[Ocean Swimmer]

My husband does not have bipolar or depression.

I do! Ha ha. While only on opioids for many years I was pretty much hypo all of the time. Every few years I'd crash out, but not like now and never ip.

I think menopause made the bp worse too.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Oh. My brother used to live with us and he's bp too. Controls with street drugs.

[Miss Laura]

I live alone so just me but when I lived with my family it was still only me as I'm the only one in the family with a mental health condition

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[Icare dixit]

I grew up being bombarded with BP self-transcendence and transference, low self-directedness, high expressed emotion, agitation, dismissal and disapproval.

Now I live alone. Ocassionally go out to bombard people with the same.

[violetgreen]

Just me. So, sometimes I'm the center of attention.

[raspberrytorte]

Just me. But my husband does have anxiety/panic issues.

I still live with my parents because I just graduated from grad school and can't afford a place of my own.

I'm the only one with BP... which makes me the odd duck. No one else has mental health issues

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I still live with my parents because I just graduated from grad school and can't afford a place of my own.

I'm the only one with BP... which makes me the odd duck. No one else has mental health issues

Having parents or siblings with BP (or just BPD) can make life easier, because at least there is someone who (maybe partly in case of just BPD) understands, but also a lot harder! It's like a double-edged sword in my experience. I don't know which side cuts deeper.

In some way, BP might not be just propagated by genes or epigenetic means, but also by family dynamics. However, parents or siblings with untreated mild BP symptoms may have a more detrimental effect than those are being treated for BP. A parent may also be in denial and deny the possibility that his or her children could be affected. The BP characteristic of projecting one's own difficulties and wishes onto others might counterbalance that to the extent that a child may receive the necessary care sooner, in untreated (and treated) parents.

Family dynamics may be less of a problem, in this way, with schizophrenia, though I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Results of family history/incidence studies might point in that direction. But that is largely guessing.

That BP traits are "transactional" in parenting is pretty likely.

Anyways, you are not alone. Try to explain your behaviour as openly as possible. If you get agitated in trying, realise that you probably haven't found the right approach or words. Of course, maybe your parents are very understanding and all. In that case, please don't mind my completely superfluous advice.

[1278]

I live with my parents and brother and I'm the only one who is bipolar.

[Roaming_bird]

It's just me. My mom and three sisters all have depression. I'm the odd one out with bp. But I haven't told them. They think I'm "just" depressed.

[Victoria'smom]

My husband And I both have bipolar. My son has issues that we do not know if its bipolar yet. My mom and my sisters All have undiagnosed bipolar. My dad has sad. So my behavior seems normal to them.So it's hard for them to understand why I am taking medicine.

[jacky8807]

Let's just say I'm the only one diagnosed. ....wait...unless batshit is a diagnosis??? Oh then my whole family!

[jacky8807]

Lol that's in my house. In my family there are many bp and otherwise

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

My husband does not have bipolar or depression.


I do! Ha ha. While only on opioids for many years I was pretty much hypo all of the time. Every few years I'd crash out, but not like now and never ip.


I think menopause made the bp worse too.

I've been the only one with BP in my house and growing up. I don't wish BP on others but I often wish they had for one day so they can see how serious and hellish it really is instead of not understanding and saying I need to "snap out of it!" Ahhh is that annoying!

I get your opiate addiction ((big hugs to that)). I've been to hell and back again with substance abuse/addiction. This forum is actually the only place where I've been open about it! So I thank you all for the past support and understanding! I'm very grateful for it.

And yes hormonal changes like menopause can reek havoc on your mentality. I haven't been through it yet but I've seen it drive sane people up a wall! Are you taking anything for the symptoms? I've seen commercials for supplements ect. I actually haven't had my period for a year now from either my psych meds or from stopping the pill. I was so worried I went to my dr and said "please don't tell me I'm going through early menopause!" But blood work came back fine, thank god.

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[hopeless2015]

Just me, I sometimes think my husband needs to be medicated as well...no joke either

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[ComfortablyNumb5]

I want to add that BP may of not been in my house growing up but my dad, his gf that I grew up with, my brother and I all had substance abuse problems. So I'd say some if not all of them have some sort of MI. But they'll turn blue in the face before they ever admit it!

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[Ocean Swimmer]

Yeah. While growing up. Almost everyone was alcoholic and some kind of mental.
I was the sane one. And the work horse.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I'm glad sometimes I didn't have children. I don't know much about it, but several in my support group have children with Asbergers.

[Moogieotter]

Hello,

I have Bipolar. There's some family history - my father is bipolar, and my mother has had moderate to severe depression and anxiety for decades. How does this impact your family life? Is your husband supportive?

I am very lucky that my wife is ultra supportive - is well versed on my issues. She has some health challenges of her own and we balance each other out with support.

What is it like for you?

moogs

[SingDanceRunLife]

I am. I have extended family members with bipolar, but I'm not biologically related to any of them, and I don't even know 2 of them (one I've never even met). But right now I live alone anyway, so it really is just me. When I was living with a roommate last year, both of us had bipolar.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I mostly live alone most of the time.
My husband comes around every couple of months for 2 weeks.

He can put a guilt trip on easily. So he does. I can't feel better when he's here.

[RomanJames2014]

I do. No one else in my family except a second cousin on my dad's side.

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[BipolaRNurse]

I live with my son, his husband, and husbands mother. She is an unmediated bipolar, which makes things interesting when one or the other of us is in an episode. Luckily we have thus far not cycled together. Or worse, been at opposite poles at the same time.

[tipper1492]

Me, male, age 65, married. Now after finding medications that work, marriage is much more stable. Mind much more stable too. Once diagnosed, placed on the meds, stopped all self medications such as alcohol, and tobacco. So happy to be free of the ****.

[BlackSheep79]

I know my Mom's twin brother very little, but from the childhood stories my Mom told me I believe he is the only one with undiagnosed bipolar. My family hasn't talked to him since 2000. I have a very small family. My only sibling, my sister has depression.