I think my mother is bi-polar. Now what?

Question

Keep in mind I am a responsible, married, fully-adjusted adult that not only served in Iraq and Germany, but now own my own home. That is to say, I am not a child or an angry teenager. This is a serious question, not someone 'messing around'.

I believe that my mother is bi-polar, and I want her to get help. The problem is that she is a religious zealot, and doesn't believe in mental illness', etc. She thinks that they are 'spirits', so she refuses to acknowledge that she has a problem.

I've studied up on manic depressives, and bi-polars, and I do really think she is. It's gotten worse now, and it's about to ruin her marriage to my stepfather. And yet the problem is not her. It's always someone else.

I want to get her helped, but I do not know how. Does anyone have any ideas? Keep in mind she doesn't listen to reason, and she doesn't believe in 'mental problems'.

Answer 1

She is definitely psychotic. Most of the really crazy people that I have dealt with have a religious psychosis of some type. The problem is that they are similar to the accepted norm. You may have to get her to a doctor for something else first and a psychiatric evaluation can be performed after that. Generally when a bipolar or a schizophrenic begins behaving badly at an older age their prognosis is much worse. The problem is that you can't get her any help without having her declared insane and a danger to herself and/or others.
Key symptoms of bipolar behavior are severe mood swings, however if manic or hypomanic, you may only see craziness and one mood. These people generally like the mania and try to self medicate in order to keep 'control' of themselves
Key symptoms of schizophrenia are auditory hallucinations and getting an answer when talking to god.
Both diseases are associated with pressured speech and grandiose ideas. Pressured speech is caused because their mind is racing so fast that their speech can not keep up with their rate of thought, so to a listener their speech seems dissociated and without logic.
Both disorders are associated with flights of ideas, although schizophenics may be worse with this characteristic and more dissociated. They also seem to get more paranoid.
Both disorders are major depressive illnesses and can be devastating to the patient and their family.
There are some nutritional deficiencies that have been associated with mental status changes and there are other diseases as well including heavy metal poisoning with such substances such as arsenic and lead.
In my training, by far and away the majority of psychotic patients that I saw were what I would call religious psychosis although there is no DSM -IV diagnosis for it. I believe that it mostly occurs after a loss and a lack of adequate acceptance of that loss that leads people onto this destructive road. This is frequently made worse by being around people who take religious doctrines literally instead of figuratively and their confused minds are unable to resolve the internal inconsistencies within their doctrines, so they snap and develop a religious psychotic state
I believe that your only recourse with her will be to either record all of her insane speech and have her declared unable to care for herself, or get her to a doctor who can help her. I suspect that at this time unless she is obviously not paying her bills and not bathing or eating then there is not much you can do but get prepared for when she becomes unable to care for herself

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

My ex-wife was bi-polar
so was her mother
and her grandmother. Good Luck




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Answer 3

Before you settle on bi polar, take a look at pyroluria it is allergies to foods and can cause bi polar symptoms good luck

Answer 4

Well get help.See a Dr as well as yourself it runs in the family.