Hi Davey - will look for an update about you when I'm done typing this.

I *am* the significant other (my husband is not bipolar though; rather, has depression, anxiety, and a d(x) of ADD). I do think I know it's coming on before he is aware of it. His eyes, as Azalyssa's mother says, is a dead giveaway - he gets a really "flat" look in his eyes. I can always tell if he has missed a day of his meds, even when he denies it.

His pdoc has encouraged him to ask me for feedback when he tries new meds, because he said that it's common for family members to notice a change before the individual does.

Significant others might not notice a change in your FEELINGS, but there are other signs that are visible to other people that we aren't always aware of. For example, I found this true when I was on a brief stint of my own with Lexapro. I couldn't tell right away if it was doing anything, but my husband noticed that I was talking more slowly and interrupting less. I wouldn't have noticed something like that in myself.