bipolar can someone tell me what to expect i know very little about it?

Question

i just been married to my wife a little over 2 months and she is bipolar she can be very moody sometimes.but i just wanted to find out as much as i can about this were i can support her .and help with this. she is on medacation for this.she is the love of my life.so please what ever you can tell me please do .thanks

Answer 1

Not everyone has the same bipolar disorder. There are degrees to which the disorder manifests itself.

"Bipolar I disorder is characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (symptoms of both a mania and a depression occurring nearly every day for at least 1 week) and one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder is the most severe form of the illness marked by extreme manic episodes.

Bipolar II disorder is characterized by one or more depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe, but must be clearly different from a person’s non-depressed mood. For some, hypomanic episodes are not severe enough to cause notable problems in social activities or work. However, for others, they can be troublesome.

Bipolar II disorder may be misdiagnosed as depression if you and your doctor don’t notice the signs of hypomania. In a recent DBSA survey, nearly seven out of ten people with bipolar disorder had been misdiagnosed at least once. Sixty percent of those people had been diagnosed with depression.

...

Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuating moods involving periods of hypomania and depression. The periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms are shorter, less severe, and do not occur with regularity as experienced with bipolar II or I. However, these mood swings can impair social interactions and work. Many, but not all, people with cyclothymia develop a more severe form of bipolar illness.

There is also a form of the illness called bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) that does not fit in to one of the above definitions."

http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/bipolar.html#types

The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers a free, 12-week education program for family members of people with a serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder.
http://www.nami.org/family

Bipolar Disorder-Helping a Loved One
"Keep track of symptoms. In many cases, you may notice emotional changes in your loved one before he or she does. So think about keeping records. Catching changes in mood early -- and getting treatment for them -- can make a big difference. However, you walk a fine line. If you're too intrusive, your loved one might feel like you're spying."--I'm not so sure about this. You might want to talk to your loved one about this idea first. What about if you agreed on a certain phrase rather than notetaking (like she's some sort of lab experiment)? It could be as simple as, "I've noticed something different in you lately." or "How have you been feeling? You seem out of sorts." If you use the same phrase consistently, she may understand that you're using it with love. The phrase could clue her to make an appointment with her psychiatrist.
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/102/106806.htm

This may seem like a small thing, but you describe your wife by saying, "she is bipolar." If she had cancer, would you describe her in such a way? How about saying, "My wife has bipolar disorder." That way you're acknowledging that her disorder is something she has, not something she is.

If you're considering children ...
http://www.emorywomensprogram.org/art/Bipolar-disorder-pregnancy

reading for before and after a baby comes ...
Postpartum Support International
http://www.postpartum.net/

consider hiring a postpartum doula to help after baby arrives ...
http://www.dona.org/mothers/faqs_postpartum.php

Best of luck to you and your wife. Take care.

Answer 2

Basically bipolar disorder is when there is an chemical imbalance in the brain which leads to various mood shifts. At times the person can be depressed or highly exciteable. You probably know all this information.

In terms of helping her you should try to be as supportive as possible which is going to be hard at times. For example she might be depressed sometimes and be pushing you away. But you have to realize that it could be because of her illness. At the same time you have to help monitor her very high momements, where she seems somewhat illogical or different then her norm.

For example she can maybe get angry at you and you don't understand why that could very well be part of the disease, as sometime you become very aggitated.

Because at these times she might be going through a manic episode. Hopefully she has a medical professional that is managing her disease such that you can call when you think this is happening.

Unfortunately with Bipolar disorder when a person is at these very high points they see other's attempts at helping them as just bringing down their high or some times people become very paranoid and dellusional.

Overall all in my opinion it is a balancing act between being supportive that she might be up or down at times. But at the same time try to get her going when she is down or conversely catch her before she gets too high.

Hopefully this helps you. You should research on this topic though as much as possible from online or books which will tell you more about the illness. This is just some advice from personal experience and my own research on the topic.

Answer 3

Finding out about her condition is an important step. There is a lot of studies out there. Try www.ask.com or www.google.com
Bi-Polar means two opposites. There can be varying degrees of severity to the swings. She may be manic for a length of time and then get really depressed. As the closest person in her life you can help identify the swings and try to adjust to them. The medication can be great. Under the right treatment she can have her swings become less drastic and more livable. Support her by understanding, but at the same time do what you have to for you own sanity. Maybe get a hobby or some personal space in your house where you can read. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Read as much as you can on the matter. Have a lot of patience and understanding. Being supportive is very important and knowing she can depend on you will a have a more positive affect. Understand that their moods are very up and down and their stress of dealing with it is the same. It is a life long battle and being by her side even if your frustrated can mean a lot. My 8 year old son is Bipolar and support for them and them knowing that they can depend on you in hard times will reflect in a positive way. Goodluck and much support. The information is out there, everywhere

Answer 5

Expect the highest highs and the lowest lows. At times she will be full of energy and at others she will be so depressed she won't want to get out of bed.

Make sure she sees her counselors and psychiatrist when she is supposed to and that she takes all of her medications as they are prescribed. If the medications she is on now are working then you should be alright. If they stop working or you start seeing a change in her behavior then call her doctors right away.

Answer 6

Research all you can. Many people have been manic depressive, bi polar. Mannnnnny. Do not judge her cycles, and truly, be loyal to your wife. It is a very debilitating illness, but with the proper knowledge and awareness, it is surely manageable. There are many fascinating writers on the subject. One Kay Redfield and Thomas Tryon, Patty Duke, Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway.......They all speak of it. Encourage her to get to KNOW herself, And Love herself. And learn from life's purpose.....It's all a very mysterious lesson...........

Answer 7

i myself as being bipolar is like living with a seesaw the moods are up and down constantly you can go from being very manic to very depressed in just a matter of hours she may scream at you one minute and be in tears the next just imagine her having pms 1000 times and being bipolar is similar to that

Answer 8

well im 14 and i no things bout this but they do get very moody like a split-personality thing.but they will be happy at 1 point and then be mad or sad at another point.so just help her wit her problem make sure she take her medicine every single day and if she run low make sure u get a refill before she is all out of it.

Answer 9

Make sure she has a knowledgeable physician and sees him on a regular basis. The most important thing is not to stop taking meds when she starts feeling good. Stay on them, that's what they're for.

Answer 10

my sister in law has bipolar. when she's in a bad bad bad mood, it's best to leave her alone. dont ask questions like "what's wrong?", "why are you acting like that?" it will make things worse. just be patient with her and you will get used to it. it took me a while to get used to my sister in law's bad mood, different behavior and etc.