[Bhappy]

Ok, So I am new here. I stumbled across this site in search of answers to help my Mother. Here is the situation: My Mother has always been a 'MOODY' person (so to speak). While growing up, she was either happy go lucky and fun, or crying and yelling, accusing people of things that didn't happen and so on. Not to get in too deep, she doesn't think rationally. She spend all the money and then some. In the past they declared bankruptcy. now they are near penniless with only my stepdads SS checks as they come in. My brothers and I have bought a small mobile home for them to live in on my brother's property, in hopes to help them get back on track. Needless to say, the problem is MUCH bigger. She has attempted suicide at least 4-5 times... the last one being almost successful. She is on and off depression meds, and is off and on many others for blood pressure, cholesterol, Polymyositis, gout....... and more. She has never been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, however I believe she fits the profile perfectly and it make sense. I just don't know how to make her see it. She is always yelling, screaming, crying and says such horrible things to people when she thinks they are 'against' her. She is driving everyone away. She is on the brink of losing her husband and pushing what assistance she has from my brother away. She is near impossible to talk to. Every SS check that comes in she spends it all at walmart on more food then they could possibly eat and other things she desires. When we try to tell her she can't do this she says we are all on my step dads side and she should have just killed herself when she could have and that she couldn't even do that right. She is very delusional and and won't listen to us, she puts words into our mouths and and fights us in everything we do. My question is, do you think she is bipolar, and if so how do you get someone like her to accept her situation and get help. What should we do?

[rfcsruth]

If you think she is a threat to herself or others try to convince her to go to the hospital....If not that try to get her to go to a psychiatrist for an assessment, but it would be good for you if you were to convince her to let you stay there with her so you can tell the doctor what is going on with her. Or just ask to talk to him if not.

Basically what I'm trying to say is this is bigger than what you can give her and she needs professional help. Her diagnosis could be a couple of things, but she does fit a lot of the criteria. Unfortunately only a professional can tell you that.

Good luck and take care.

[PsyChris]

Unfortunately it is difficult to convince someone they have Bipolar disorder or any other disorder. Usually it takes a Physician or something with assumed authority to tell them.

You say she has been on and off depression medication. Has she ever be screened by a Psychiatrist or Psychologist for Bipolar Disorder?

I would assume she has because certain anti-depression medications can exacerbate (make worse) the symptoms of Bipolar Mania or Depression.

My advice is to convince her to see a psychiatrist with the intention to get her on some better depression medication. The psychiatrist will be able to evaluate her and decide if she has Manic-Depressive illness or something else.

Best of luck!