Apologizing up front for the length. I am seperated and soon to be divorced from my husband of 22 years. He is dealing with bipolar, having been diagnosed about 11 years ago right around a suicide attempt. The illness is what prompted the divorce. since the seperation he has been increasingly manic, so much so that he has lost his job and contemplated suicide again. I have seen him rapid cycle. Since I am no longer with him, and as in the past ten years, been able to assist him in keeping his stress levels down, and grounding him when he would start to get manic to some extent, he is now turning to our son, a sr in hs, for support. I have protected our two sons for years from their fathers behavior, and our son is not prepared to deal with this. he is spending wildely& erratically, not looking for another job, now is telling me about how people are following him & how his former employers have hired private investigators, how he has all these plans to make millions of dollars, if I would just move back into the family home so he doesn't have to pay child support , and can finish all the manipulative plans he has going on, even typing this I know its irrational and speaking with my sons psyichaitrist (treated for depression) he said that years ago episodes like this would be considered majoyr psych episodes and he would be hospitalized, but not anymoe, unless he is a threat to himself or soeone else, he is left alone. supposedly he is going to his therapist weekly and taking his medications, but he has also told me that he pretty much just tells his therapist what he wants him to know and is 'trying to find a balance in his meds so he doesn't go to sleep again and keeps his genius'. I have called his therapist to report some of his behavior, and a few days later he came home and accused me of interfering with his therapy, and that his therapist thinks I am over reacting. I was waking up at night with him breaking into the house to find him sitting in a chair staring at me. he has never overtly thretened me, so i cannot get a restraining order. I know this is the illness, but I can't help him, and it seems that no one else can either, he is destroying what is left of the family financially and emotionally. My oldest thinks he needs to go live with his dad in order to be the one who "takes care of him"
I am at a loss as to where to turn for help for my family. I know this is a rant and seemingly disjointed, but that is what our lives have been because of this. I think anyone dealing with this disease is incredibly courageous, i don't even know what I am asking for in terms of help....