I’m a nurse and had a short stint in mental health. My aunts partner has been exhibiting signs of what I think might be bipolar since they met a few decades earlier. History of stints of depression then mania. Family history of same in all siblings and one parent. Over the past couple of years he has had health issues and bereavements and he has now become impossible to live with. Current behaviours are general mania, not sleeping, going out middle of night, every evening in pub, shoplifting for thrills, disinhibition, OCD tendencies, waking her up at 5am because he’s forgotten a word for something, sometimes a danger to himself, being irritable, cruel, one sided conversations. Late for work. He’s done this before and sometimes he comes out of it but the periods of normality are now few and far between. He went to the GP with her but wouldn’t admit to very much other than anxiety, and was started on Sertraline a few months back but it hasn’t done anything. He can’t see that there is anything wrong with him (it’s everyone else at fault apparently) and won’t volunteer to take himself back to the GP. I have persuaded my aunt to make an appointment for herself this week and use that to tell the GP the truth about his behaviours in an attempt they invite him for a ‘medication review’. If he doesn’t go I think she’ll throw him out quite honestly and I wouldn’t blame her. She really wants to help him though.
Anyone have any experience of this or any advice on how best to handle would be most appreciated. Thank you.