Biploar?

[calipop101]

My OH has been recenty diagnosed with bipolar, 2ish months ago . He is on meds and these were kicking in for the first few weeks and now hes back to square one. so we think they need upping.

Im posting as id like some advice/people to talk too....

I struggle sometimes not to be snappy/ratty with him, he is quite irritable and sometimes is thoughtless. He is getting so much better as im learning to speak up and point out the obvious.

its a fairly new - 8/9 months - relationship so getting to know him is difficult enough without the added issue of bipolar, but I want this to work. He is a good guy - just needs to keep on the meds and I need to learn how to help him too.

Any advice on living with this?

I consider myself to be a fairly reasonable and nice person and want to help in in whatever way I can...I've just never dealt with this before - or any kind of depression.

Thank you in advance.

and sorry ive spelt the title wrong.... i am not very good :/

Hello OP

My DH was diagnosed about 10 years ago, and it took a good couple of years for him to become stable and find the right drug for him (lithium, eventually). Counselling was the most important element in helping him to get control of and manage the condition. Is that something your DP could try? Unfortunately other than being supportive, there's not much more you can do. Have you spoken to your partner about what he thinks you could do to help?

Medication for bipolar will need a lot of tweaking, adjusting, upping and dropping doses, trying other meds. It's a bit of a process and can take years for some. He needs to be committed and, if you want to make the relationship work as you say, you need to be committed to being patient and tolerant, but at the same time assertive and calm enough to stick up for yourself. It takes time, and hard work, to get some stability.

Is he still seeing his prescribing doctor regularly? He likely needs to be. Do you want to say what medication he is on?

Thank you both very much for the replies.

He's a very sweet guy and I am in it for the long haul...he tells me he loves me all the time, and me him - and i do mean it.

He is not having counselling at the moment but I do believe he needs this - he is back at the doctors in two weeks so i think a suggestion of counselling may be a good thing.

I need to learn to be more assertive and tell him like it is, which ive struggled with upto now, however I am patient but I refused to be walked over.

I will ask what I can do to help - a very simple thing which I have not actually asked

Thank you again. I have no-one to talk to about this.

You might find it useful to look at the MIND website, where there is a lot of information on all mental health issues, or the RE-THINK websites. You will get good support on MN of course but thought I'd mention the websites.