[unior]

I have bipolar 1 myself. My father is in denial mode. (I know you thought denial was a river in Egypt)

Although he's probably not diagnosed...I believe that my father is bipolar. Something definitely runs in the family.

I just want to know the best thing to do when he gets extremely irritable and/or angry. As in totally enraged over something trivial.

Hello, Unior,

Tell your father that you are bipolar I if you have not already done so. Then tell him that in some cases the illness is inherited, and let him know what the symptoms are
and that there are medications that will relieve them for him if he will just make an
appointment with a specialist and ask for medication to relieve the irritability and
anger. The rage is a serious thing.

He needs to know that the illness gets worse over the years unless one does get treatment, and it may cut his life short unless he does get help. Bipolar patients may have shorter life spans than others who get treatment for their illnesses.

Good luck in trying. If you can't persuade him, there may be another member of the family who has the illness and is being treated for it who might be able to talk to him--say like a 6'2" uncle or something?

Seriously, have you thought about putting some literature on bipolar illness on the living room coffee table that he might pick up and read? It could help him. If he also has
drinking alcohol as part of the effort to self-medicate, provide some alcoholics anonymous literature for him, as well. He really must get help to get better.

Take care.

Genetic

[unior]

Thanks for the reply.

Getting him to take medicine is gonna be very hard. I know he was on an antidepressant in the past.

Denial denial denial....nothings wrong with my head.... <---his thought process

I have started talking about my illness to him recently without pressuring him or trying to tell him he has something. My hopes and prayers are that he will be able to make the decision to see a doctor on his own. It's gonna have to happen that way most likely.

[unior]

I can't just leave literature lying around unfortunately because his side of the family suffers greatly from paranoid delusions.

My delusions finally seem under control due to the geodon I recently started.

Luckily no alcohol is involved.

[BlueInanna]

If he's in a rage and you are scared, you can call police for help.
I have had to do this with my son.

[Victoria'smom]

I try to stay away from my family when they are easily irritable or angry. With my husband and son I stop them and ask them "What's going on? Are you mad at me because you sound it? What can help?" I have to say it in a very calm and low voice. Their answer is usually screamed at me but after a while when they have to voice why they are angry they catch themselves.My husband does the same for me. If your scared call the cops.