Normal life

[Allahuakbar]

My husband has bipolar disorder.He's on depakote and 0.5mg of respidon.He has difficulty sleeping through the night so he takes a sleep-aid as well.Is it possible to go on without a relapse while on the medication?Apart from being on medication, possibly for life, how normal a life can we expect to have?

[lindahand]

A pretty normal life most of the time. Bipolar is episodic so there may be times he is in episode (although they will be fewer and less severe if on medication) but they don't last forever. Most of us work, have children, do everything everyone else does. Sometimes though it is harder for us. Medication has side effects. Lack of sleep isn't great either. Sometimes it can take a few years to get the medications right. But most people I would say end up with a version of normalacy.

It is scary I imagine to have a loved one diagnosed with this disorder. There is a book out called "Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder" by Julie Fast. May be worth a look so you have some coping skills in your back pocket.

[Marebear74]

Hello, my name is mary and i have been Bi-polar/Manic depressive for 18 years. I also started having Panic attacks about 10 years ago. How is the medication working for his Bi-polar up to this point? If you would like it to be privite you can e-mail me or drop me a note for a more direct conversation! I may be able to help you. I have been through alot to get to this point.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

It is possible but might be unlikely.  People on the proper medication combination still sometimes relapse but not always.  There's not really such a thing as a "normal" life.  He can achieve normalcy for himself to an extent with the right medications though.