Going to try and remain anonymous here so might change some details and also it’s a very very long story cut short.
Family member has obvious signs of bipolar. It also runs in the family sadly. They’ve been diagnosed as a poly addict- severe addictions to everything and anything. When on a manic episode (of course I’m self diagnosing this) they have battled with gambling, infidelity, serious drug abuse and alcohol abuse. It is destroying everyone around them and after these episodes they’re so low they are suicidal.
Manic episodes are so self destructive they’ve then become suicidal which is beyond hard to witness/be part of and it’s so hard to help.. they’re at risk of losing absolutely everything if it happens again and some sort of help isn’t sought. It’s just knowing what. Unfortunately after the manic low, they then don’t seem to action some of the things they say they’ll do and then they have a stable period, another high and the circle begins again.
The nhs is on its knees and said it can take 6 months to a year- they don’t have this long and can afford private but what help and where is what’s apparently stopping them “as they want to find the best support” (referring to family member and their partner).
can anyone recommend London based physchiatrists?
Also is there anyone I can speak to for support for myself. It’s really tough as a family member and I’ve nobody who truly understands or can help me understand
happy to discuss why I believe they’re bipolar, just extremely tired and thought I’d start with the basic explanation.