how do you live with someone that has SEVERE bi-polar disorder?

[GoldenDelicious]

lithium. great stuff.

anyway mental illness is very sad

 

[Werd]

I mean - these peeps are not crazy - they have a chemical imbalance of their brain. If they take their meds then they can be "normal"... right?

Whatever "normal" is LOL..

I have known a man off and on for nearly 4 years now and he told me last year that he was diagnosed as Bipolar - He goes to the doc every 60 days to make sure that his meds are ok and religiously takes them. He wouldn't even think of not taking them. He has never been nasty or nuts with me...

But now this thread is making me a bit worried. Should I be?

 

[Y_lifter]

They are Bi Polar werd, not Schizophrenic..

They simply have HIGH HIGHS, and LOW LOWS.. No happy medium off meds
They can be on Meds and go weeks stable and then suddenly go either direction.

They also tend to be control freaks and freak out(raise voices) when THEY interpret
someone taking that control from them..


The complaint as to why many stop taking meds is that it makes them feel so
stable and middle of the road that they feel they have no emotions. Just Blah

 

[jerseyart]

Georgie,

I feel for you man. I spent 9 years with a girl who in retrospect definitely suffered from the condition. I feel horrible that I was never able to determine what exactly was wrong with her. In my defense she was extremely intelligent and clever at hiding the symptoms, even from herself I think.

The worst was when we would go out and she had been drinking. There were times she tried to take the wheel and run us off the road. It was twisted.

But at the same time she could be the coolest person to just spend time with, and more fun to be with than any girl I have known before or since.

And I can completely relate to the guy who mentioned hugging his cousin and getting shit. She was insanely jealous of my sister, and we never even hug. At the time I thought it was because she was an only child and just had a warped sense of family ties. She would never accuse it of being anything sexual, but the vehemance was so out of proportion to anything that I don't know what else she could have been
thinking.

She was the most facially stunning woman I have ever met, and still incredibly insecure about her looks at times.

 

[Werd]

They are Bi Polar werd, not Schizophrenic..

They simply have HIGH HIGHS, and LOW LOWS.. No happy medium off meds
They can be on Meds and go weeks stable and then suddenly go either direction.

They also tend to be control freaks and freak out(raise voices) when THEY interpret
someone taking that control from them..


The complaint as to why many stop taking meds is that it makes them feel so
stable and middle of the road that they feel they have no emotions. Just Blah

No, I know the difference between the two. At least I think I do.

I understand the whole Hi's and Low's thing... honestly I do. I thought I had this difficulty myself until I realized that my mood swings were caused by the fact that I can not eat properly and have difficulty sleeping. When I feel myself getting upset over things that wouldn't normally upset me (usually happens after about 2 days of being really sick - not being able to eat and having what I do eat run through me - also affects me sleep) I just do whatever to get me through the day, TRY to eat and take something to help me sleep. In the morning I always feel better.

I know that things like depression will affect a person's eating and sleeping habits. With me it is the other way around. Because my GI tract does not function normally, I have to really take extra care not to become depressed. A brain can not function properly if it is not "fed"... Having competed helped me understand this - nothing like being carb deprived to truly appreciate a properly functioning brain LOL.

But getting back to my friend.

He volunteered to me that he was diagnosed as bi-polar over 5 years ago. He siad it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He claims he always takes his meds and is cool with it. I have never EVER seen him exhibit the behavior you speak of. He is always kind and supportive of me. I have been surrounded by many people that have torn me down in the past. One of the reasons why I am so attracted to him is that his is NOT this way.

 

[jerseyart]

Werd,

If you're going to be with the guy, and he may very well be a good potential mate, make sure to learn everything you can about the condition. It probably would also be a good idea to accompany him on his doctor visits, as well as monitoring his medication.

It isn't the same thing, but my aunt was married to a man who she later came to learn suffered from depression since an early age. People are clever and can hide many of the tell tale signs.

98% of the time he was fine. But it just takes a slip up for them to become dangerous to themselves and others. In her case it was very serious.

 

[Smurfy]

Bi-polar disorder is manageable through a complete treatment of meds and therapy. And everyone who is diagnosed with Bi-polar does not experience the psychotic episodes you all are discussing here. It's different for everyone to some degree.

 

[Werd]

Werd,

If you're going to be with the guy, and he may very well be a good potential mate, make sure to learn everything you can about the condition. It probably would also be a good idea to accompany him on his doctor visits, as well as monitoring his medication.

It isn't the same thing, but my aunt was married to a man who she later came to learn suffered from depression since an early age. People are clever and can hide many of the tell tale signs.

98% of the time he was fine. But it just takes a slip up for them to become dangerous to themselves and others. In her case it was very serious.

Thank you...

I am beginning to really have a deep affection for him. But I am not rushing things... I have too much drama in my life and in the lives of my children already to hook up with someone who will bring more unnecessarily.

This guy is definitely one of a kind. He has never been mean or remotely controlling. As a matter of fact he waits on me hand and foot, is supportive of me but lets me do things for myself (He has a lot of money and influence but respects the fact that I want to do things for myself - he points me in the right direction and offers me helpful advice and insight but that is where it stops - the rest is purely up to me.). He wants to please me very much. Even asked me to dominate him in bed.

He is extremely forthcoming about his condition. His attitude is this: I've got this illness and it is up to me to do what I have to do in order for me to be well. I find this VERY reassuring. One of his sons has also been diagnosed with this illness and I have been privy to many of their conversations. He is a really good father. He gives his son gentle and strong support without making his son feel badly about his situation.

 

[Smurfy]

I might also add that my ex-mother-in-law has been diagnosed with Bi-polar, and a slew of other things. But she is psychotic at times. People were in her vents talking to her. And she grabbed my ass at my son's birthday party last Saturday. She said she "just had to touch it". eh gawd.

 

[Werd]

I might also add that my ex-mother-in-law has been diagnosed with Bi-polar, and a slew of other things. But she is psychotic at times. People were in her vents talking to her. And she grabbed my ass at my son's birthday party last Saturday. She said she "just had to touch it". eh gawd.

Take it as a compliment for your hard work in the gym LOL.

Ahhhhhhhh the beauty of divorce - I never EVER have to deal with my ex-inlaws anymore. They are afraid of me. I don't know why though. I mean just because they are all fat and nasty with ill-behaved animals for kids...