[crazylaura]

my life has fallen apart because of bipolar. my husband left me for another woman. he is turning my children against me. my friends have all taken his side. im really distressed. will things ever get better?

[cocoabeans]

Yes, maybe. Hope so!

That's an awful situation. Bipolar is a living hell sometimes, much of the time and other times, you forget. I hate it really but, I'm okay, mostly. Not sure if I'm depressed, going to be or stressed right now. This very moment? I'm okay.

What are you doing to take charge of your bipolar?

Me? Medication (biggest thing for me), talking myself into focusing on the positives rather than dwelling on negatives, taking time to do what I want, trying to be mindful, simply experiencing my existance as it is and accepting the experience, forcing myself to socialize and go to work, and sometimes just vegging infront of the tv with a big ol'bag of potato chips because I don't want to give a damn.

I don't know!

[BuggsBunny]

Originally Posted by crazylaura

my life has fallen apart because of bipolar. my husband left me for another woman. he is turning my children against me. my friends have all taken his side. im really distressed. will things ever get better?

With counseling and medication, things will get better. It will take time, good things always do, but it is worth the wait.

You don't say if you are newly diagnosed, an old hand, or what you know about the disease. Also, who has custody of the kids? If it's you, then they will know what kind of Mom you really are, and in the long run will be on your side. The current friction between you and the kids may not stem so much from his turning them against you (altho I take your word for it that he is) but from the split in the family and the chaos that causes the children to be acting up.

But yes, in the long run, it gets better. Just hang in there and don't give up until it does.

[bluemountains]

It will get better. One day at a time. Take the meds, go to therapy, and try to stay in the moment.
Hugs!
Bluemountains

[venusss]

I don't know how it all went down, but is there any way to reconsile with at least some of your friends? Your children? Try to reach out to the most approachble of them.

[roads]

Trying to connect with just one child or friend as a start to getting that part of your life back sounds like a fine strategy. That old "one day/step/person at a time" approach to recovery is perhaps among the more reliable.

In general the meds/therapy advice is usually good, but I'd add the caveat of being sure it fits you uniquely. The meds have to be precisely the right ones for you at this stage or may do more harm than good. Finding a psychiatrist who really listens, who doesn't just try different drugs out on you till finding something that seems "good enough," isn't easy.

Similarly, therapy can help you understand what you're dealing with and find ways of dealing with this bipolar world of ours. However, this all requires our connecting with the right therapist for us--a companion to walk with us on this part of our journey. Not just anyone will do, because this is an intimate & pretty scary exploration of our inner world we'll be taking together. You have to trust your therapist--ideally, each other.

Things absolutely can get better for you. The work to make that happen & keep it going seems never-ending ... but life can certainly be worth the effort.

Okay, that's what I think! Welcome to PsychCentral, crazylaura. I hope you find it a safe & comforting place to be.

Originally Posted by crazylaura

my life has fallen apart because of bipolar. my husband left me for another woman. he is turning my children against me. my friends have all taken his side. im really distressed. will things ever get better?

i'm not trying to be clever or unsympathetic, this is genuine. once upon a time, I grabbed a box of candy bars and a 2-liter of coca cola and locked myself in the bathroom. I was oriented only by the light under the door crack. this all happened when I was younger. well, younger than just what would make that statement technically accurate. it happened years ago

my roommate knocked on the door after two hours, then magically and wonderfully stopped caring for a whole day. After that point he said, 'i hope you feel better soon or just feel better whenever' not even being dry or funny, though looking back, I think it was funny, he thought it was funny, maybe you'll think it's funny, I said, 'when I feel better, I'll feel better than anything you've ever felt because I'm guaranteed karma for this. I'll be masturbating in the living room in no time'

'Tis true.

You're bipolar, you'll feel better again. And you'll feel better than most people can even conceptualize feeling better. your brain gives you karma for this.

[tcmoon52]

I am very sorry to hear this. It happened to me, in 2004, after 24 years of marriage.
It was a living hell. I was in a deep depression and imediately cycled into mixed states when it happened. I had to see my Psychiatrist and have my meds adjusted a number of times. I was numb and had no idea which end was up. I don't know the ages of your children, but I have 2 daughters and they were 20 and 22 at the time. The youngest was behind me and supportive, the oldest has went back and forth over the years. Your children will figure it out once they get through the anger. I had to start my life over from scratch, I knew I wasn't strong enough to play the games she tried to engage me in. I went to therapy twice a week to sort things out, for over a year. I felt so alone. All I can say is try not to give up hope, and don't expect anyone to understand the depth of your pain, I certainly never found anyone. Today some things are better, some not, but everything is different. I was finally able to live my dream, I moved to the city by the Ocean I always wanted to retire at. I live in a small mobile 600 yards from the beach, I love it here. If you need someone to talk to I am here. I have a lot of free time. Call me I have free long distance. 831-431 6794. Tom

[argv]

Originally Posted by crazylaura

my life has fallen apart because of bipolar. my husband left me for another woman. he is turning my children against me. my friends have all taken his side. im really distressed. will things ever get better?

Things get better with time of course. The best thing, IMO, you can do is talk on here to people, learn about Bipolar disorder, and try to figure out ways to make it work for you instead of against you. From what I've seen, most people with BP are pretty intelligent individuals.

I also told people about my disorder, because everyone knows that I'm "a little odd" but I'd never been diagnosed as BP before. Now it all makes sense, but I look back and say "Holy crap, I did some really dumb things.. but I kindof have an excuse." Not that I want to use this as some type of crutch for doing stupid things, but at the same time, I'm going to be myself and quit taking crap from people just because I'm trying to be 'nice' and really pushing my real feelings away which is very difficult and was driving me nuts.

[BlackPup]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you will find great support here
sorry that things have fallen apart for you.... it sounds terrible so I am sending you lots of
It will get better, meds and therapy can both help lots. It takes lots of small steps, but keep on going.

[thickntired]

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through such a terrible ordeal. Please take care of yourself - take your meds, talk to someone, and don't drink. It Will get better with time . . .

Peace,

TnT