Do you sometimes feel like your emotions are going up and down all of a sudden? One day you feel so happy and energetic, and the next day you feel so sad and helpless that you can't do anything? This kind of unusual changes in your emotions, energy, and thoughts is what we call bipolar disorder . But it doesn't just affect your emotions. Some research has found that it can also affect your ability to understand other people's emotions, such as sadness and happiness, or 'empathy.'
How does bipolar disorder affect empathy?
Simply put, people with bipolar disorder may have a decreased or increased ability to understand the feelings of others (empathy). However, research on this is still limited, so results may vary. However, this ability to understand the feelings of others can also vary depending on how your emotions change, whether you are in a very happy and enthusiastic state (manic) or a very depressed state (depressed).
Imagine, your friend is sad. If you can understand that sadness and comfort him, that's what empathy is. Let's see what happens to this ability with bipolar disorder.
| Behavior or ability | During a manic episode | When depressed |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the facial expressions of others | When someone is sad or angry, it can be misinterpreted as happiness or excitement, which can make your response inappropriate. | Even normal emotions on other people's faces can be perceived as negative. For example, a person may appear to be sad even when they are normal. |
| Social relationships and assessment | You may feel overly connected to others in social situations. You may overestimate their happiness rather than their actual happiness. | You tend to perceive other people's emotions and actions as more negative than they really are. This can lead to you becoming distant from people. |
| Self-focus | Because we are so focused on our own happiness and strength, we may not be able to think deeply about the suffering of others. | When we see someone else's suffering, rather than thinking about that person, we connect it to our own suffering and start feeling sorry for ourselves . That is, empathy turns inward instead of outward. |
When you can't accurately understand other people's feelings , you may be less motivated to help them. This can also affect your relationships with family and friends.
Do medications for bipolar disorder affect 'Empathy'?
Yes, some medications can affect this ability. One study found that patients taking antipsychotics , antidepressants , and mood stabilizers to treat bipolar disorder had an improved ability to understand the pain of others.
However, antianxiety medications have not shown this effect. Researchers believe that this may be because they suppress our emotions. Imagine if a drug reduced your ability to feel your own emotions, wouldn't it be natural for your ability to understand the emotions of others to also decrease?
Therefore, if you have any questions about the medication you are taking or any changes you are experiencing, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.
How to develop empathy?
Empathy is a very important skill that helps us connect with others, maintain good friendships, and family relationships. It is something that can be trained. Even someone with bipolar disorder can improve their empathy skills with these practices.
- Listen Actively: Let the person you are talking to say what is on their mind. When they are talking, look them in the eye and nod your head to show that you are listening. When they are finished, ask them again in a way that you understand, such as, "So, what do you mean by this?" This will show them that you are really listening.
- Find Common Ground: Imagine someone who seems very different from you. Then, make a list of the traits, interests, and experiences you have in common. This will make it easier to understand the other person.
- Meditate: Practicing loving-kindness meditation, in particular, can help you develop kindness and love for others. This is very helpful in developing empathy.
- Believe that empathy can be learned: Instead of thinking, "I will never be able to understand others," believe, "This is something I can learn and practice." This belief will make you more resilient.
With all of this, the most important thing is to be aware of your condition and seek medical advice when necessary.
Take-Home Message
- Bipolar disorder is a condition that can affect not only your own emotions, but also your ability to understand the emotions of others (empathy).
- Depending on whether you are in a manic or depressed state, the way you perceive others may change.
- Some medications you take can increase this ability to empathize. And some medications can also decrease it.
- Empathy is a skill that we can practice and develop. It can be helped by things like active listening and meditation.
- If you have a problem with this, or if you feel that it is affecting your relationships, never worry about it alone. Be sure to talk to your doctor and seek advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න