Anyone else with bipolar mother?

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My mum has bipolar and I struggle to cope with her behaviour. She mixes with ex cons and other drop outs of society. She recently killed two of her pets And now can't understand why i don't want anything to do with her!!!

I have told her I want space, but she rings at least once a week and even knocked on our door for a drink of water for her dog, whilst walking near my house (she lives half an hour away from me)

I am seeing a counseller once a week.

Am I alone?

poor you...my mum displayed many bipolar symptoms but luckily she abandoned me when i was a teenager...how did the pets die

she knocked them in the head and drowned them for good measure! (((HUGS))) to you. My mum has abandoned me MANY times, but I STILL went back for more!!! She trained me too well I think

No, you're not alone and I really feel for you. My mother was also a sufferer of bipolar disorder and had a number of manic episodes which usually involved spending loads of money on totally irrelevant things, ringing us (her kids) up 10 times a day and being just hyper the whole time. Of course, she had some awful depressions, some when she was almost catatonic. My dad was brilliant with her luckily; he's a really strong character and was able to keep her more or less on track... She's no longer with us, unfortunately, having died of a rare disease 10 years ago. I'm sure there are lots of support groups out there and there must be other MNers with more recent / actual experience than mine, but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in this. Is the counselling helping?

Thank you both xxx It means alot xxx My mum Is a rapid cycler (and I DON'T mean she gets on her BIKE! LOL)one minute OTT happy, the next FLAT on the floor and blaming everyone for BRINGING her down tut!

She LIVES at the docs, hyochondria. I sometimes wonder where she ends and i begin I excuse her behaviour as she is ill, but I can't keep letting her treat me so badly either! CONFUSING!

Sorry to hear your mum has passed on though (((HUGS))) xxx

(back later)

yup, mine is too.

The counselling IS helping But sometimes I feel weak (haven't spoken to her for several weeks now) and want to rush to her 'rescue'. The forums i have found are all aimed at helping the person with bipolar and the people tended to encourage me to put up with her crap! She Is all over me until she meets some fella (my dad died when i was 15) then she drops me without a word or care! She Is selfish BEYOND belief and Is NEVER there for me. ( sorry for whining on )

I remember we all used to feel guilty that we got irritated, fed up or let down by my mum because of how she behaved towards us, but it's perfectly natural to feel like that. I don't think there was ever any help for the families of people with bipolar then (as I said, my mum died in 1996 and most of my direct experiences of her episodes were in the 80s). Christ, people didn't even talk about depression then. It was the unspoken illness. Something to hide under the carpet. I don't know how my dad did it...she tried to kill herself twice too (I found this out years later.) Surely there are some groups for people in your situation, i.e. family of bipolar. Sorry for rabbitting on....

She HAS medication, but like most bipolars, she enjoys her highs )RAGARDLESS of how It affects others) and keeps getting them changed, saying they don't suit her, even though she hasn't taken them

I have searched the net for support ZILCH! You are not going on! I REALLY appreciate your help xxx Thanks xxx

I do feel like I am the mother and she is the daughter too.

thanks for your help back later xxx

OH SHIT! that sounds sarky LMAO! Not meant like that!!! OMG! ROFL!!! xxx

God Tim and DrD could be my mum - she has never been formally diagnosed she is very manipulative but she def is bipolar - she is however very loving when she is "normal" ha and so keeps us running to "her rescue" - my dad unfortunately was abusive and she abandoned us to him when I was 15 my db 12 and took my 6 year old ds on a "jaunt" with her which included back streets prostitution (mum NOT sister)drugs and police stations
It is v hard work and I so get the guilt thing
Hugs I have cried down the phone to her GP begging for help section her anything esp when manic and spending money (she has "conned" me out of fairly large amounts of money)...the hypochondriac thing she does as well as an excuse for hr "behaviour" she does chest pain paricularly well as she knows they cannot ignore it esp as her father died of heart attack ...
Gosh sorry for long moan just totally and completely empathise and understand - where are you Tim ??

Timerine, Macdoodle, and DrDaddy.

Interesting you all apologise for moaning/whining and rabbitting on. Part of putting your respective mothers needs first all your life? I certainly have not thought for a moment any of you were. I just felt very sad and at times upset for you all. Talking about any problem helps. And your mothers (inc everyones who's posted) all sound like they have broken your hearts over and over again

hugs to you allxxxx

Thanks for your support. I used to let my mum look after my oldest boy, then 3, and caught her in a shop with him, he was running wild and was at the doorway (by a road too ) I never let him have my son again, and she has NEVER looked after my other boy, nearly 2 (oldest 7 now) Luckilly, she never did anything like prostitution whhilst with him. saying that, a male friend once told me she had offered herself for money. DOESN'T surprise me either! Sounds awful for you Macdoodle, Ally HOW TRUE!

I am only just startting to put my needs first. It has always been abouthow hard done by she Is/has been Heart problem and asthma used as an excuse too!

I LONG to have a mother. (((HUGS))) to all fellow sufferers. I am In Gloucestershire.

Anyone know of a DECENT support group that DOESN'T expect you to carry on SUPPORTING them?