I have been treated for bi polar and PTSD since I was a teenager. For years I was able to work and support myself financially; though I always had trouble with personal relationships. This past year my condition worsened and I became disabled. The loss of my independence has been terrible for me and I am still working part time with hopes of being able to work full time again.

The last couple months I have been under tremendous stress- more than ever before.

The problem is a few weeks ago I started hearing voices and began a relationship with a voice I believed to be my teenage child- though I have no children. I have since realized it was just a voice but am grieving the loss of "my child" and being able to talk with him and watch him grow.

My question is does this happen to people with bi polar? Is this typical? Is this a normal progression of the disease and am I likely to continue to get worse as I have the last year?