Hormonal

I went to my mom's house yesterday to pick up something and she asked me how I was doing with my bp. I told her okay, that we're still working on figuring out my meds and such. She asked what I was taking, and before I could even finish she went on a tirade about how many different meds I'm on.

Now, on the one hand, I can understand her concern. For someone who isn't going through it, being on three or four or more meds can seem overwhelming, especially for only one disorder. I tried to tell her they all were different and that each one is for something slightly different.

However, the problem came when she started talking about how irresponsible my pdoc is, and that I probably just have a hormonal issue. That I should go to a regular doctor and see about meds to control my hormones and that it will probably make my problems go away.

Then I was telling her about how I can't sit still and can't focus, so she started blaming that on all the meds I'm taking, and I couldn't even get a word in edgewise to tell her that it's not a symptom of my meds, that it's a symptom of my disorder. I mean, I know some of my meds are probably helping to make me as manic as I am, but I was manic before I ever started them.

Then she said "you're looking at me like I don't know what the f*** I'm talking about". I really wanted to tell her that she really has no clue, but I guess I just wasn't raised that way.

I just don't know how to get her to see that the meds are to help my disorder and aren't causing it. Not to mention how to get her out of the "it's only your hormones" mindset. It's frustrating because I want to share my dx with her, and share my progress as well as my setbacks, but I feel like I'm being berated for trying to get help and get myself straitened out.

Could you maybe print her out some literature on bipolar or buy her a book for loved ones living or dealing with a bp family member. Do you think she would read this if she knew how important it is to you. I know she would understand so much more and probably see things in there that you did in childhood that she didnt realize was related. I ordered my husband a book off of ebay and he sat down and read the whole book front to back in one day. That meant the world to me because he didnt understand me and I didnt think he wanted to but he was just as curious to learn about bp as I was for him to learn. He just said that book explained me to a T throughout the years. Our loved ones tend to blame themselves for our illness. Especially parents, but my husband even blamed himself. He felt releif to know that things I did were the disease and had nothing to do with him. I hope she will read up on bp for you because it will make things so much easier for both of you.

I agree with moremi on this one. Sometimes education from outside is better. I know my dad won't listen to me about anything, but if a doctor or "authority" type person says the exact same thing, Oh! then it's the truth! (But he never says I was right, either... I'm only 7 or 8 years old in his mind, I swear...)

It's hard for people to understand bipolar. Most will never even believe it's an illness and just some sort of character flaw... that's the stigma...