What is it like growing up with a parent who is bipolar?

Question

How is the family effected?

Answer 1

never boring

Answer 2

That's a tough question to answer, because it really depends on a number of factors. For example, if one is diagnosed as being bi-polar and follows the doctor's directions and takes medication regularly, the effect on the family might be minimal.

On the other hand, if the person is in denial or stops taking medication when he or she starts feeling better, it can be a real rollar-coaster ride. A friend of mine is bi-polar, and she recently had to be committed to a mental hospital, because she went off of her meds. After three months, she is still unable to work, can't be left alone, and has a long hard road ahead before she regains her stability.

All in all, I think that living with someone who is bi-polar is not much different from living with any other mental illness that is caused by a chemical imbalance. It depends upon the strength of the family support system and how responsible the one afflicted is in managing his or her condition.

Answer 3

I was already a legal adult (went into the Air Force) by the time my father had his bipolar breakdown, but I remember that the rest of us were embarrassed, frustrated, a bit angry and did not understand at all. Of course we had never heard of any mental illness and didn't know what we were dealing with. There was much grandiose talk to friends and strangers, manic spending of money that my parents didn't have. Brushes with the law. Few days in jail for bad checks. We were all mortified. At long last he was diagnosed and medicated, and then it was like night and day--he was back to the father I grew up loving and admiring. Once we all realized that he had an actual disease, we felt very guilty for not understanding before. He had self-medicated, fairly successfully, with alcohol when I was growing up, and we never suspected till the breakdown that he had such a problem.

Answer 4

It may be different now than it was back in the 60's/early 70's for my mom. The doctors kept changing her dx and throwing different medications at her so she ended up a mess!!! Now there are better treatments and doctors know what they are dealing with (for the most part). It's hard.
It is even harder with a parent who is a rapid cycler. I was left alone alot. While manic, there was partying and all that. When she was down and out, I had to take care of my younger brothers. It was so confusing. I hope the parent isn't self-medicating. My mother was an alcoholic and it made it so much worse.

Answer 5

think of the shower. sometimes you get cold water and sometimes you get hot water. you don't always know what to expect. sometimes the person might be manic wanting to talk all night long and the some other days the person might be so sad not wanting to wake up. children of people who suffer from mental health issues tend to also suffer from something similar. however, there is treatment and help.
a therapist in California

Answer 6

It probably depends on the severity of the disorder. Some people have mild episodes seperated by years of remission. Others have severe, psychotic episodes and/or rapid-cycling. Then there are people in the middle.

Answer 7

hullo
well it is hard you know,but there is no other choice,we do not find our parents in the market??do we!!!
your duty as a member in your family is to take care of them.

Dr.solo

Answer 8

See below site with info about how someone cured it.

Answer 9

horrible!! my mom has it and shes like night and day......i have it 2.so they say