My parents

I really wish I knew the best way to explain this to my parents. My mom and I talked about my depressive mood before she left on a 1 month jaunt to Europe. She also knows I've been seeing a therapist but doesn't seem to grasp that I've also been seeing a psychiatrist. How the hell do I explain to her that my psychiatrist, after some psychological testing about a month and a half ago, has diagnosed me as BP II w/ moderate to severe depression. She always says that she would blame herself if I was ever given such a diagnosis because there is a history of mental illness on her side of the family (grandfather who is deceased and an aunt who is BP/manic). I just don't know what to do. Also, I'm hoping my psychiatrist will help me to better understand this diagnosis at my next appointment with him. I'm pretty shy and quiet so it's hard for me to express myself which I know is not good in situations like this.

Sorry for the long post 😢

Are you worried that your parents will not be supportive? Or, that they will not contribute to your care? or they won't believe you, or that your mom will blame herself and that will make you feel bad? or they will say you are just over reacting?

Can you bring your parents along with you to the next psychiatric appointment so that you are all on the same page? It may be easier if they heard it directly from the doctor.

Would you feel up to bringing your mother to a psychiatrist appointment?

I don't have any family around. My parents live in another state. I do have a brother moving here for a job, but I don't want to get him involved.

Not so much worried about them not being supportive. I've been blessed with awesome parents who've supported throughout my entire life, no matter what. I do feel as though my mom will try to blame herself and that does make me feel bad, because it is not her fault. My mom has already tried to convince me that it's me going through 'the change '. I'm only 42 so for that to be the case I'd be very surprised.

I would but she lives out of state.

The psych I saw recommended "The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide". I'm only part way through but it gives a good description of how genetics contribute as well as environmental factors. It goes through some of the chemistry and answers some pretty common questions in language that makes sense. It's helping me get my head around the Dx. It's about 20$ on Amazon or your library might have it.

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Thanks for the info.

I thought about what you said when I was at a support group meeting yesterday. One of the guys in the group made the exact same suggestion as you did, but I never had the chance to respond.

PsychEducation | Treating the Mood Spectrum is very helpful for explaiing bipolar., especially BPII. He has written a book that I think is out of print but everything in the book is on the webpage. (The webpage probably has more now).

When I was diagnosed 14 years ago it was this site that helped me understand what I was going through, taught me about meds and how they were affecting me and helped me learn how to cope as I adjusted (I'm BPI so it wasn't a perfect fit but it was still extremely helpful).

Thanks for sharing the link, I will definitely take a look at it