Theese guestions are for friends and
family and significant others mainly. But
would love to hear replys from anyone.
Should you tell someone thats bipolar what
they have done or said when having an
episode? If you think someone is manic or
depressed do you ask them? Isnt it likely
they will deny either one?
How do you stay supportive when you have
been hurt very badly because of the
illness? How do you move past it? Does
it get easier? Will they pull away if
they fear you will leave them? Or dont
love them? How can you show them you
really do care and they will believe you?
Ok just needing advice and not finding the
answers I need. Thanks in advance to
anyone who could please help.
for a link to a professor that has taken
an amazing approach to his illness by
allowing friends and family to tell him if
he is acting inappropriately. I found
his article amazing and very proactive.
I think most people that have this
disorder don’t know that they are acting
out. In my ex’s case there would be
times he would apologize after the fact
but many times he had no idea what he was
doing was inappropriate.
I hate to tell you this, but certainly you
came here to find answers. But if you
decide to stick it out with your
girlfriend, you will be dealing with this
on a daily basis. It never gets easier
and just so you know this illness gets
worse with age. I think it has to do
with building resistance to the drugs they
are on. My ex has been on them for over
6 years and still has trouble with the
correct dosage.
I have written and called me ex many
times. He hangs up on me now and refuses
my e-mails. In one of his last e-mails
he told me if he had to spend one more
hour in a room with me, he would kill
himself. I have given up and now only
come here for support. I know what I
wrote above is not encouraging. I keep
looking on line for people that have had
healthy happy relationships with people
that are manic depressive and I just
can’t seem to find any. Being
co-dependent, which it sounds like you are
(i know I am) you want to do whatever you
can to help. It becomes an obsession.
I know I am obsessed with my ex. I have
even thought about going to a hypnotist to
see if that can’t help me to move on.
I have had people on here and other
websites tell me that I should be grateful
it only lasted 10 months and I didn’t
marry him. But for some reason that makes
me feel worse. I think that “we” or
people who try and stick with people with
this disorder have some problems of their
own, otherwise why would be purposely stay
in a relationship with so much negativity.
My ex was convinced I was bipolar for
instance and told me to see a clinical
psychologist. It was probably the best
advice he ever gave me. For over 2 years
now I have been in therapy and have know
that I am not bipolar, but do suffer from
depression and I have adjustment disorder,
which is quite common, and its where one
cannot handle change in their life.
Through therapy however I have learned a
lot about the bipolar disorder and realize
after all this time, there is nothing I
can do for him. On one of these threads
someone who has the illness said, the best
you can do is let them know you are there
for them, but give them their space. So
that’s what I did. I honestly don’t
think he will ever come back to me, but I
can move on knowing I tried in every way I
could. In the end I was battling both him
and his parents (who are in denial of his
illness) and I knew I would never win. I
wish I could be more encouraging, but as
far as the illness itself scientists
don’t know enough about it yet to cure
them. The drugs only keep them from
going off the deep end. Honestly without
the drugs many of them (including my ex)
would be in institutions. It’s very
very sad. I wish you luck with your
girlfriend.
