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May 22, 2013, 07:52 PM
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Member Since: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 1,486
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In terms of questioning yourself, one thing I have learned on this forum is the enormous variety of experiences we all have. And I suspect that many psychiatrists -the 'experts'- may be less open than they should be about the fact that everyone is so different. So if he has in his head: no sleep = bipolar episode, and you talk about serious sleep issues, but that don't fit into his box, he's having some tunnel vision.
I mean your sleep issues may not be directly related to bipolar, but so what? I think psychiatrists should be helping us with whatever is going on, not just things that fit into neat boxes, or even only things directly related to our primary diagnosis. Even if he didn't want to prescribe something stronger than melatonin (as I've said, not necessarily a bad thing) he could have given you advice on what I think they call 'sleep hygiene' (the not exercising before bed and that sort of stuff) -advice, in any case, specifically related to your issue.
If he didn't think that what's going on with your husband rises to the level of 'clinical' paranoia, so what? That's no reason to dismiss it. He's not your therapist, but as a psychiatrist he could talk about what he considers 'paranoia' versus other things. They're supposed to do 'psychoeducation,' right?
There's no good reason/cause to be dismissive. It's not you. I think he's a poor communicator or just doesn't have much interest in communicating with his patients. 
Maybe he's been having mini-strokes and it'll pass, it'll get better. I would try to press him, though. Maybe, for example, "Whatever 'this' may be, it is affecting me a lot/causing a great deal of distress/making it very difficult to function during the day, what you do think I can do about it/can you help me with it?" If he says, 'no' at least then he's being honest in a way, instead of skirting the issue...
Good luck 
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