Stone Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 I know there are alot of educated people on the subject of Bipolar Disorder I have read something about it online but need some more personal advise. I have been with my b/f for about 2 years he is the most wonderful man I have ever meet. I love him my son loves him and so do my family and friends. Up until about 3 months ago I thought I was the luckiest woman in the world to have such a wonderful man in my life. before we dated he told me he had Bipolar disorder and I didn't understand it enough to think twice about it. ( nobody's completely normal right) anyway his family decided to move to Florida 3 months ago and ever since they moved here he's been at an ultimate low, constantly depressed, constantly playing the Scape Goat, and he seems to think that everyone is trying to ruin his life. ( in the meantime I don't know what the heck he is talking about) I talked to his sister about it and she said he hates the faimly so much that he has ultimate lows when they are around.( She thinks he is doing this for money I disagree) Our sex life has deteriorated, he no longer cuddles with me, he isn't motivated with his business anymore and is about to lose it. This Hurricane has really upset him and I am starting to want to get out before it gets worse. He is the only father my son knows. But they way he acts towards his family I fear he will be the same way with me and my son . He just hate's them for no reason and he cry's and complain's about them all the time. stuff that happened 20 years ago he can't get over. I don't want to lose him because when he is not depressed he is the love of my life. He says he loves me and will never do anything to hurt Noah or I . My son is a special needs child and he helps me so much with him I want to help my boyfriend but I don't know how. Link to post Share on other sites
lydiamarie Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 does he have type one or type two bipolar disorder? does he see a doctor regularly? a general practitioner or a psychiatrist? does he go to any sort of talk therapy? is he medicated? is this his first depressed episode that you have recognized in him? Link to post Share on other sites
Author Stone Posted September 6, 2004 Author Share Posted September 6, 2004 Originally posted by lydiamarie does he have type one or type two bipolar disorder? I dont Know... I'll ask him does he see a doctor regularly? Yes, once a month a general practitioner or a psychiatrist? Psychiatrist... Do you think I should talk to him does he go to any sort of talk therapy? No he says he doesnt have time and nobody understands him is he medicated? Depakote, Lipitor, and something else is this his first depressed episode that you have recognized in him? Yes, Can faimly/ pepole trigger episodes? Link to post Share on other sites
WorryMan Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 Bi-polar disorder is not a heriditary disease, he got bi polar probably thru work load or repeated work stress since you mentioned that he isn't motivated with his business anymore. What you can do for him is to have fun with him, and laugh with him, I think that's more important than having sex since he's already on the hot side, he needs some bluey cooly side of life. He needs your help, he wants you to show love and care to him and to enjoy life with him. Link to post Share on other sites
lydiamarie Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 i shall preface this, per usual, with the statement that i am not a medical professional. there is some argument among the medical community about prescribing antidepressants to people with bipolar disorder because it can (possibly) lead to mixed episodes (exhibiting symptoms of BOTH mania and depression) and rapid cycling (quick shifts between moods). however, most psychiatrists will prescribe an antidepressant if a mood stabilizer (such as lithium or depakote) is well established (ie working) and they will CLOSELY supervise the knew medication regimine. a good antidepressant to try is wellbutrin (buproprion) because it has a low incidence of induced mania. since your sweetheart has some issues with his family, i would suggest psychotherapy. he just needs to find someone who he feels comfortable talking to. i hated the first couple of psychologists that i went to see. so i tried new ones. Link to post Share on other sites
lydiamarie Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 bipolar disorder is a genetic (hereditary) illness Link to post Share on other sites
Author Stone Posted September 6, 2004 Author Share Posted September 6, 2004 Yep wellibutrin that's the third one. He's fine when his faimly isn't around. I am thinking maby we should move but I don't believe in running from your problems... or ditching you faimly. Do you think it's possible that his faimly's presence may be causing this episode because of the resentment he has for them? Should I go along to therapy to learn how to deal with him? He was diagnosd with bipolor disorder after he got out of the 1st Gulf War. Although he says that was one of the happiest times of his life. ( being a part of a group) He has never been violent twards me is that something I should be consirned with this disorder? Link to post Share on other sites
lydiamarie Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 physical agression can be part of bipolar disorder, but it is a part of EARLY ONSET bipolar disorder (that's what they call it when children have it). i suspect that that is because children have a harder time dealing with their shifting moods and emotions. early onset bipolar disorder is characterized by EXTREMELY RAPID cycling, up to several cycles a day. normal children get into fights and hit their sisters sometimes, imagine being a child who has a mental illness that makes your mind race and your head spin, makes you feel like you can do everything one minute and nothing the next. very rarely does bipolar disorder lead to violence in adults. if it were a common thing, then it would be part of the criteria. but it is not. 'stressful life events seem to play a more instrumental and activating role in early episodes, with subsequent episodes arising more autonomously and in the absence of clear external precipitants. It has been speculated that the neurophysiological alterations underlying multiple episodes of mania may compromise the brain's capacity to sustain a stable state of euthymia. A hypothetical model that involves the concept of kindling has proven valuable in conceptualizing the neuronal and neurochemical changes that may result from recurrent episodes and that may place patients at risk for a more malignant course.' (Rivas-Vazquez, et al. 2002) basically what that means is that stress can (and does) trigger episodes, but as the illness progresses (especially if left untreated) then episodes can start in the absence of stressors. that doesn't mean that life can't still trigger episodes. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Stone Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 Thanks for your help, I can see this may be a long road. I don't even know if he want's my help. he doesn't like to talk about it. Link to post Share on other sites
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