My sister and her bipolar boyfriend.

[TINY]

After being alone for years she finally found a good boyfriend and been dating him the last few months. They went mountain climbing, jet skiing and many outdoor activities that they both enjoy. He works in construction and she works in a similar field.

He has tattoos and so does she, they are both chunky but do not care about appearances.

We met him for family dinners and all approved and happy how good he takes care of her.

She is 27 he is 29. To make a long story short she was worried about his mood swings. He then told her the truth, now she is devastated and not sure what to do. Goggled it and future doesn't look good.

Anyone with positive experience about bipolar people that you may want to share and maybe I can brighten up her day?.

 

[papasmerf]

With proper therapy and medication it is controllable.

However the meds make the patient feel flat and most stop taking them.

I wish there was an easy fix but most bi-polar people will hurt those around them

 

[TINY]

With proper therapy and medication it is controllable.

However the meds make the patient feel flat and most stop taking them.

I wish there was an easy fix but most bi-polar people will hurt those around them

I was afraid to hear that, no way there may be hope?.

 

[JustRiley]

I have bipolar -- most of you probably already know this, but holding stigma and judgement isn't going to help. Understanding and compassion is best. there is a lot of incorrect information out there and also some good information out there. Plus bipolar disorder is very different for every individual that has it and its a high population of people that have it.

It is not the easiest thing to share with someone. plus there are 2 major types of bipolar disorder type 1 and type 2 and having type 2 i know there is a huge difference from type 1, but everyone wants to lump us all in the same box.

There is a Toronto support group for it and a few blogs I follow on the subject it wasn't an easy journey growing threw diagnosis, having family educated or even remotely supportive. weird thing is they can accept me being a whore but they can't accept me being bipolar.

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/


natasha tracy - has a lot of great info that i follow and keep up with .

https://www.mooddisorders.ca/faq/bipolar-disorder
https://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/bipolar-disorder/
https://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/hea.../bipolar_disorder/Pages/Bipolar-Disorder.aspx
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
https://www.cmha.bc.ca/get-informed/mental-health-information/bipolar-disorder


I aslo recommend watching the tv show black box

 

[papasmerf]

I was afraid to hear that, no way there may be hope?.

I would say the best place to start is with a good physiologist.

Karate also helps one learn to control their anger

 

[oldguyzer]

Wading in without full knowledge of the condition ("bipolar" is a generic term used to describe many different things), a few comments:

• he told her the truth, which should be a positive sign for her
• most conditions are easily treated by medication, not all of it bad stuff (depends on the severity and nature of his condition)
• he will have trigger conditions that can be avoided
• counselling can help
• if she loved him before she found out, she shouldn't love him less because he has a medical condition
• with her support, he'll be able to cope much better

My first wife was bi-polar and acted just fine as long as she was on her meds. It was she decided she didn't need them any more that things got weird. Hope he's smarter than my ex-wife!

 

[Leo]

Wow, getting an education subject for free here.

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

A former girlfriend of mine was diagnosed with this condition about a year after we split.

It is also known as manic depression.

She would go days with little or no sleep and then would totally crash. Her judgment and decision making abilities would be very compromised during her manic episodes. Which of course led to difficulties in our relationship.

I not knowing about this condition at the time just thought she was how shall I say a different duck and not for me.

Looking back now I realize that she was actually the one woman in my life who loved me unconditionally and I feel horrible for breaking up with her. Unfortunately just shortly after she was diagnosed and given proper treatment and her life was turning around she suffered an aneurysm and is disabled now.

Bottom line is that sometimes people have issues which are no fault of their own but that doesn't mean they are not good people or can't live a long and productive life. It take a little work but hey that's what makes life interesting.

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

I would say the best place to start is with a good physiologist.

Karate also helps one learn to control their anger

Physiologist?........Don't you mean psychiatrist?

 

[JustRiley]

Physiologist?........Don't you mean psychiatrist?

GP Psychologist or a Psychiatrist can make official diagnosis and prescribe medication - social workers are only good for CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)

I remember going to camh and asking if I was bipolar they told me no I am just manic depressive. Caused so much confusion and wrong medication.

 

[papasmerf]

Wading in without full knowledge of the condition ("bipolar" is a generic term used to describe many different things), a few comments:

• he told her the truth, which should be a positive sign for her
• most conditions are easily treated by medication, not all of it bad stuff (depends on the severity and nature of his condition)
• he will have trigger conditions that can be avoided
  
• counselling can help
• if she loved him before she found out, she shouldn't love him less because he has a medical condition
• with her support, he'll be able to cope much better

My first wife was bi-polar and acted just fine as long as she was on her meds. It was she decided she didn't need them any more that things got weird. Hope he's smarter than my ex-wife!

It is in identifying the triggers where counseling is the key.........Too often patient feel good and walk away from their therapist. What they do not see is the future holds the unknown and new obstacles will appear. It is in ongoing therapy and monitoring where hope exists.

 

[-b]

I agree people do not realize there is different parts in being Bi Polar and each person
is different.....and just because somebody has a Mental Issues does not mean they are bad...

There are many people out there walking around being treated for one thing or another and
there are people walking around denying to themselves nothings is wrong....So what is normal..
Really.....Even those who help go for help....

Support and Encouragement ....If she feels she does not have that and does not want to invest her emotions in this person then she should move on but in any relationship there are Issues of all different sizes.....she will have to deal with Issues...no relationship goes without faults...

 

[oldguyzer]

GP Psychologist or a Psychiatrist can make official diagnosis and prescribe medication - social workers are only good for CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)

I remember going to camh and asking if I was bipolar they told me no I am just manic depressive. Caused so much confusion and wrong medication.

Riley is correct, but let me clarify just a touch:

A psychologist is basically a Bachelors degree. They cannot prescribe medicine, period. They are trained to talk things through with you, kinda like social workers.
A psychiatrist is a full Doctor (7-10 years study). They can prescribe medicine, treatments, etc. They also talk things through with you, but more like a doctor would.
A GP Psychologist is a regular Doctor with some training in psychiatry or psychology. Because they are a fully licensed MD they can prescribe, but they are somewhat more restrained in what they can do than a psychiatrist.

 

[papasmerf]

Riley is correct, but let me clarify just a touch:

A psychologist is basically a Bachelors degree. They cannot prescribe medicine, period. They are trained to talk things through with you, kinda like social workers.
A psychiatrist is a full Doctor (7-10 years study). They can prescribe medicine, treatments, etc. They also talk things through with you, but more like a doctor would.
A GP Psychologist is a regular Doctor with some training in psychiatry or psychology. Because they are a fully licensed MD they can prescribe, but they are somewhat more restrained in what they can do than a psychiatrist.

In Baby Girl's case she holds a Masters but it is true she can not prescribe..........She can however work in conjunction with a MD or DO and make recommendations

 

[Massimo]

Thanks for the intel and free education I never knew about.

 

[gorek]