bipolar disorder: can it be treated?

Question

I found out this weekend that my fiance might be bipolar. He is a compulsive liar and never knows why (he even lies when he doesnt have to). It all kind of blew up in my face. There were signs.. but I was unsure of what was happening. I am not the type of person to just give up on someone i love.. that is why i am asking if he can be treated.

Can he ever just be the man i love and not have this other side to him? Do you or anyone you know have this disorder? How do you deal with it? I want to have a family one day.. but now i am confused. He is a paramedic and treats people on a daily basis. Is he safe to be around? I am just trying to understand.

From what i know, his symptoms are:
compulsive lying
depression
mood swings (sometimes he'll just get very distant or upset)

any help would be deeply appreciated. thankyou

Answer 1

Hi there. The answer to your question is yes. The man that you love is in there and can be there if he will continue with treatment and take his medication. The difference between someone who has bi-polar disease, when they do and when they do not take their medication is like day and night. It is imperative that your fiance get good medical care and really stick with it. Having lived with a family member that has this disease I know that it is very important that he find a doctor that he likes and that he can relate to. If he is not comfortable with the doctor or if he does not like him, he won't go. So the first step is for him to find a doctor that he likes and can work with. The second thing he needs to do is make a commitment to you and to the life that the two of you want to have together, to keep taking his medication and to do whatever else is necessary for him to control this disease. It will take a real commitment from him. He can not stop going for his appointments just because he is feeling better at the time. Neither can he stop taking his medication just because he feels better. He needs to know that he is feeling better *because* of the medication and that he still needs it.
Life for a person with bipolar disorder who is unmedicated and not being treated is awful. He will drive away everyone that loves him and make it impossible to be around him. I would say that it will eventually become impossible for him to keep his job. He needs to make a decision to treat his disease and to get better. Tell him he is like a diabetic who needs their insulin! You don't quit taking your shots just because you have had a good day!
Good luck honey, you have a tough way ahead of you. Of course there are those that sufffer more severely than others, there is some difference in the degree of severity. But, it is still going to be hard. He needs his loved ones. Even when he withdraws and seems to not be the man you know and love, he needs you, perhaps more so than when he is fine. If you make the decision to stand beside him I want you to know that there are doctors and lawyers and all kinds of people who have this awful disease and manage to function at a very high level of excellence. People with this disorder are very often intelligent, charming people.
If you end up marrying this man and having children with him I am sure that you will want to know what the ramifications are as far as any genetic implications. This is something I am not sure of. I do know that the medications have to be adjusted carefully when a woman who is bipolar is pregnant but I am not sure if there are any restrictions on a man. I would not imagine that the medication would in any way interact with his ability to be a father. I do know that there is a hereditary element to this disease and that might be something that you would want to consult a genetic counselor about. I am not sure just how much of a risk there would be.
Take care dear and I wish you all the luck in the world. I do want to mention that there is a great deal of excellent information available on the Internet. Do some research and read what you can. There are wonderful books that have been written specifically for the loved ones of those with bipolar disease. That might be something that you would want to check into also.
Love and Blessings,
Lady Trinity~

Answer 2

I am bipolar diagnosed in 1998 am 35 years old. I take Lithium Carbonate and have been pretty good since then. I do have "mini manics" I call them, where I am extremely hyper and then instead of crashing into depression I come back down to my decent level. I do believe that it I will be on this for the rest of my life. I don't believe that there is a cure, but then again there are some that will disagree with me. Medication, the right therapist and some hard work will take this mental illness to be successful. A lot of my friends with Bipolar are on a lot of meds or have a lot of trouble with finding the right medication. I say get him to a great medications doctor, don't settle for just one. You are in control and you have the right to hire and fire whom you want. Also, there isn't an over night fix to this. It takes time... And you supporting him will be the hardest thing you will ever do. Patience. Good Luck

Answer 3

Both my Mom and Brother have been diagnosed as bipolar so I have lots of experience dealing with the illness. First, let me say that yes it can be treated very successfully with the proper medications. When my Mom and Brother take their meds on a daily basis, they are very normal and stable. If they don't take them they are way up and happy, energetic, etc. then they will be way way down and depressed or angry the next minute. All of the symptoms you described are part of bipolar disorder. Growing up with a bipolar Mom was not easy though. I never knew which version of my Mom would meet me at the door. It took me a long time to see the bad side of her as her illness and not really her. If your boyfriend gets help and finds the right combination of meds that work for him, he can have a good, normal life and the symptoms will cease. I wish you lots of luck. Encourage him to seek help.

Answer 4

There are lots of treatments for bipolarity, mostly medications. If he is properly medicated, you should see little to no symptoms, but occasionally he may have episodes. My grandma is biopolar to the max and we have been struggling with medications and electroshock therapies (extreme cases only, don't worry!) for a while.
He may or may not be a safe paramedic, depending on how serious his condition is. My grandma, when on manic episodes, makes abrupt decisions and according to my mother "acts almost drunk." She once went out and bought a new car while on a manic episode!
Basically, I think you need to treat the case on its own and not base it off of what happens to other people, because he is a different person and a different case.
Try to help him keep his same life as best as he can!
Good luck.

Answer 5

Absolutely it can be treated - he needs to see a psychiatrist and get on a medication that will help control the mood swings. Being in therapy is also very helpful in dealing with the problems

Answer 6

Bi-polar can me MANAGED with medications. It will be up to your fiancee to take his medicines as describe and do what the doctor tells him. If he does it correctly it will be much better. He will still have outbreaks where the disorder is more noticeable, but your dr. will be watching for this and adjust the meds as needed. I will warn you it is difficult to live with someone who has it. Go with him to the dr. and get the facts. Attend counseling it will help you and your fiancee understand things better. Good luck.

Answer 7

Yes. Mood stabilizers such as depakote, lamictal, or lithum are the three most commonly used for bipolar. Antidepressants for the depressive phase. Get him to a DR ASAP. It takes a while to get mood stabilized, u have to take the meds as ordered, or it won't work as it should.

Answer 8

With the right meds and therapy and loads of support from you his moods can be coped with. It takes a lot of work and love.

Answer 9

There is this girl in my classes who has Bipolar i think. (shes crazy) i think that it can be treated with medication.

Answer 10

You need to talk to a licensed psychologist to answer all your questions, but here are the basics, as given by the National Institute Of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/nimhhome/index.cfm

What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp1

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.


Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can't concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.


Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Restlessness or irritability
* Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

How Is Bipolar Disorder Treated?
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp6

A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is optimal for managing the disorder over time.

Medications known as "mood stabilizers" usually are prescribed to help control bipolar disorder. Several different types of mood stabilizers are available. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilizers for extended periods of time (years). Other medications are added when necessary, typically for shorter periods, to treat episodes of mania or depression that break through despite the mood stabilizer.

* Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mania, is often very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.
* Anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate (Depakote®) or carbamazepine (Tegretol®), also can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Valproate was FDA-approved in 1995 for treatment of mania.
* Newer anticonvulsant medications, including lamotrigine (Lamictal®), gabapentin (Neurontin®), and topiramate (Topamax®), are being studied to determine how well they work in stabilizing mood cycles.
* Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each other, for maximum effect.
* Atypical antipsychotic medications, including clozapine (Clozaril®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), risperidone (Risperdal®), quetiapine (Seroquel®), and ziprasidone (Geodon®), are being studied as possible treatments for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests clozapine may be helpful as a mood stabilizer for people who do not respond to lithium or anticonvulsants.16 Other research has supported the efficacy of olanzapine for acute mania, an indication that has recently received FDA approval.17 Olanzapine may also help relieve psychotic depression.18
* If insomnia is a problem, a high-potency benzodiazepine medication such as clonazepam (Klonopin®) or lorazepam (Ativan®) may be helpful to promote better sleep. However, since these medications may be habit-forming, they are best prescribed on a short-term basis. Other types of sedative medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien®), are sometimes used instead.
* Changes to the treatment plan may be needed at various times during the course of bipolar disorder to manage the illness most effectively. A psychiatrist should guide any changes in type or dose of medication.
* Be sure to tell the psychiatrist about all other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or natural supplements you may be taking. This is important because certain medications and supplements taken together may cause adverse reactions.
* To reduce the chance of relapse or of developing a new episode, it is important to stick to the treatment plan. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about the medications.