I need help with my Mom, please.

2yrs ago my mother was diagnosed bipolar. She had been living with it for many years, which we were all unaware of. She had terrible episodes of paranoia and was VERY manic at one point, which is what caused her to get treatment. Those symptoms are gone, thank goodness. What she is dealing with now, is hard and I don't know what to do anymore.

My mom worries, a lot. Excessively, I think. She is on 5 different meds and since taking them she has lost her "spunk" so to day. I often see her staring into space blankly, sometimes falling asleep sitting up. She isn't as outgoing with her grandchildren. She constantly worries. Worries about if she wrote a check properly that she mailed already. She will frantically call me and tell me that she thinks she forgot to sign it or wrote the wrong amount in. She'll call the company the bill was being sent to. (She's done this at least 3 times in the past 2 months) Another example, she used to LOVE to spend time with her grandchildren. She used to come over and watch them if I needed to run out on an errand. Now, she is "afraid" to watch them. "What if something happens to me and I can't call 911" I'm scared of that...... She's pretty much afraid of EVERYTHING. She ALWAYS thinks the worst. She worries about money A LOT as well. Last night she called me at 11pm worried about something. It's getting worse and worse. She worries so much about taking her medicine on time that she watches the clock like a hawk.

We invited her to come on our family vacation with us this year but she declined because she is afraid that she will forget to take her medicine and she'll panic. She's also worried to leave her 2 cats. It's really sad because she doesn't enjoy life and the wonderful things that she COULD do, all because of her excessive worry about things.

She only sees her therapist every 6months now because I'm certain that she doesnt' tell her about this worry. I think I need to call her therapist and make my own appt. with her just to tell her how my mom is acting. When I mention to my mom about her needing to go more often and tell her therapist about this worry she gets all worried and says I'll stop, I promise, I'll try harder not to worry.

I don't know what to do anymore. She calls me 8 times a day over the most smallest of things that she is worried about. I don't know what to do anymore and I'm ashamed to say that I sometimes get angry at her and upset, it's so frustrating. I just want my mom back.

Thanks for listening. I hope someone can give me some ideas in how to help her.

It is very normal to feel angry and upset. How could you not? Sounds like there is more going on than bipolar. I would have her tested by a neuropsychologist who than then consult with the family about treatment options. There are a lot of hopeful options available and there is no reason to think you won't get your mom back. Patience and the correct line of action are key right now. I don't know where your mom lives but there is a well-known neuropsychologist, Dr. Angelone, in San Rafael, Ca. You cam also look him up online at the Marin Neuro Institute for a referral in your area. With trust and time you can get you mom back
From,
Dazeofdolphins

Sounds to me like your mom need to see her Pdoc and her therapist .. excessive worry can be treated thru meds and therapy ..

I can understand how all of this is upsetting to you ,, seeing your mom go downhill and no longer enjoying life ... She definatly should be seen by her doctor ,, If she is Bipolar.... typically meds just stop working after a while and they need to be changed .. thats pretty normal .

Shes lucky to have you as a daughter .. willing to help her get the treatment she needs ((( HUGS )))

About taking her medicine on time... does she have a cellphone or can she get access to something that will set off a little reminder alert? I have an alarm set on my iPhone to remind me to take my meds, because I have a bad habit of forgetting otherwise. It's a small thing but that might be one less thing for her to worry about?

I would call her therapist, tell her what's going on and go to the appoitment with her. When I got really bad here several weeks ago I almost had my husband go with me just because I felt like he could provide a clearer picture of how I was doing than I could. It could be she needs a med change.

Between her meds giving her negative side effects, she could be feeling left excessively fragile after realizing what she had been struggling with for a long time was REAL. I know my Mother didn't take it well when she finally got help for what she was going through. It took a therapist wanting to talk to her 3 or 4x a week to get her through her anxiety about it. But honestly... She'll be okay. I think she just has some unresolved issues, both related to bipolar & herself as an individual.