[kit88]

My boyfriend and soon to be fiance suffers from depression and psychotic episodes. He regularly takes his meds and actively participates in therapy. He has started a new drug regimen that will wean him off of his Prozac and double the dose of Lithium he is currently taking to help keep him stable all day. It has been very difficult. I can tell that at the end of the day he is down and has no energy. He is irritable and sometimes can't tell how he feels, whether he is manic or depressed. We have been arguing a lot lately and it feels like I can't do anything to satisfy him. I feel guilty when I am feeling good and he isn't. It has started to bring me down too. How do other people combat this?

[arcangel]

Hey there Sorry that you're having a tough time with your boyfriend soon to be fiance. If you post this question in relationships you have a much better chance of getting some helpful feedback. Good luck and take care.

[mokie]

What has helped my relationship grow back towards the high school sweethearts that we were is the following. Of course I know everyone is different especially at what point of acceptance and mood we can be in. If you or him don't fully understand what he is going through or he feels you don't get it, start to research all you can. I have learned a lot from doing this. I bought a book called Loving someone with bipolar by Juile Fast. I did not realize my husband has a short attention span when it comes to reading but now I do so I read the whole book in one day. It shows both sides of the relationship. This is so helpfull cause I show him hey this is it can you understand more now and I was surprised he did. It is also an exercise book that you can do together but it was a little overwheming so I just took smaller steps from each chapter to get our feet wet. In just a week we noticed the differnce it made. We both have learned if depressed what I say or do and now we both can try to focus on the main issue its BP again let's refocus and notadd to our arguement. Its not a quick fix but its a step in the right direction to try to understand not to let it go out of control. One more step I took wich I did before I read book is I set a time right before bed to unwind and speak calmly letting each other complete their thought of any right or wrong things that happened during the day and come to an agreement that we are over that day and tomorrow is a new day. Let go of the past, I know its hard when depressed but if you don't move on you have more guilt to care to the next day. I hope this helps but also realize we all use differnt tools. Hang in there for one another. If you moved from bf to fiance you all most really love each other and need to be a team especially in marriage.