Aa
my husband is bi-polar
My husband of twenty years is bi-polar, he has all the behaviors, he has run away from home 7 times in the past three years, he is gone now almost 7 months. I have been reading a lot of horror stories, most of which i have lived with my self. My question - are there any success stories. I also need some in-put on how to get my husband to go get treatment. thanks
My husband was diagnosed with Bipolar 4 months ago, and we haven't been a 'couple' since. He is 44 and we've been married for 12 years. Things are really hard for me right now, because he never , in these 12 years has shown any major symptoms, so we've lived 12 wonderful years together and all of a sudden 4 months ago he has a Major Manic Episode, tried to commit suicide, and was extremely Psychotic...the worst part is I become he worst Enemy, everything wrong in his life has to do with me. 1 month ago he left home (we have a 2 year old).
He has been in treatment for 3 months. He is finally 'looking' better. But the road is very long....and I'm sure now the he is NOT that psychotic anymore he is realizing all the 'bad' stuff I'm assuming he has done and said....
But I'm saying all this, so you know you are NOT alone! And even when they are in treatment it does take time.
But I have read various Success stories of families that eventually (with treatment) bounced back and are living productive lives with their Bipolar spouses!!!!
But we are the only one that truly understand how difficult it is....I can tell you what has helped me in these past 4 months:
1- read and educate myself about it so I don't blame myself or Him for his actions---because I know it's the Illness doing and saying those things!
2- I have a wonderful family that has supported me and allowed me to cry when I need and to take care of my little one when I just need to think! Even his family is supporting me through this--they really like me!
3- I see a wonderful Psychologist every week who happens to know a lot about Bipolar Dis. so this has helped me a lot!
4- I try to keep a smile on my face for my 2 year old who has been the major source of energy and hope in my life!
5- Trying to Ea, Sleep well and keep my exercise routine
And trust me, I do all that and I still go through a lot of suffering trying to figure out what happened with my Beautiful, amazing husband of 12 years!!!!
Do I know or think we're getting back together, I have NO idea. But for now I do have hope and lots of patience to be around him when he comes to the house to see our daughter.
The major question here is (at least for it's a big thing) for how long will I allow myself to be in such 'sad' situation....do we set a time frame for ourselves or do we live in this state of 'not knowing' forever....I don't know how long I'm giving myself the HOPE that he may come back to me...But I am realistic about the future and I don't want to spend the rest of my life like this...there comes a time we just need to let go. Am I ready to let go now. NO! But at some point I will have to if it comes to that!
Hope this was helpful!
A very dedicated wife....
He has been in treatment for 3 months. He is finally 'looking' better. But the road is very long....and I'm sure now the he is NOT that psychotic anymore he is realizing all the 'bad' stuff I'm assuming he has done and said....
But I'm saying all this, so you know you are NOT alone! And even when they are in treatment it does take time.
But I have read various Success stories of families that eventually (with treatment) bounced back and are living productive lives with their Bipolar spouses!!!!
But we are the only one that truly understand how difficult it is....I can tell you what has helped me in these past 4 months:
1- read and educate myself about it so I don't blame myself or Him for his actions---because I know it's the Illness doing and saying those things!
2- I have a wonderful family that has supported me and allowed me to cry when I need and to take care of my little one when I just need to think! Even his family is supporting me through this--they really like me!
3- I see a wonderful Psychologist every week who happens to know a lot about Bipolar Dis. so this has helped me a lot!
4- I try to keep a smile on my face for my 2 year old who has been the major source of energy and hope in my life!
5- Trying to Ea, Sleep well and keep my exercise routine
And trust me, I do all that and I still go through a lot of suffering trying to figure out what happened with my Beautiful, amazing husband of 12 years!!!!
Do I know or think we're getting back together, I have NO idea. But for now I do have hope and lots of patience to be around him when he comes to the house to see our daughter.
The major question here is (at least for it's a big thing) for how long will I allow myself to be in such 'sad' situation....do we set a time frame for ourselves or do we live in this state of 'not knowing' forever....I don't know how long I'm giving myself the HOPE that he may come back to me...But I am realistic about the future and I don't want to spend the rest of my life like this...there comes a time we just need to let go. Am I ready to let go now. NO! But at some point I will have to if it comes to that!
Hope this was helpful!
A very dedicated wife....
Your husband has to want to go into treatment. Its that simple. You cannot make your husband go into treatment for anything if he does not want to - you can sit down and talk to him about how he feels, see if you can convince him to go and see a doctor with you and discuss things or perhaps buy a book on Bipolar and leave it where he may see it. It depends on the person.
As to success stories I am not sure what you mean by the word success. For some bipolars getting out of bed every day is a success and for others bipolar means they are prone to mood swings and have less sever symptoms.
This forum is full of success stories as pretty much everyone here is a success in their own way - they are living day to day with the illness and they have lives, jobs and families.
If you mean is there a cure (which is so often what people mean) then the answer is no. There isnt a treatment for the disease either - there are treatments for the symptoms of the disease but not for bipolar itself.
As to all the behaviours.. Well there are so many symptoms of Bipolar and Behaviours tied to those that I cannot imagine how messed up someone with 'all' the behaviours would be.
As to success stories I am not sure what you mean by the word success. For some bipolars getting out of bed every day is a success and for others bipolar means they are prone to mood swings and have less sever symptoms.
This forum is full of success stories as pretty much everyone here is a success in their own way - they are living day to day with the illness and they have lives, jobs and families.
If you mean is there a cure (which is so often what people mean) then the answer is no. There isnt a treatment for the disease either - there are treatments for the symptoms of the disease but not for bipolar itself.
As to all the behaviours.. Well there are so many symptoms of Bipolar and Behaviours tied to those that I cannot imagine how messed up someone with 'all' the behaviours would be.
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