My wife has been diagnosed with "Bipolar disorder". What should I know? What should I be worried about?

Question

I have a child who she needs to watch when they're not in school. Sometimes my wife seems so angry and depressed. She says she has never felt love. She gets very angry with her sister. Sometimes me? for the most shes okay with our child, but possibly impatient, and a little bossy, but probably no more than a lot of parents.

Answer 1

http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/bipolar.html is a great website that will help answer some of your questions. This is a tough disorder to have especially since bi-polar patients tend to take their meds and start to feel better and then stop and crash. The families of bi-polar people also need a great deal of support. I would suggest that if you can, you get someone to help your wife by watching your child if she's having a 'bad' period. This disorder can and does affect the children if there isn't another vigilant parent making sure the child understands and is loved and taken care of. You're taking a very important step in seeking information and I encourage you to get support for your wife and yourself. Good luck and God bless you and your family.

Answer 2

My mom had it my whole life growing up. It wasn't until I was a preteen for her to be diagnosed. I did a lot of studies on the Internet my senior year in high school to learn more about it. Most of the symptoms, and things to do to prevent them can be found on-line. However you should definitely talk to her doctor. If it is as bad as it seems, you should have her see a psychologist, and a psychiatrist. One prescribes the meds, and one helps her deal with it all. It takes a lot of support from her family too! So hang in there, I'm sure she needs you more than she may portray. There's many different things I went through to deal with it all, but now I realize that nothing I could do would make it go away. You just have to find your own way to cope with it. I hope I was of some help. Good luck, and God bless.

Answer 3

Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings-depressed, sometimes severly, for weeks or months followed by periods of mania, which are characterized by not needing to sleep, talking fast, lots of physical activity (including sex), and irritability among other things. Manic periods are usually shorter then depressive ones. Bipolar disorder can not be cured but it can be successfully treated with medication (usually more then one in combination). Your wife needs to see a good psychiatrist, preferably one with experience in treating mood disorders. It may take some time (were talking months) to get the medication combination correct so that her moods will stabilize. You need to make sure she takes her medication. Typically, the meds used can have unpleasant side effects and people often resist taking them. Also, mania feels good. Many bipolar people like being manic and so will not take medication during that phase. However, the manic phase can be the most dangerous because of the total lack of impulse control. Your wife needs to be open with you about how she is feeling. You need to be patient, understanding, and nonjudgmental and you should have a relationship with her psychiatrist so you can call and inform him/her of behaviors that concern you. There are a lot of sites on the net about bipolar disorder if you google it. Hang in there, its not as bad or scary as you think.

Answer 4

I have a bipolar husband. I have four very strong suggestions: 1) educate yourself about the disorder and how it affects you and the children, 2) made taking her medication a condition of staying married 3) keep control of the checkbook until her moods are noticably stabilized 4) don't give up hope that medication will make her back into the wife you love.

Medication doesn't cure bipolar, but it makes the family's life livable.

Good luck to you.

Answer 5

If your wife is not working, she needs to be. She at least needs to get out of the house and spend some quality time with others. She shouldn't be made to think that all the house duties are for her. Raising a child and taking care of the house should be 50/50. Don't let her be put on too much / if any medication before trying other ways to help her. Medication can cause lots of problems. Talking to someone about her problem could be very helpful. You should spend more time taking her out,at least once a week. Men go to work and get out with others and never think that women need quality time with other adults also.

Answer 6

I am bipolar and I can speak with experience that she may need a medication called, "Depakote" it is a mood stabilizer. It will not "cure" bipolar, but it brings the highes and lowes closer together. The only thing you can do is go with the flow, I know that sounds bad, but she will recognize when her moods change and normally can give you a warning that she is starting to get happy or mad. If she gets mad, leave her alone! If she gets happy, take it with pride but be careful, it can change quickly with just a touch. When it comes to children,,,I have four and I normally tell my kids that mommy has lost her patients and I need a time out...they know that mommy has hit her limit. They are so great when that time happens and when it is gone, I reward my children greatly...games, movies, kids night only, treats anything. When it comes to my man, well he normally goes to another room or when I am having a down moment, he makes me hot cocoa, tuck's me in with a blanket on the couch, fixes dinner...but I reward him too when I am better by getting him a favorite snack he likes, doing something special...First think you need is to get the right medication (NO ANTI-DEPRESSENTS) they will make it worse. Then once you have found the right med, make her stick with it. It is easy once we have been on it for a while to think we don't need it anymore...Wrong! Just have lots and lots of patients first, then work together, make a chart of activities you can do together to take her mind off of stress for a while (her mind is running 500 mph). Good luck and I hope I helped.

Answer 7

My older brother has it. For the most part, he's fine. And lots of famous people have had it, from Abraham Lincoln to Hans Christian Andersen. Make sure she always takes her medications that she is prescribed, and that she doesn't drink a lot of alcohol, that's what messed my brother up a bit. Prescribed drugs and alcohol don't mix. Also, some medication can make you gain a little weight. But what I suggest is looking it up online, on Wikipedia and clicking on the links provided, going to the bookstore and so on. Relationships with people who are bipolar are kind of interesting, I've had a few, but it's really something you should look up and experience the facts about.

Answer 8

Living With Someone Who Has a Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurring periods of increased or decreased activity and moods that are dominated by depression, elation, or irritability. Symptoms that may seem overwhelming typically subside within weeks or months. Episodes may or may not reoccur over time. (see source for continuation).

For "Bipolar Disorder for Family and Friends" :http://www.electroboy.com/bipolar-family-and-friends.shtml

Answer 9

She should be seeing a doctor who will prescribe her medication. Make sure she takes it everyday, sometimes it takes a few weeks for the medication to work and not all medications will work! I was diagnosed 4 years ago and my Dr. still hasn't got medication right. Try to be understanding and patient with her, it's not fun for her either, Hang in there, and make SURE she takes her medication, even when she thinks she doesn't need it anymore!

Answer 10

If she has been diagnosed then her dr should be able to prescribe something for her as well as getting her into an intense therapy schedule. It will help both of you and most importantly she'll be a much happier person with herself. Please do this asap as there is a child involved. Good Luck!