non-offending family members impacted by child sexual assault.
  • 1 800 RESPPECT: 1 (800) 614 434. National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling services 24-hour online support for workers and professionals.
• Youth, Pregnancy, and Parenting:
  • Kids Helpline: 1 (800) 551 800. A 24-hour nationwide service that provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and counselling services for Australians aged 5–25.
  • Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA): 1 (300) 726 306. The PANDA telephone hotline provides support and counselling to new parents who may be experiencing anti-natal or postnatal depression. Concerned partners, family, friends and health professionals are also able to call PANDA and seek their support.
  • Children and Youth Health: 1 (300) 364 100. The Child and Youth Health organization provides user-friendly information about many aspects of health for all those involved, including parents and caregivers.
• Coronavirus:
  • 1800 020 080 if you suspect you may have contracted COVID-19.
  • 1800 022 222 for more general advice relating to your symptoms.
  • VIC – 1800 675 398
  • QLD – 13 432 584
  • TAS – 1800 671 738

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

Bahamas

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • (2) 322-2763
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Bahamas Crisis Centre: (242) 328-0922. The Bahamas Crisis Centre offers 24/7 free counselling and services for men, women and children in the Bahamas who are experiencing any form of abuse; family, relationship or behavioral problem.
• Coronavirus: 
  • 376-9350 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.; 376-9387 8:00 P.M. – 8:00 A.M.; and 376-9357.

Bangladesh

• Emergency: 999
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Kaan Pete Roi is an emotional support helpline in Bangladesh whose mission is to alleviate feelings of despair, isolation, distress, and suicidal feelings among members of the community, through confidential listening. The helpline is intended for suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health. You can call Friday- Wednesday from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from Thursday noon to three o’clock.
    • Graminafone 01779554391, 01779554392.
    • Ayertelle 01688709965, 01688709966
    • Banglalink: 01985275286
    • Rabie: 01852035634
    • Teletcay: 01517969150
• Coronavirus:
  • IEDCR Hotline: 01401184554

Barbados

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Samaritan Barbados:  (246) 4299999
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • BPW Barbados: 246 435 8222. BPW Barbados offers 24-Hour services to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence in Barbados.
• Coronavirus:
  • Ministry of Health and Wellness Hotline: 536-4500

Belgium

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Stichting Zelfmoordlijn:  1813
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • 1712 (Flemish). Hotline for all types of violence, domestic (any member of the family) sexual violence, honor-related violence and more, child abuse, elder abuse.
• General Help:
  • Belgium Community Help Service: 32 (0) 2 648 40 14. Belgium Community Help Service is an anonymous, confidential, 24/7 telephone service in English for children, adolescents and adults, providing information, support, and help in a crisis.
  • Tele Onthaal: 106. Tele Onthaal is a 24-hour support line in Belgium for people who are experiencing emotional problems of any kind.

Bolivia

•  Emergency: 911
•  Suicide Hotline:
  • 3911270
• General Help: 
  • Telefono de la Esperanza: (00 591 4) 4 25 42 42. Telefono de la Esperanza provides mental health support and information throughout Bolivia.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Emergency: 124 or 611-1111
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 080 05 03 05
• Domestic Violence:
  • SOS Line for Help of Women and Children, victims of domestic violence:
    • 1264 (Republika Srpska)
    • 1265 (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Coronavirus:
  • 24-hour national hotline: 1800 675 398
  • If you need an interpreter, call TIS National: 131 450.

Botswana

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • National Lifeline: 3911270
• General Help:
  • Lifeline/FTMTB: 267 7552 7590. Lifeline/FTMTB offers a free and confidential counselling service to the Botswana communities.
• Coronavirus:
  • Republic of Botswana 24hr COVID-19 helpline numbers: 16649 / 0800 600 111

Photo by Rahul Chakraborty on Unsplash

Brazil

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Brazil. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 192
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • AMA National Association: 90035191 Hospital de Pronto Socorro Largo Teodor Herzl S/NO Primero Andar
  • Centro de Valorização da Vida: 188. Centro de Valorização da Vida provides voluntary and free service of emotional support and suicide prevention for all people in Uruguay who want and need to talk.
  • The CVV – Life Valuation Center: 55 11 31514109. The CVV – Life Valuation Center provides 24-hour emotional support and suicide prevention, voluntarily serving all people in Brazil who want and need to talk.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Women’s Violence Hotline Nationwide: 1-8-0
  • Care Center for Women and Children:
    • 67-286-2585
    • 67-286-1105

Bulgaria

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Sofia Hotline: 0035 9249 17 223
• Youth:
  • Bulgarian National Helpline for Children: 116 111. Bulgarian National Helpline for Children offers 24-hour services for children in Bulgaria who need someone to talk to or be with them at a difficult time.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Women’s Helpline: +359 2 981 76 86

Canada

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotline numbers in Canada. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS): 1 (833) 456 4566
  • First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness: 1 (855) 242 3310. 24/7 Help Line for those who are thinking about committing suicide.
• Youth and Parenting:
  • Kids Help Phone: 1 (800) 668 6868. Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. Completely anonymous and confidential.
  • Parentline: (778) 782 3548. The Parent Helpline is a free telephone service to parents and others experiencing family life or parenting challenges. This nonjudgmental service provides a listening ear, support and guidance to parents and caregivers who are upset or troubled about a family issue, have parenting-related questions or just need someone to speak to.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Domestic Violence Helpline (Victim Link): (604) 875-0885. Helpline designed to provide information and support to those experiencing domestic violence.
  • Family Violence Info Line: (780) 310 1818. 24/7 helpline in over 170 languages to provide support and advice for people experiencing family violence.
  • BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors: 1 (866) 437 1940. Helpline providing emotional and legal information and referral for seniors experiencing abuse. (Vancouver, BC)
• LGBT Issues:
  • Trans Lifeline: 877-330-6366. Trans Lifeline offers 24-hour support to trans people in Canada who are in crisis or just need someone to talk to.
• Coronavirus: 
  • National Health Line: 811
  • General Questions about Coronavirus: 1-888-COVID19 or 1-888-268-4319. The hotline is staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day with information available in more than 110 languages.

China

• Emergency: 110
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center: 0800 810 1117 or 010 8295 1332. Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center provides 24-hour service for individuals in Beijing who are depressed or suicidal.
• General Help: 
  • Mental Health Center of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University: 0571-85029595. Mental Health Center of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University offers a 24-hour psychological assistance to people in Hangzhou.
  • Guangzhou Crisis Research and Intervention Center: 020-81899120 or 020-12320-5. Guangzhou Crisis Research and Intervention Center is available 24/7 for those who need help.
  • Shenzhen Mental Health Center: 0755-25629459. Shenzhen Mental Health Center offers free professional counseling available 24/7.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Beijing Red Maple Women’s Psychological Counseling Service Center:
    • 010-6833 3388
    • 010-64033383
    • 010-64073800.

Columbia

• Emergency: 112 or 123.
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 24/7 Helpline in Baranquilla: 1(00 57 5) 372 27 27     
  • 24/7 Hotline Bogota: (57-1) 323 24 25

Croatia

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Croatia.

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Plavi Telefon: (01) 4833-888. Plavi Telefon- Blue Phone provides support to people in Croatia for issues such as depression, alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide that traditional centers might not accomplish. 24/7 national hotline.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Women’s Help Now – SOS Line for Women and Children Victims of Violence:
    • 0800-655-222
    • 385-1-4658-3890800-655-222
    • 385-1-4658-389
  • B.a.B.e.:
    • 0800-200-144
    • 385-1-4611-351
• LGBT Issues:
  • LORI: 385 51 212 186. 24/7 national hotline.
  • PLAVI: (01) 4833-888
• Coronavirus:
  • 091 46 96 444

Cyprus

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Cyprus Samaritans: 8000 7773. Cyprus Samaritans provides counselling and mental health support to people in Cyprus who are in distress or at risk of suicide.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Center for Emergency Assistance Helpline: 1440
• Coronavirus:
  • General Assistance: 1450
  • To Report Symptoms: 1420

Czech Republic

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Prague Helpine: 222 58 697. Available 24/7 for support. Free and anonymous. Available to anyone in the Czech Republic.
• Youth:
  • Linkabezpeci: 116 111. You can call if you are under 18 years old or are a student of full-time study under 25 years of age. Available 24/7.
  • Modrá linka: Support for children and teenagers in crisis: Hotline available 9am-9pm daily.
    • 549 241 010
    • 608 902 410
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • DONA Line: 420 251 51 13 13
• Coronavirus: 
  • 420 704 856 135
  • 420 704 856 136
  • 1212 (general info)

Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash

Denmark

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Livslinien: 4570201201
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • LOKK Hotline: +45 70 20 30 82
• Coronavirus: 
  • Joint Danish Authorities Hotline: +45 7020 0233

Egypt

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Egypt. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 122
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • PARSPAS: 41 (0) 27 321 21 21CP 2287 – 1950 Sion 2
  • Befrienders Cairo: 762 1602to 3762 238161. Al Zahara St Jeddah St Mohyaldeen, Muhandesen CAIRO.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Plan International (Egypt):
    • 202 – 25247369
    • 25245765
    • 25245764
    • 25247382
    • St.105, building number 71 – Hadayk el Maadi Cairo C11559 Cairo – Egypt
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • LGBT+ Helpline: 0800 133 133. 24/7 hotline.
• Coronavirus:
  • 114
  • 01205734449
  • 23912136

Estonia

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Eluliin (Estonian Lifeline): 3726558088
  • Eluliin (Estonian Lifeline): 3726555688 (In Russian)
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Tugitelefon: 1492
• Coronavirus:
  • Interior Ministry’s Alarm Center: 1247

Finland

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotline:
  •  010 195 202
  • MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys ry: 09 2525 0111
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Women’s Line: +358 800 02400
• Coronavirus: 
  • The Finnish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs: +358 (0)2 95 535 535 (open Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm and Saturday, 09am to 3pm)

France

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in France. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • S.O.S. Amitié: 09 72 39 40 50. SOS Amitié offers 24/7 service in France for anyone who needs to speak anonymously and confidentially. They have 1,700 trained listening volunteers that can listen to your malaise.
  • Suicide écoute:  0145394000
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Rape Helpline: 0800 059595. 24/7 hotline.
  • Domestic violence Helpline: 3919. 24/7 hotline.
• Youth:
  • Childline: 119. 24/7 hotline.
• LGBT+ Issues: 
  • Ghislain Rubio de Teran: 0649 525 952
• Coronavirus: 
  • 0 800 130 000
  • From abroad: +33 800 130 000

Germany

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Germany. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  •  08001810771
  • TelefonSeelsorge: 0800 1110 111
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • BIG Hotline:
    • 49 (0) 30 – 611 03 00 (Postfach)
    • 30 41 05 10756 (Berlin)
  • TARA: (030) 78 71 83 40. Ebersstr. 58, 10827 Berlin.
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Lesbenberatung: 030 – 215 20 00. The “Lesbenberatung” center offers counselling to lesbian and bi-sexual women of all ages, transgender people and all women in crisis or conflict situations irrespective of age, nationality or cultural background.
  • Site Niebuhrstraße: 49 (030) 233 690 70. Schwulenberatung Berlin Niebuhrstraße 59/60 10629 Berlin. Open: Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 08:00pm.
• Coronavirus: 
  • The Governing Mayor of Berlin – Senate Chancellery: 030 / 90 28 28 28

Ghana

• Emergency: 999
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 2332 444 71279
  • Lifeline Ghana: 233 244 846 701. Lifeline Ghana offers 24-hour counselling service to people in Ghana who are in distress or at risk of suicide. They also run a “Drop-in” service at their address.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • DOVVSU: 055-1000-900
• Coronavirus:
  • 112

Photo by Benjaminrobyn Jespersen on Unsplash

Greece

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines: 
  • 24 Hour Suicide Prevention Line: 1018
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  •  National Center for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.): 197. For persons in different crisis situations, including domestic violence.
• Coronavirus:
  • Greek National Public Health Organization (NPHO):
    • 1135
    • 210 521 2054

Guyana

• Emergency: 999
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Guyana Standard: (592) 603-3666
  •  Inter-agency Suicide Prevention Help Line:
    • 223-0001 (telephone)
    • 223-0009 (telephone)
    • 223-0818 (telephone)
    • 600-7896 (cellphone)
    • 623-4444 (cellphone
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Ministry of Social Protection’s Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Policy Unit: 640-1011
• Coronavirus:
  • Ministry of Public Health:
    • 227-4986
    • 226-7480
    • 229-7490
    • 231-1166
    • 624-3069
    • 624,9355
    • 624-6674
    • 624-2819

Holland (Netherlands)

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • de Luisterlijn: 09000767. de Luisterlijn offers 24-hour telephone emergency service throughout the Netherlands. When you are in pain or worry about something, they can provide a listening ear, and you can easily tell your story anonymously.
  • 113 Zelfmoordpreventie:  0900-0113. 113 Zelfmoordpreventie offers 24-hour anonymous and confidential talk that can help you to share your thoughts if you’re in distress or having suicidal thoughts. Their crisis telephone number is accessible for people calling from within the Netherlands.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Velig Thuis: 0800 2000. For victims of domestic violence and child abuse.
• Coronavirus:
  • 0800 1202 (or +31 850 659 063 if you’re calling from a foreign phone) to arrange for coronavirus testing for adults and children younger than 12. For children 12-17, call the same number, but they will have to consent over the phone.

Hong Kong

• Emergency:  999
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Suicide Prevention Services: 00852-2382 0000. Suicide Prevention Services provides beneficial friends and other suicide prevention services to people in Hong Kong who are suicidal, desperate and emotionally distressed
  • The Samaritans, Hong Kong: 00852 2896 0000. The Samaritans Hong Kong offers 24-hour unconditional emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide throughout Hong Kong.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Harmony House: 2522 0434 (24 hour hotline for women), for men, call: 2295 1386
  • Wai On Home for Women: 2793 0223
  • Serene Court: 2787 6865
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Les Corner (lesbian victims of domestic violence): 5281 5201
  • Rainbow of Hong Kong (gay victims of domestic violence): 2769 1069
• Coronavirus: 

  • Centre for Health Protection Hotline: 

    • 2125 1111

    • 2125 1122

  • HKSAR Government COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline: 9617 1823

Hungary

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • SOS Telefonos: 116123
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • NaNE Helpline for Battered Women and Children:
    • 06 80 505 101
    • 36 4 06 30 006 (for sexual violence)
• Coronavirus:
  • 36 80 277 455
  • 36 80 277 456

India

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in India. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Sneha Foundation India: (914) 424640050
  • Vandrevala Foundation: (186) 02662345
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • SAMPARC Family Counseling Centre: 91 2114 282055
  • Navjyoti India Foundation: 91 8800528880
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Sangama: 099 4560 1651
  • CREA: 91 1124377707<
• Coronavirus:
  • 1075

Indonesia

Open Counseling  has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Indonesia. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Kementerian Kesehatan: 500-454
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Arus Pelangi: 0800-1401-045
  • IGAMA (Ikatan Gaya Arema Malang): (62-341) 335-770
• Coronavirus: 
  • 119

Iran

• Emergency: 110
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Iran Organization of Well Being: 1480 (6am to 9pm)
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • State Welfare Organization of Iran: 123

Ireland

• Emergency number:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • +4408457909090
  • Aware: 1800 80 48 48
  • Childline: 1800 66 66 66
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900
• Coronavirus:
  • 1850 24 1850

Photo by Meghan Schiereck on Unsplash

Israel

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Israel. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 100
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Eran.org.il Suicide line:
    • 1201
    • 972-9 8891333
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Domestic violence: Nationwide: 1-800-22-0000
  • Child Protection Association: 1-800-223966
  • Arabic hotline for male victims of sexual abuse: 1203
• Coronavirus:
  • The Ministry of Health Novel Coronavirus and Isolation Hotline (Sun-Sat 08:00-22:00)
    •  *5400
    • 08-6241010

Italy

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 800860022
  • Telefono Amico Italia: 199 284 284
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Antiviolenza Donne: 1522
• Coronavirus: 
  • from Italy: 1500 (free toll number)
  • from abroad:
    • +39 0232008345
    • +39 0289619015
    • +39 0283905385

Jamaica

•  Emergency: 119
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 1-888-429-KARE (5273)
  • Jamaica Suicide Hotline: (876) 930-1152
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Bureau of Gender Affairs:
    • 876-553-0372 (for women)
    • 876-553-0387 (for men)
• Coronavirus:
  • Ministry of Health and Wellness: 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683)

Japan

• Emergency:  110
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 810352869090
  • Childline Japan: 0120-99-7777 (4pm to 9pm)
  • Inochi no Denwa Suicide Hotline: 03-6634-2556
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Tell Japan: 03-5774-0992 (9am – 11pm)
• Coronavirus:
  • 0120-296-004 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm)

Jordan

• • Emergency:  911
  • Suicide Hotlines:
    • Jordan River Foundation: 110
  • Domestic and Sexual Violence:
    • Jordanian Women’s Union: +962 (6) 568 7037

Latvia

• Emergency:  113
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Skalbes.lv:
    • 371 67222922
    • 371 27722292
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Center Marta for Trafficking Victims: 800 2012
  • Crisis Helpine: 672292227722292
  • Children’s Trust Helping: 116 111
•  Coronavirus:
  • Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC)
    • (00 371) 67501590
    • (00 371) 67387661 (open 8.30-17.00 working days)

• • • Domestic and Sexual Violence:Suicide Hotlines:
      • Embrace Lifeline:
      • 1564 (local)
      • 961 1 341 941 (international)

Lebanon

• Emergency: 140 or 125
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Embrace Lifeline
    • 1564 (local)
    • 961 1 341 941 (international)

Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash

Liberia

• Emergency: 231 or 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Lifeline Liberia: 6534308
• Coronavirus:
  • 4455

Luxembourg

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Sos Distress:  352 45 45 45
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Fraentelefon: 12 344
• Coronavirus: 
  • 247-65533
    

Malaysia

• Emergency:  999
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • (06) 2842500
  • National Council of Befrienders Malaysia: 603-79568145
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Women’s Aid Organization Hotline: +603 7956 3488 (24 hours)

Malta

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Supportline 179: 179
• Coronavirus: 111

Mauritus

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotline:
  •  +230 800 93 93
  • Helpline Mauritius: 230 214 2451
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 139

Mexico

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Mexico. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • SAPTEL: (55) 5259-8121
  •  +230 800 93 93
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Línea Mujeres: (55) 5658 1111

New Zealand

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in New Zealand. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 111
• Suicide Hotlines:  
  • 1737
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Shine: 0 (508)744 633 (9am to 11pm)
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Outline NZ: 0 (800) 688 5463 (10am to 9pm)
• Coronavirus: 
  • Ministry for Health: 0800 358 5453

Nigeria

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 234 8092106493
  • MANI: 2348051493163
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Lagos State Domestic Sexual and Violence Response Team:  112, 08137960048
•  Coronavirus:
  • 0800-970000-10

Norway

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • +4781533300
  • Kirken SoS I Norge: 0047 22 40 00 40
  • Mental Helse: 116 123
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • National Helpline for Survivors of Sexual Abuse: 800 57 000 July
  • Crisis Situation Helpline: 800 40 008

Photo by Maxim Ilyahov on Unsplash

Pakistan

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Pakistan. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 115
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Suicide Prevention Helpline – MIND: 042-35761999
  • Umang Pakistan: 92 317 4288665
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • White Ribbbon Pakistan: (92) 42 3588 3570 to 72
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Amsterdam Gay Pride Foundation: 31 (0)6 1479 3189
• Coronavirus: 
  • 1166

Philippines

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in the Philippines. Here are a few of them:  

• Emergency: v911
• Suicide Hotline: 
  • 028969191
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development The Social Protection Bureau:
    • (632)8931 8101
    • to 07 (632) 8932 2573
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • In Touch Community Services: 63) 2 8893 1893
• Coronavirus: 
  • 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843)
  • 1555

Poland

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 5270000
  • Olsztynski Telefon Zaufania ‘Anonimowy Przyjaciel:
    • 89 19288
    • 89 527 00 00
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • 0 800 200 001 (8am to 8pm)
• Coronavirus: 
  • Ministry of Health: 800 190 590

Portugal

• Emergency:  112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • 21 854 07 40
  • 8 96 898 21 50
  • SOS Voz Amiga:
    • 213 544 545
    • 912 802 669
    • 963 524 660
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Servico de Informacao as Vitimas de Violencia Domestica: 800 202 148

Puerto Rico

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Suicide Prevention Commission: (787) 765-2929 x3606
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Women’s Coalition of St. Croix: 340 773 9272

Romania

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines in Romania. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112     
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Romanian Alliance for Suicide Prevention: 0800 801200
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Casa Loana: +40 21 332 6390
• LGBT+ Issues:
  • Asociația ACCEPT: +4021 252 56 20
• Coronavirus: 
  • 0800800358 (open daily, from 08:00 to 23:00)

Russia

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Samaritans (Cherepovets): 0078202577577
  • Helpline for children & teen & parents: 8-800-2000-122
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • ANNA (National Center for the Prevention of Violence: 09900 700 600

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Emergency: 1-784-456-2816
• Suicide Hotlines:
  •  9784) 456 1044
• Coronavirus: 
  • 543-HEAL (543-4325)

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Saudi Arabia

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • Psychological Counseling Contact Center Hotline: 920033360
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:

  • 24/7 Domestic abuse Hotline: 1919

• Coronavirus:
  • 937

Serbia

• Emergency: 192
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Centar SRCE Novi Sad : (+381) 21-6623-393

• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • 0800 100 600
  • Network of Women’s Hotline in Vojvodina: 0800 10 10 10

• Coronavirus:

• Serbian Ministry of Health: +381 64 8945235

Singapore

• Emergency: 999
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Samaritans of Singapore: 1 800 2214444
  • The Institute of Mental Health (Singapore): 6389 2222
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Associaton for Women for Action and Rearch: 1800 777 5555 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Coronavirus:
  • 1800 333 9999

Spain

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines for Spain. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 914590050
  • Samaritans in Spain: 900 525 100
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Teléfono de la Esperanza: 717 003 717
  • Women’s Helpline: 016
• Coronavirus:
  • 900 400 061
  • 955 545 060
    

South Africa

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines for South Africa. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency:  10111
• Suicide Hotline:
  • South African Depression & Anxiety Group – SADAG: (0800) 12 13 14
  • Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline: (0800) 70 80 90
  • Lifeline South Africa: (0861) 322 322
  • 0514445691 
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:

  • People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa): (083) 765 1235

• LBGT+:
  • Gender-based Violence Line: (0800) 012 322
• Coronavirus:
  

  • 0800 029 999

South Korea

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines for South Korea. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:

  • (02) 7158600

  • Domestic and Sexual Violence:

    • Korean Women’s Hotline: 82-2-3156-5400
    • Emergency Support Center for Migrant Women: 1577-1366
  • Coronavirus:
    • 1339

Photo by Plann on Unsplash

Sri Lanka

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 011 057 2222662
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• Coronavirus:
  • 1390

Sudan

• Emergency: 249999
• Suicide Hotline:  
  • (249) 11-555-253
  • 999
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Family and Child Protection Unit (24/7): 9696

Sweden

• Emergency number:  112   
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 46317112400 

  • Självmordslinjen (Suicide prevention hotline): 90101

  • SOS phone: 031-800 650

• Domestic and Sexual Violence: 
  • Terrafem: 020 52 1010
  • Kvinnofridslinjen: 020 50 50 50
• Coronavirus:
  • 46 771 1177

Switzerland

• Emergency:  112   
• Suicide Hotline: 
  • La Main Tendue: 143
  • PARSPAS: 41 (0) 27 321 21 21
• • Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Friends of Humanity: 41 22 80 707 62
  •  
  • Coronavirus:
  • 41 58 463 00 00

Thailand

• Emergency: 191
• Suicide Hotline:
  • (02) 713-6793
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Pracobodi Cenre: 1300
• Coronavirus:
  • Department of Disease Control:
    • 1422

Tonga

• Emergency: 922
• Suicide Hotline:
  • 23000

Trinidad and Tobago

• Emergency: 999
• Suicide Hotline:
  • (868) 645 2800
  • Lifeline: 800-5588
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • 800-SAVE-7283
• Coronavirus:
  • 877-9355

Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash

Turkey

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotline:
  • Youth Support Line – Genclik Destek Hatti: 0850 455 00 70
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Hurriyet Emergency Domestic Violence hotline: 90 212 656 9696

United Arab Emirates

• Emergency: 911
• Suicide Hotline:
  • National Committe for the Promotion of Mental Health: 920033360
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • Police Hotline: 800 2347
• Coronavirus:
  • Abu Dhabi Health Services Company: 971563713090 (WhatsApp)

United Kingdom

Open Counseling has a comprehensive list of hotlines for the United Kingdom. Here are a few of them:

• Emergency: 112
• Suicide Hotlines:
  • HopeLine UK: 0800 068 4141
  • SANE: 0300 304 7000
• Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  • England National Domestic Violence Hotline: 080 2000 2470808 802 999
  • Northern Ireland: 0800 917 14 14
  • Scotland: 0800 027 1234080 88 01 03 020808 8010 302
  • Wales: 0800 8010 8000808 802 9999

Photo by Amir Hanna on Unsplash

How Alcohol Complicates Bipolar Disorder

Alcohol, the social lubricant. Some people drink because alcohol relaxes them in social situations. The drink isn’t called “liquid courage” for nothing.

But alcohol is an addictive substance, which has great potential to be misused, especially by people who also suffer from bipolar disorder.

The Connections Between Alcohol Use and Bipolar Disorder

Studies have shown that people who abuse alcohol are more likely to have bipolar disorder. According to a 2013 review, up to 45% of people with bipolar disorder also have alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Overwhelming feelings of sadness from bipolar depression make people more likely to self-medicate with substances like alcohol. And self-medicating makes it more likely for people with bipolar disorder to not stick to their medication regime or attend therapy sessions.

Alcohol also affects people with bipolar disorder in different ways than the neurotypical population.

A 2006 study showed that people with bipolar disorder are adversely affected by even small amounts of alcohol, which may both trigger and worsen manic and depressive symptoms.

Mania is known to increase impulsiveness. Because alcohol reduces inhibitions, consuming alcohol during a manic episode may encourage risky and irrational behaviors.

Alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, also contributes to lethargy and sadness during depressive episodes. The symptoms of depression triggered by alcohol are increased when people first stop drinking, so recovering alcoholics with a history of depression may relapse in the first few weeks of dealing with withdrawal.

People who suffer from psychosis triggered by manic episodes are also adversely affected by alcohol. Consuming alcohol during psychosis contributes to both long-term and short-term complications. Alcohol also complicates the treatment of psychosis, contributing to dangerous medication interactions.

How Alcohol Affects Medications

Medications that are part of your treatment plan are strongly affected by alcohol.

Valproic acid, known commonly as Depakote, is often prescribed to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder. Similar to alcohol, Depakote is a central nervous system depressant which affects the liver. Combining alcohol and Depakote increases the chance of  liver damage.

Similarly, consuming alcohol with lithium, which is frequently prescribed to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder, can contribute to liver disease. Lithium has side effects such as gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, and tremors, all of which alcohol can increase.

Antidepressants and antipsychotics may not work as well when combined with alcohol. Side effects can be increased, and you may feel more depressed and anxious.

You may decide to skip your medication in order to drink. This is a bad idea, as your symptoms of bipolar disorder may return quickly, triggering an episode. Stopping your dosages of medications without tapering off under the guidance of a professional is detrimental to your mental and physical health.

Alternatives to Alcohol

Alcohol can help you relax and socialize. Cutting down on alcohol can be difficult. It may be helpful to replace some of your drinking with relaxing habits.

Some alternatives to having a drink are:

• Getting a massage
• Attending a yoga or taekwondo class
• Meditating
• Exercising
• Taking a warm bath
• Using aromatherapy

Final Thoughts

Drinking responsibly takes on a whole new level when you suffer from bipolar disorder. You not only need to be aware that drinking, especially to excess, triggers and worsens manic and depressive episodes, but also that your medication may interact poorly with the substance.

I’m not saying to cut all alcohol out of your life if you have bipolar disorder. If you are a responsible adult, there is no reason you can’t drink. But be aware of the complications alcohol brings to your life. You may find it easier to abstain.

I wish you well in your journey.

Related:

• Substance Abuse and Bipolar Disorder
• Why Should You Chart Your Moods if You Have Bipolar Disorder?
• Bipolar Disorder is Toxic–-Literally

Child Abuse Prevention: 4 Crucial Tips for Parenting With Depression

Child abuse comes in many forms: physical abuse, emotional abuse, medical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. When we’re suffering from depression and dealing with the inability to take care of ourselves, we are at risk of neglecting our children. This risk must be mitigated in order to prevent seriously harming our kids.

It’s all well and good to say so, but how does one prevent child abuse when they have depression? Here are 4 crucial tips to parenting with depression.

Tip #1: Practice Self-care

You’ve heard the analogy of the oxygen mask on the airplane. Before you tend to your children, you must put your oxygen mask on first.

Self-care is that oxygen mask.

Self-care may seem like just another item on the to-do list. But it’s actually crucial for you to function. Self-care is taking responsibility for your physical and mental well-being. If you don’t perform some self-care on a daily basis, you’ll not only neglect yourself, you may start to neglect your kids as well because you’re burnt out.

Some people think self-care is limited to bubble baths and painting your nails. That’s not true. Taking your medications and attending therapy are forms of self-care. So is getting enough sleep, eating well, and drinking enough water. Spending time outside and with other people also falls under that umbrella.

If you put your oxygen mask on and practice self-care on a daily basis, then over time you’ll be in a much better position to care for your children. Avoid burn out. Prioritize self-care.

Tip #2: Seek Professional Help for You and Your Child

When you’re a parent suffering from depression, the bond with your child may suffer. You might neglect your duties at home and spend a lot of time in bed, ignoring your babies. This is frightening and confusing to a kid, who needs you to be a consistent presence in their lives.

Before the situation gets that bad, seek professional help. Find a therapist you can trust for yourself, and talk about your feelings with him or her.

But don’t forget to find a therapist for your child as well. He or she may need help understanding why your depression affects you the way it does. Your kid needs a trusted adult to be a comforting presence. A therapist can teach your whole family coping skills.

For a post on how to start seeing a therapist, click here.

Tip #3: Communicate with Your Child

As I’ve said before, parental depression can cause unusual behaviors in you which are scary to your child. Nip that in the bud and communicate with him or her as much as possible about your depression.

Let your kid know that your mental illness, while not going away, is not his or her fault. Explain that you have a chemical imbalance in your brain, and you’re doing your best to cope with it. If you are taking medication, tell your child that you are taking steps to circumvent the depression and its effect on him or her.

Don’t be afraid to let your kid know how you’re feeling that day, be it tired, sad, or even and especially happy. Don’t make him or her responsible for your emotions, but do share them with your child.

For a post on how to communicate with your children about your mental illness, click here.

Tip #4: Forgive Yourself for Mistakes

You cannot be the super parent every day of the week when dealing with depression. Setting too high of expectations for yourself and your children can be dangerous, because if you fail, it can trigger overwhelming feelings of despair.

Recognizing that you deserve forgiveness for mistakes, especially while suffering from depression, can be one of the hardest things you’ll do. But you must forgive yourself if you mess up, because you’re setting an example to your child to forgive you and others.

Know that “good enough” parenting is really good enough. Allow your kid some leeway when it comes to screen time. Offer them a cheese and celery and tomato plate instead of a full dinner, but only occasionally, when you really can’t cook. (For a post on 22 easy meals to make while depressed, click here.) And don’t cut back on your kid’s activities; get him or her out of the house as much as possible, so he or she can be around other people.

Final Thoughts

Parenting while suffering from depression is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Neglecting yourself comes easily; neglecting your children is just the next logical step. Don’t get there. Practice self-care, seek professional help for you and your child, communicate with him or her, and forgive yourself for your mistakes.

These practical tips will help you foster a more positive environment for you and your kid. Eventually, if you continue taking care of yourself, your depression will lift, and you’ll be able to say that you did a good job parenting while suffering depression.

I wish you well in your journey.

Related:

• Learned Behaviors: Passing on Coping Mechanisms
• Safe Medications to Take While Breastfeeding
• How to Shield Your Children From the Effects of Your Bipolar Disorder

What is the Link Between Stress and Bipolar Disorder?

Stress affects everything in your body, from your shoulders to your hormones, from your immune system to your mental illnesses. Stress is a physical issue, just like bipolar disorder, as both mess with your feel-good chemicals.

There are different types of stress. There’s good stress (also called eustress), which can motivate you to make dinner on time and meet deadlines at work. Good stress is infrequent, usually not repeated, and short-lived, leaving you better off than you were before you encountered the stress.

Bad stress, on the other hand, lingers. It lasts a long time and repeats frequently, leaving you much worse off than you were before.

But stress is even worse for people who suffer from mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder. People with mental health conditions tend to be unable to handle stress as well as neurotypical people. For people with bipolar disorder, even small, inconsequential decisions can stress us out. If we feel stress during everyday decisions, then the fact that stress exacerbates bipolar disorder symptoms makes sense.

Bipolar disorder and stress, especially bad stress, are a nasty combination. Stress is a known trigger for both hypomanic and depressive episodes–and sometimes even mixed episodes.

My Experience with Stress

Different types of stresses affect me in different ways. Before a long road trip or a flight, I get riled up and anxious without fail. I definitely have racing thoughts and other symptoms of hypomania, minus the euphoria. Sleeping becomes difficult, which only exacerbates the manic feelings.

On the flip side, feeling stressed about my messy house depresses me. The link between clutter and depression is very real, as having items on the floor focuses me to make decisions about them (specifically, whether to put them away or leave them there) every time you walk past them. After a full day of making many, many decisions and (usually) not taking any action on the items, I suffer decision fatigue, which for me leads to depression.

When I’m stress-depressed, I often berate myself for my inability to pick up the house. I know rationally that my laziness isn’t really laziness, but is a problem called executive dysfunction, which stress also makes worse.

Executive dysfunction is the inability to prioritize tasks, and determine the order of actions. Stress makes prioritizing and deciding on which actions to take very difficult, which is common for those of us who suffer mental illness.

(For a post on the link between bipolar disorder and executive functioning, click here.)

When I’m stressed, my ability to handle my responsibilities falters significantly, which only leads to more stress. I am reduced to a ruminating mess, turning in circles and chasing my own tail. Bad stress makes me completely incapable of acting like a functional adult.

Take Care of Yourself: Destress

If you want to improve your bipolar disorder symptoms, you need to manage your stress levels. Being constantly stressed, especially with bad stress, will lead to a mood episode.

Sometimes you can make big changes, like getting a new job or finding a new living situation. Diet also plays a role in how well you’re able to handle stress, so a lifestyle change like eating healthier foods may help you fill up your tank.

Even small changes can help. Starting a yoga or taekwondo class can help you relax. Deep-breathing techniques may also reduce your stress.

Talking to a therapist is also a good idea. You can learn coping techniques and tools for handling stress throughout the rest of your life.

Above all, practice self-care. Self-care is taking responsibility for your physical and mental well-being. That’s it. Don’t neglect to eat regularly, get enough sleep, go outside, socialize with people face-to-face, drink enough water, and exercise. If you do most of these big six tenants of self-care on a daily basis, you will be better off.

Final Thoughts

Bad stress affects me in a lot of negative ways. I’m not the best at handling stressful situations. So I plan ahead for them. I make massive to-do lists, outlining each tiny step that I need to take in order to conquer the issue. And I practice self-care.

Bad stress may affect you despite your best efforts. You may end up living through many, many stressful situations throughout your life, like moves, marriages, and births. You need to lean on your coping tools during these times.

Plan ahead. Take the times when life is relatively calm to assess your ability to handle stress, and plan how you’ll respond to changes. If necessary, you can get a prescription for anti-anxiety medications that you take on an as-needed basis.

Effectively managing your stress will help you suffer less from your bipolar disorder.

Related:

• What to do if You Run Out of Medication
• 5 Ways to Cope with a Diagnosis of Mental Illness

#BipolarBrave: How I Became Comfortable Sharing my Bipolar Diagnosis

This post appeared on the International Bipolar Foundation website, here.

After my postpartum psychotic breakdown in 2008 and my time spent in a mental hospital for it, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

That explained so much. When I returned home, I was elated. I was compelled to explain to everyone who had ever touched my existence that I suffered from bipolar disorder, and that was why I had acted so erratically my entire life.

Clutching my newborn tight with one hand and opening my laptop with the other, I explained to my husband–with rapid, pressured speech due to a lingering manic episode, no less–my desire to email all my old college friends, strangers I had yet to meet, and everyone at church.

“Not all of them need to know, at least not right at this moment,” he said, trying to contain my compulsion. “I understand that you want to share, but explaining your diagnosis to all your old college friends, most of whom you’re not even in touch with, would be counterproductive.”

I bristled, but he continued. “You need to educate yourself about your diagnosis before you begin to share with others, so you know what it means. And, rather than focusing on sharing that you have bipolar disorder with everyone, you need to take care of yourself and our baby.”

That made sense to me. I reluctantly closed my laptop, and looked at my beautiful, fragile infant. He needed a mother who wouldn’t bend to every compulsion that struck her. I didn’t fully understand at that moment that I was compelled to share my diagnosis due to a manic episode. I wasn’t in my right mind; only halfway there.

My husband was right.

After I recovered from the manic episode, I no longer desired to shout, “I have bipolar disorder!” from the rooftops. When it came to my diagnosis, I became closed off. I would no longer spill my darkest secret–that I’d committed myself to a mental hospital and was separated from my 7-day-old baby because I was literally insane. I grew ashamed of my bipolar disorder.

Then I began writing my memoir, Committed, detailing my days spent in the psychiatric ward. I realized the story was compelling, unique, and could help people understand what it’s like to experience a bipolar mixed episode with psychotic features. And I realized that if I ever wanted to publish my work, my dream since I was a little girl, I had to be open with sharing my diagnosis.

A few months after I started writing, I formed a critique group, the Seattle Scribblers, who encouraged me to attend the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Conference in 2012. I pitched my not-yet-completed manuscript to agents and editors.

“After the birth of my son, I suffered a postpartum psychotic episode and committed myself to a mental hospital,” I told them in my elevator pitch. “My memoir, Committed, details the time I spent there while separated from my newborn.”

I explained to the agents and editors that I was grappling with a bipolar diagnosis, and that the mental illness had upended my entire life. I was met with a warm reception by some, but others were completely turned off by the “crazy” person sitting in their midst.

I wasn’t offended. Stigma is real, and I wasn’t going to change their minds about mental illness in the brief moments I had to make an impression.

Now, I have no problem telling people I’ve known even for a few weeks that I have bipolar disorder. When people ask me how I am, I tell them honestly: “I’ve been suffering from a depressive episode lately, but I’ll be okay. I have bipolar disorder, and that’s part of the cycle.”

The diagnosis is no longer shameful for me. It’s just a label that’s a reason behind why I sometimes act unpredictably. The explanation comes out naturally. Bipolar disorder is just a part of my life–a big part, to be sure, but it’s not everything.

My husband was right. Not everyone needed to know right then. I had to prioritize my own well-being and that of my infant.

But he was also wrong, in a sense. I had to grow into being genuinely comfortable sharing with my diagnosis eventually. I realized that by being open, I could help other people who might be struggling. So I started my blog, The Bipolar Parent, a comprehensive resource for parents with mental illnesses.

I faced my compulsion and my subsequent shame, conquered them, and never looked back.

Related:

• Disclosing That You Have a Mental Illness, part III: Friends and Family
• Why Should You Chart Your Moods if You Have Bipolar Disorder?
• National Depression Awareness Month: My Experience and How to Get Support

Hiatus Announcement for the Bipolar Parent

Hello!

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing a two-month hiatus for The Bipolar Parent. For the past eleven weeks, I have been working on personal projects, and have lost all motivation to work on the blog.

I have high hopes that a two-month hiatus–one month to rest and take the pressure off, another to get back into the swing of things–will help me recharge my batteries.

I appreciate all of you as readers. Thanks in advance for your understanding. Please stay safe in quarantine, and tend to your families.

Stay healthy, stay hydrated, stay sane.

Cassandra Stout