Dealing with Bipolarism

clive bradbury · 02-28-12, 12:09 PM

Hi Golderivet,

I do have considerable experience of people with mental health difficulties through my job (disability needs assessor in Higher Education), and listen to Skybird, he is right - seek professional help.

Your amateur diagnosis may be totally incorrect - a professional may reach a very different conclusion, and recommend appropriate treatment - who knows - her symptoms may be something physiological such as a brain tumour which could need urgent treatment or surgery. Bipolar patients often respond well to medication and CBT, but both must be carefully managed by an expert.

GoldenRivet · 02-28-12, 12:40 PM

Her and i plan to set aside this entire weekend to talk about things.

I appreciate the replies... it is one hell of a deal let me tell ya

kiwi_2005 · 02-28-12, 01:08 PM

Bipolar can be controled where the person can live out a happy life without any serious problems. My cousin has bipolar disorder, for years we thought she was just bad tempered crazy, she would out of the blue have you up for something and just rant for hours going off the edge kinda thing nothing threatening just extreme rants over issues you would never bother to argue about. She has never manage to stay in a relationship for too long cause of her sickness and has been like this since she was in her early 20s. About three years ago she was diagnosed with Bipolar and takes medication, and has never had a ranting episode since. Its good that she has got the help now but if she had went to see a doctor years ago it would of saved her and others a lot of heartache.

She needs to get the help as soon as possible GoldenRivet, all the best.

Oberon · 02-28-12, 01:11 PM

She's not alone, quite a few famous people have bipolar disorder, including Stephen Fry who made a documentary on living with it:

I take similar tablets that Herr Bs wife used to take, and it's a bit of a bastard, when you feel good, it's great...but when you feel bad...it's terrible.
In regards to splitting up...I can't really say anything, nor do I really have the right to, however I would only echo what other guys have said and that's you and her should seek professional opinion and help, to be sure that you have all the ammunition you need to, to face this thing.

Skybird · 02-28-12, 01:33 PM

Bipolar is not the same like bipolar - there is so huge a variety of possible variations and side.symptoms and different accents on different symptoms that it is difficult or better: verboten to compare the one case with the other and by the first conclude on the latter.

First step must be, and that is an ultimate necessity, a precise differential diagnosis, to learn what kind of disporder she really has. that will still interact with other characteristics of her personality, and these must be marked as well. And then, not earlier, we can talk about helpful livi9ng styles, medications, therapy.

Bipolarism can be contained somewhat, can be held in kind of a stasis, but if it really is bipoalrism in her case, it most liekly will be with here for the rest of her life. Sorry to say that, but that was status of science when I studied that stuff. Maybe there was progress being made in past years, I cannot say, since i am out of touch with the profession.

Courage, GR!

GoldenRivet · 02-28-12, 02:48 PM

It could very well be she is just a woman

but its literally like dating 2 different people... they just both look exactly the same and spend a couple of weeks at a time with ya!

Stealhead · 02-28-12, 03:26 PM

My sister is bipolar it was never diagnosed when she was a kid but later as a young adult.She was a very difficult person to deal with because one day she was very easy going and the next she was mean as all hell.Even after she got diagnosed and received therapy she had some difficultly she was married for a few years and got divorced but that rift was a two way fault for sure.

Now though she is much better she can fairly well manage her disorder and she got married again to a much better more understanding and none self centered husband.

I agree with Skybird though you can not "cure" being bipolar but a person suffering from it can if they chose to do so manage it and be a decent person to be around most of the time(hell no one is perfect right?).

That seems odd what your girlfriend said:

"she does not want injections and has an aversion to popping pills but may be willing to take a pill if it doesnt require a prescription."

That seems like wanting to avoid something to me she must know that any medication to help her would be prescribed.

Seems like she wants to avoid being labeled as something but to get any help she has no choice even if nothing is prescribed they are going to you are this or that.

Your friend needs to see a professional though she may be bipolar she may be something else.

frau kaleun · 02-28-12, 03:51 PM

My father was severely bipolar - behavior that looked like paranoid schizophrenia when high, crippling clinical depression when low, and when I say 'crippling' I mean delusions of physical disability and paralysis resulting in the inability to get out of bed for weeks at a time. So believe me, I can more than sympathize with what you're going through.

This was many many years ago and the meds they had then unfortunately did not work all that well for him. But things have changed and in many cases bipolar disorder is manageable IF one gets the necessary help from those qualified to make a diagnosis and recommend/prescribe treatment.

I would not be surprised if she fears being labelled in the process but it's a treatable illness like any other and if it goes unchecked there are likely to be much worse "labels" that could come her way from those who do not care about or understand the situation. If she really is bipolar or something similar, it's not going to get better by itself and will probably get worse, which would be a tragedy for her and everyone around her.

Can't say much more than to echo Sky's words above about getting help from a qualified professional in both diagnosis and treatment. I wish you both the best.

Skybird · 02-28-12, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

That seems odd what your girlfriend said:

"she does not want injections and has an aversion to popping pills but may be willing to take a pill if it doesnt require a prescription."

That seems like wanting to avoid something to me she must know that any medication to help her would be prescribed.

Seems like she wants to avoid being labeled as something but to get any help she has no choice even if nothing is prescribed they are going to you are this or that.

A bit late, this also got my attention.

GR, talk with her if there is something she maybe is afraid to reveal to you about herself. It probbaly is not the case, but stories like this have happened: that somebody denied to meet a doctor becasue it would reveal to a loved one something the person wanted to hide. Pregnancy? Drug abuse? Signs of violence experienced at home? A genetically inherited disease in her family?

Talk with her, but be indirect and careful when asking for these or other possible factors.

People also avoid doctors because they are paralysed by fear over a diagnosis of something bad. If so, she feels like a deer in a searchlight right now. I'm sure you know how to handle her in that case.

Go easy, but secure definite answers to above questions.

02-28-12, 12:40 PM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Her and i plan to set aside this entire weekend to talk about things. I appreciate the replies... it is one hell of a deal let me tell ya __________________

02-28-12, 01:08 PM	#3
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Bipolar can be controled where the person can live out a happy life without any serious problems. My cousin has bipolar disorder, for years we thought she was just bad tempered crazy, she would out of the blue have you up for something and just rant for hours going off the edge kinda thing nothing threatening just extreme rants over issues you would never bother to argue about. She has never manage to stay in a relationship for too long cause of her sickness and has been like this since she was in her early 20s. About three years ago she was diagnosed with Bipolar and takes medication, and has never had a ranting episode since. Its good that she has got the help now but if she had went to see a doctor years ago it would of saved her and others a lot of heartache. She needs to get the help as soon as possible GoldenRivet, all the best. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

02-28-12, 01:33 PM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,629 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Bipolar is not the same like bipolar - there is so huge a variety of possible variations and side.symptoms and different accents on different symptoms that it is difficult or better: verboten to compare the one case with the other and by the first conclude on the latter. First step must be, and that is an ultimate necessity, a precise differential diagnosis, to learn what kind of disporder she really has. that will still interact with other characteristics of her personality, and these must be marked as well. And then, not earlier, we can talk about helpful livi9ng styles, medications, therapy. Bipolarism can be contained somewhat, can be held in kind of a stasis, but if it really is bipoalrism in her case, it most liekly will be with here for the rest of her life. Sorry to say that, but that was status of science when I studied that stuff. Maybe there was progress being made in past years, I cannot say, since i am out of touch with the profession. Courage, GR! __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-28-12, 02:48 PM	#6
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	It could very well be she is just a woman but its literally like dating 2 different people... they just both look exactly the same and spend a couple of weeks at a time with ya! __________________

02-28-12, 12:09 PM	#1
clive bradbury Captain Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: stoke-on-trent, UK Posts: 492 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Hi Golderivet, I do have considerable experience of people with mental health difficulties through my job (disability needs assessor in Higher Education), and listen to Skybird, he is right - seek professional help. Your amateur diagnosis may be totally incorrect - a professional may reach a very different conclusion, and recommend appropriate treatment - who knows - her symptoms may be something physiological such as a brain tumour which could need urgent treatment or surgery. Bipolar patients often respond well to medication and CBT, but both must be carefully managed by an expert.

02-28-12, 01:11 PM	#4
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	She's not alone, quite a few famous people have bipolar disorder, including Stephen Fry who made a documentary on living with it: I take similar tablets that Herr Bs wife used to take, and it's a bit of a bastard, when you feel good, it's great...but when you feel bad...it's terrible. In regards to splitting up...I can't really say anything, nor do I really have the right to, however I would only echo what other guys have said and that's you and her should seek professional opinion and help, to be sure that you have all the ammunition you need to, to face this thing.

02-28-12, 03:26 PM	#7
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	My sister is bipolar it was never diagnosed when she was a kid but later as a young adult.She was a very difficult person to deal with because one day she was very easy going and the next she was mean as all hell.Even after she got diagnosed and received therapy she had some difficultly she was married for a few years and got divorced but that rift was a two way fault for sure. Now though she is much better she can fairly well manage her disorder and she got married again to a much better more understanding and none self centered husband. I agree with Skybird though you can not "cure" being bipolar but a person suffering from it can if they chose to do so manage it and be a decent person to be around most of the time(hell no one is perfect right?). That seems odd what your girlfriend said: "she does not want injections and has an aversion to popping pills but may be willing to take a pill if it doesnt require a prescription." That seems like wanting to avoid something to me she must know that any medication to help her would be prescribed. Seems like she wants to avoid being labeled as something but to get any help she has no choice even if nothing is prescribed they are going to you are this or that. Your friend needs to see a professional though she may be bipolar she may be something else.

02-28-12, 03:51 PM	#8
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	My father was severely bipolar - behavior that looked like paranoid schizophrenia when high, crippling clinical depression when low, and when I say 'crippling' I mean delusions of physical disability and paralysis resulting in the inability to get out of bed for weeks at a time. So believe me, I can more than sympathize with what you're going through. This was many many years ago and the meds they had then unfortunately did not work all that well for him. But things have changed and in many cases bipolar disorder is manageable IF one gets the necessary help from those qualified to make a diagnosis and recommend/prescribe treatment. I would not be surprised if she fears being labelled in the process but it's a treatable illness like any other and if it goes unchecked there are likely to be much worse "labels" that could come her way from those who do not care about or understand the situation. If she really is bipolar or something similar, it's not going to get better by itself and will probably get worse, which would be a tragedy for her and everyone around her. Can't say much more than to echo Sky's words above about getting help from a qualified professional in both diagnosis and treatment. I wish you both the best.