Living with Bipolar Disorder

Hi T., My mom has bipolar disorder. And I was a mental health social worker for several years. Many times it takes a few tries to get the meds combonations, and trials. It can take weeks for something to start working, and if it doesn't weeks for it to clear your system in order to start something new. Don't give up, try not to get discouraged. I encourage you to seek a group called NAMI, national alliance for the mentally ill. they have family courses for relatives so they can understand your struggles. They focus on the diagnosis being a biological cause, not the persons choice. If your husband gets external support you'll both be better off. You need mood stabilizers not anti-depressants. Find a doctor who knows what they are doing. Many people stop the meds because it dulls the highs. I really hope you can get the right help. It sounds like you are trying.

I don't have it, but dated a guy who had it for a long time. His mother also had it. He never would take medication and it cost us the relationship because it was too difficult with the highs and lows and him not willing to try to help himself. I don't know what medication you are on (he was supposed to take Paxil and it didn't do anything), but his mom took Lithium and it had amazing effects for her. She doesn't have the extreme highs and lows at all. I don't know anything about negative side effects or anything, but if the meds you are on now don't do anything, I would suggest going back and going back and finding one that works. I know how hard it is, and I wish you the best and hope your husband stands by you while you figure it out.

T.,
My suggestion is to find a qualified natural health Chiropractor or MD in your area that does Hormonal Panels using Saliva testing and who can also do testing for your toxic load levels. I make this suggestion as I have been assisting my husband who is a chiropractor, nutitionist and acupuncturist for 20 years and I have seen women and men have their emotions and the way they respond to their life turn completely around to be the positive, balanced and happy person they really are. Especially after having a child, as women, our hormonal system can not be operating as it should and effect us dramactically. (Men do not escape the hormonal personality changes either.) You could be dealing with a two different problems which is why your medication for your bi-polar is not working as you'd like. I hope this helps. All the best to you.

T.,

I feel for you and your issues. I have gone through some bouts of depression and anxiety myself. I read all your other responses and I am here to give you a different read on it. I have taken meds before and had all kinds of side effects. I really wanted to try and go the natural root and see what would happen. I would get a second opinion about the bipolar diagnosis.

I know you are a stay at home mom with a youngster. You need to get out and have some time for yourself as well. Talk to a friend or a conselor. You need to let our your feelings. Exercise and vitamins really help me. I would also have your hormones checked as well since this can be a big part of it. If you want some more advice on nature ways to help e-mail me back privately and I will be glad to help you out.

Just know that you are not alone and keep the communication open with your husband for support.

Good luck!
M

T.,

Continue to talk to your Dr. If the medicine is not helping to level you out you want to be willing to try something else. If your husband is talking about not want to be willing to stay in your marriage, before you worry about what you can do to save your marriage, you need to worry about what you cano do to fix you. Him leaving is only going to increase your inability to control your highs and lows. At the same time you need to b willing to understand where he is coming from. Maybe all he wants is for you to be better. Maybe you taking care of yourself is going to make him want to make your marriage better. At this time though I think you need to concentrate on you!

If the Dr. is not able to level you out with medication, or if you are not happy with the results of the medications, you may want to visit the whole food stores and really do your research. There are different natural remedies that will help you. You may want to try some of them in conjunction with the medicine the Dr. prescribes as well. Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, and other mood altering substances as they only increase the problem.

Good Luck and God Bless you. This is one of the hardest things I have ever scene anybody have to deal with. As a believer in Jesus Christ my last advise to you would be get involved with a church. During some of the hardest times in my life, including a time when my husband thought he wanted a divorce, my relationship with Jesus Christ kept me out of those very lonely low places.

oh my gosh- what do you eat? Go to Weston Price foundation- and read what they say and do it immediately. Honestly T. what is diagnosed as biploar- well see Weston Price- if you really want this fixed they will tell you how.
And 1st- get off all sugar, white flour products, anything that has dye in it,anything with artificial sweeteners-if you cannot stand it- take a look at what you could lose-
it is called Behavior&Digestion(Diet) Syndrome- and you can fix it IF YOU chose to do it.
Right this minute- go to Weston Price.
in great health- k

T.,

I feel for you. I am not bipolar but I did have severe Post partum depression that has affected my marriage (major car accident too). I do have family members who are bipolar. I can recommend a good marriage counselor in Land O Lakes. You can start by going yourself.

But in the end he has to be willing to help fix the marriage. If his mind is made up there may not be a whole lot you can do.,

I am also bipolar and recently diagnosed, although I've had symptoms for many years. I have found the following sites very helpful:

www.dbsatampabay.org

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms...

My husband and I have been to a few DBSA meetings together and it was helpful for him to listen to other people's stories. The one we're gone to, which is at the USF campus on Tuesdays, is co-chaired by a man who's wife and daughter are bipolar. This might be someone that it would be helpful for your husband to talk to.
In addition, if you contact me privately, you and I could talk and I'm sure that my husband wouldn't be adverse to talking to yours.
It REALLY REALLY sucks and it's the most painful thing I've had to do (choosing to continue living instead of giving up) but it is getting better a little bit at a time.

Twenty three is a frequently tumultuous age
for the healthiest of women, in the best of relationships.

Desperation sucks, literally.
It can suck the life out of anything!

I have a worked with many people though,
who have also been diagnosed as you have.
Everyone finds their own path. I know it sounds cliche'
but honestly, it's true. Some folks go by way of the meds,
others use homeopathics with success, still others find physical activity and specific diet has a big impact on their balance, or some other method for helping themselves. You might look into what you suspect will help you best. Dont ONLY depend on the doctors who are trained by drug companies to sell you their products. One size does not fit all.

Some folks find spiritual guidance is key.
If you're that kind of person,
you might look at my Mom Owned business.

Sending a prayer out for you.

As suggested by the other posts, you need to keep educating your self on this disease and the various ways to treat it. YOU have to take control and not rely on other people to help fix it. It's very difficult to find a doctor that is willing to try and help you and your individual case. They really just treat you the same as every other person.

I have 3 family members who are bipolar. It's not an easy disease to live with. My nephew who is 21, has basically been removed from the family as he refused to stay on his medicine. No one could deal with him, not even his mother.

My other family member is lucky enough to have someone that truly loves her and is VERY tolerant.

I don't know what to say to you about your marriage. I understand his frustration. I can't imagine though how you must feel too. If it does come down to him leaving, then take that time to focus on getting you better.

Also, just because he wants a divorce it does not mean he is seeing someone else. Being on the other side and watching what it is like to live with a bipolar person is EXTREMELY tiring. Yes it does drain that person, and yes it does tend to take the life out of them. They are constantly fixing the problems that pop up due to the destructive behavior that can pop up(not saying that is your case) I personally could not deal with that on a regular basis.

Not sure if that is you or not as each person is different. I just wanted to point out both sides as you may not be use to thinking of the other side or dealing with that side of it. I am not trying to be mean, ugly, or trying to hurt you. Just open your eyes to maybe where your husband is coming from.

Talk to him about getting you help. See if he will work with you on researching ways to help you, so you can try and balance your life out. Maybe if he was involved with the research it would give him a reason to stay longer.

I feel so badly for you as I know this is not something you have a choice to have and it's so hard to find the right way to balance it out and keep it balanced.

Have you tried looking for a support group for people with bi-polar disorder? I would think this would be of tremendous value to you and your family.

Wishing you much luck and success on your search for the right treatment and praying that you will be able to save your marriage.

i have a 49 year old son that is bipolar, i have been by his side now for almost 25 years. he has been thru all kinds of different medications over the years. the ones that we have found to be the most effective and wiith the least side effects is 20mg zyprexa and 250mg depacoat one each 2 times a day. it took almost 3 months for the meds to start really working, but now for the past almost 6 years he has had very few mood swings, and is leading a very callm well adjusted as close to normal productive life as more than most people in the world today. i went to counseling and support groups with him for several years, so that way we could both understand the situation and get a grip on it. talk to your dr about these meds. my soon was one of the first ones to try the zyprexa when it was first being tested years ago. i am so very thankful i agreed to let him try it. please tell your husband not to give up on you to please help you as you are not a lost cause, you just need help and he needs to learn what you are going thru so he can understand the situation better. please feel free to email me at any time i want to help any way or time i can. i still have parents and spouses that call me and we help each other. J.

My heart goes out to you!!
There is much that I would live to be able to sat but the FDA,FCC and meducal establishment who are not so much interested in health as money & power make it impossible for me to talk freely at this point. All I can legally say is that I have a condition for which there is supposed to be no cure but I have suspended this condition with the useage of a new class of nutrients. (which,btw, the drug companies are trying to combine w/ their drugs to off set the side effects and are being researched by Universities around the world & used by many Doctors) I still have the condition but the symptoms are suspended!!
Since I can say so little you will have to read the following site and make your own connections. I am not even allowed that I have know some who after using these heavily for bipolar are much improved. I can't say that & wont. You will have to make your own connections. www.freewebs.com/restorehealth .
Enjoy this web site and here is praying for your health!

S.