depressed bipolar father is manic Posted: 01-16-08 10:16am
My father was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 after
being hospitalized 2 years ago for
depression and suicidal thoughts. This
depression followed a long episode of
mania wherein he left his wife of 30 years
(my mother), spent over a million dollars
on an apartment overlooking NYC's central
park, had dated several women (a few of
which he was planning his life with after
knowing them only a month or so), and
engaged in other impulsive behaviors.
Now it's 2 years later, he's on the right
medication, he's been feeling good for a
while. Everything seems great. But I
sense that something is wrong.
He met a woman about 2 months ago, and has
gotten really serious about her really
quickly. After a month, he told me that
he was "reborn" through this woman, and he
was acting very different when he was with
her. Now 2 months into their
relationship, the woman is selling her
house and moving in with him. He didn't
tell anyone in the family, I only found
out because he sort of slipped up and said
something that he probably shouldn't have
said and I probed him and got my answers.
I'm worried sick about him because he's
making very big life decisions with a
woman who is practically a stranger to
him. I've expressed my concerns to him
and he has told me that he knows what he's
doing and that he can take care of
himself. He seems to think that he is
'cured'...
I know that there's not much I can do
except advise him against this and ask him
to speak to his therapist about this
decision. My father is a very proud and
stubborn man, always been the care-taker
of others, and he won't listen to his
20-something daughter's advise, let alone
anyone elses.
I'm afraid that after 2 months, it is
unwise for *anyone* to move in with
someone they are dating, especially
someone who has a history of manic
episodes.
I know that people do impulsive things
when they're in love (or infatuated), and
that he's on a high right now, but I'm
scared that if things don't work out with
this woman (which I really question being
that she doesn't even know about his
illness), that he's going to sink into a
depression again.
What can I do to help? How can I talk to
him about this? Is there *anything* I can
do to make sure he is getting help???
|
CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2221 Location: Finally a picture to a name,
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Posted: 01-19-08 07:38am
Oh my friend, how much I empathize with
you. Being BPMD myself it is very hard for
the person to handle much less someone
else trying to talk to them. It is all
about being on the right medication.
Sometimes it's months of hit and miss to
find the right one.
My heart goes out to you. You can try
talking to him. But, afterall he is an
adult and does not really have to answer
to anyone. When I get manic, I just start
throwing things.
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