Does my partner have bipolar disorder?

Question

Over the past few years we thought he was an alcoholic he has been on anti-depressants & also taking anti abuse for the drinking for the last six months, but the mood swings are threre. When he goes into this mood he is all over the place & sometimes can be quite abusive but also when hes talking/ranting & raving he makes no sense whats so eva.
I am so worried as we have a 4 year old son & somtimes it our son thats the grown up & not his father.
Please help

I have been to his gp with him & we are on the waiting list to see a counceller, this is about 4 councellers in the past 8 months

Answer 1

He is almost certainly bipolar if the mood swings increased after he was put on an anti-depressant. An anti-depressant prescribed alone will almost always trigger mania in a bipolar person.

Answer 2

You might want to get your husband's thyroid checked out. My husband was a big drinker, always depressed, ranting, confused and didn't make any sense when he was ranting. He would come home from work and just start yelling at me for no reason (the mood swings he was going through were just unbearable). He ended up going to the doctor because he was sick with a cold and the doctor said that he looks to have a goiter. He got his blood work done and turned out he has a slow thryroid (causing the mood swings) Long story short- He is on Meds, has been for 4 years and we have not had a problem since.
Sometimes people that actually have a thyroid problem are misdiagnosed as bi-polar.
I wish you good luck, I know how difficult this can be.

Answer 3

Antidepressants!!! I couldn't function unless I was drinking while taking Prozac. I know, sounds a bit strange especially considering I didn't drink too often before starting Prozac. If he's still taking the antidepressants, tell him to see a doctor and if the doc doesn't mind, get him off the damn things!! They are awful. I rarely made sense when I was ranting raving and carrying on while on them too.

As for a proper diagnose of whether or not it's bipolar disorder, the meds, the drinking or something else, you need to see a qualified and experienced doctor. Not just that though, once you get a diagnoses, you need a second opinion.

Answer 4

i can answer this question from his side of things. but i have a very opened mind. i have both of these problems. i am still an alcoholic and will always have to be labled as such i also have depression and other mental problems due to iraq and such. for one he should not be mixing alcohol with anti depressants and never with antibuse. that could kill him. maybe try Campersate. but i also have times (mostly when i forget to take my pills) that i am all over the place. it usually takes me about a week to get back on track before things start coming together again for me. i would agree with one of the others that said be there for him. make sure he is taking his meds and just let him rant if that is all he is doing. but if tha abuse is physical then something must be done. go with him to his next doc's appt. and inform the doc. work together on the solutions. see if that works!

Answer 5

There is a simple questionare that your doctor can give him which will tell him and you about what is going on. Wid and rapid mood swings are what cause acholics to dring, to dampen te swing. Get with you local AA and have your husband go thru the 12 steps. You do not have to be in a treatment facility to do the AA thing. I did not. If He will commit to doing this and he will find ther lots of people just like him, it will be helpful. If He will commit to 90 meetings in 90 days he will stand a very good of getting off the anti-abuse

Answer 6

have you ever talked to his doctor i mean if his gp has prescribed antibuse he must have had some sort of mental assesment befor hand when my partner was prescribed this drug he had to go into a mental health unit and take what is called THE CHALLANGE where they put the patiant on the drug for 1 week then offer them alcohol but to get bak to the point alcohol is a depressant and after 6 months abstinance i would have expected him to improve you should make an appointment with his gp to discuss his medication
as for your son seeing his daddy having these episodes can be quite disurbing for himand how much can you make a 4 year old understand the first call is to your partners gp today

Answer 7

It is highly possible that your partner does have bipolar disorder. It depends where you live though, as to whether you would get a diagnosis. In the UK, it is not easy to get a diagnosis of bipolar. In the States, they accept all four forms of bipolar. The link below may help you.

Try and get some counselling for yourself and there are a number of online forums to help partners and family of those suffering with all kinds of depression.

Getting help for your partner may be more difficult. If he understand there is a problem, then it will be easier. If he doesn't, don't tell him to go to see the doctor. Instead go yourself and ask the Family doctor if you local psychiatric team could come to observe you as a family at home.

This is going to be stressful but hang in there.

Answer 8

Sounds like bi-polar! Ever go to the shrink with him. Weird part of mental illness is the patients family and friends know's what is happening before the patients. With all the meds he's taking is he still drinking. That could cause the same reaction.

Hope this helps

Answer 9

Your partner needs to be evaluated by a professional psychiatrist. Here are the symptoms of bipolar though:

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#intro


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.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp1

Answer 10

Although I am neither a sufferer, nor an MD, as I understand it, mood stabilisers are the treatment of choice for bipolar disorder. Try getting a second opinion (mention this - go with him). See http://www.mentalhealth.com/book/p40-ma01.html (p40-ma01.html). Ensure he eats healthily, and try to get him to go for a daily walk with you of at least 20 mns, and preferably 30. Tell him you feel more secure with him there to protect you. Tai Chi classes and regular practice may also be of benefit, and certainly can cause no harm.