I have bipolar disorder. So do several other relatives. My disease is fairly mild on the manic side--my depressions are much worse. I don't know how others have felt dealing with me, I am mostly just overexuberant when I am hypomanic and really talkative. Others in my family have been less fortunate and during manic episodes have become very abusive verbally, lost tons of money, almost wrecked marriages etc. I try to be understanding with these sicker individuals, but I do have to draw boundaries as in the past I have gotten caught up in trying to rescue family members who were sick. You cannot force someone to see a psychiatrist or seek help if they don't want to but you can refuse to accept unacceptable behavior if it is hurting you. I think it can be a very tough call.
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Bipolar disorder with very long depressions and short hypomanic episodes. I initially love the hypomanic episodes until I realize they inevitably led to terrrible depressions. I take paroxetine, lamotrogine and klonopin.
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