[cmorales]

I have lived with BP for over half my life. It is only recently (2 years this upcoming January - 2016) that I have been in treatment and on medication for it. When I began treatment, I was very open about it with my parents and they were very supportive of my decision to seek treatment.

I have heard of BP being possibly somewhat genetic and I want to talk to my dad about getting a psych eval. I recognize much of the same symptoms in him that exist in myself: depression (even agitated depression), hypo/manic ups where he work on his projects, aggressive outbursts, paranoia, etc. At the "very least" (as, let's face it, "least" is a horrible word to use here, but you get what I'm saying) I would guess MDD, but that wouldn't explain his upswings.

When I was 20, my parents were going through a rough patch in their relationship and my dad called me in the middle of the night, suicidal. He'd managed to find some pills somewhere and planned to OD. (My dad has never touched drugs in his life, until that night.) After this rough patch smoothed itself out, my dad promised to go see a therapist but he never followed through. That was 10 years ago.

Now, I come to you asking how, exactly, you think I should go about asking him to go get help for, again, at the "very least" his depression. My dad is a Mexican American man and as I'm sure you're aware, we don't really discuss things like feelings/emotions/psychological troubles very openly. I myself stuffed my issues down so as to avoid talking about them and I really feel he is doing the same and this, as we know, is not healthy.

The last time he opened up to me was in January as he was laid up in the hospital with kidney failure. (He's okay now, physically that is.) But other than that, he really doesn't talk about personal things.

Now, I learned the hard way with a MI friend of mine in my early twenties that you cannot help people who don't want help. But it's my dad and I'm worried that if this persists untreated it will ultimately take a bigger toll on him and on my parents marriage as well. Money shouldn't be a problem for him. He has a good job and is very well off in life with good insurance.

Wow, this is pretty long. My apologies. I'm just looking for a bit of insight.

Have any of you seen symptoms in family members/friends and had to sit down and have the talk about seeking treatment with them? If so, how did you go about it?

I don't want to come off as too... aggressive (?) in asking him to go get help, but at the same time, I really don't want him to shirk it off this time. I was thinking that I would offer to go with him to the doctor (that is if I can convince him to go) for support. You know. I've been there. I know how nerve wracking it can be stepping into a pdoc's office for the first time. Maybe I can convince my mom to go too. Plus, I know sometimes docs like to interview family members to get a better all around look at the issues at hand.

Anyways, I better end this. John Milton is probably looking at this topic right now like, damn, dude, that's way too long a post. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

[Moogieotter]

Hey,

I am encouraged to see another PC bipolar person working up the courage to get full support for their treatment and recovery. It's hard from the outside to know the full dynamics of your relationship with your father, but I would meet face to face over food or something and just be straight. If you have worries explain "I am worried about x" - if you think it's ok you could start with "Remember when you and mom were in that rough patch when I was 20 and you leaned on me when you were suicidal? Well I think of that and though I am not suicidial, I am struggling w X - please help me?"

Also have specifics on what your expectations of his support will be - just someone to talk to - do you need money, insurance, a roof over your head - have details on what you expect and really need.

Best of luck and keep us posted. Thanks,

moogs