Does anyone have a relative with bipolar disorder?

samcantcope

Thanks for that, I was thinking of going to see a counseller (cant spell) and getting my sisters involved as we have all had a rough time when we were growing up, but never knew where to start.

will definately look into it as we really need to do something as life is so short.

Thank you.:beer:

OfficiallyBonkers1996!

Morning!

Not only am I a newbie to the Money Saving Expert forum, I am in fact a forum virgin, but felt compelled to add a post as Ees100's experience personally echoes my own.

I was studying for a degree in Law/Sociology, when at 21 I was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. To say I went mad is a gross under statement :mad: :mad: !!

To cut a very, very long story very short I was eventually prescribed the right medication for my particular form of Biploar, found a fantastic Psyciatrist, and after more ups and downs than I care to remember, with a MASSIVE amount of support from my fiance, slowly regained and retained my sanity. I am now 32, and although I suspect friends and colleagues would disagree, I am sane :j! I have a very good job and am very happy with my life.

There are so many factors involved in getting well and staying well when you have Bipolar, all I would say to you is that your sister clearly has someone understanding, loving and caring or you wouldn't be seeking help and advice, and therefore she is 50% there already. One practical bit of advice is to limit her spending power ie credit cards, loans, welfare etc etc. I got us into alot of trouble financially.

Bipolar is always seen as a curse, and it is if left untreated that is exactly what it can be. I no longer see it as a curse however, I now see Biploar as I gift as without it I may not be half as creative, passionate, exciting and fun to be around.

Stephen Fry did a great documentary early this year called 'The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive', it's well worth a look.

I wish you and your family all the very best.

(sorry that wasn't that brief !)

Ooops! - didn't see the first time I read the threads that Stephen Fry had already been mentioned - These bloody newbies eh!

welshgirlmel

As I used to be a psychy nurse, Lithium Carbonate and Carbamazapine were the drugs of choice for manic depression. I once nursed someone who built the extension on his house in 3 days!

Medication is important as often people with wild mood swings can feel on top of the world when they are high and can forget to take their medication feeling that they are well.

There are many famous manic depressives including Robin Williams, Spike Milligan, Jim Carrey, Vincent Van Gough and Mozart. I found that the people I nursed were often highly intelligent but I dont know if that is a recognised trait of this disorder.

In my opinion prozac doesnt work for manic depression. Hope you find whatever works for your sister, fingers crossed
mel

Tiff_2

Eels100 wrote: »

We haven't got a formal diagnosis but we're fairly sure my sister is suffering from this. She's now on really high doses of Prozac but it seems to be making the peaks and troughs worse. We suspect she's telling the doctor about her depressive episodes but hasn't realised that she's also got a problem with 'highs'. She also self harms and everyone's terrified that she's going to hurt herself or someone else. She also stops any treatment/counselling when she has a good day, as she seems to think she's 'better'. At 21 she's trying to complete a degree but is completely out of control and we don't know what to do to help her.

Hi eels.
I really feel for you and the family as well as the young lady herself. You've had some really excellent advice already given to you hun.:T

Do you think that she is at risk to herself or others now eels? If so, you can call the gp and/or police and request that she be sectioned and assessed as an emergency. This is obviously a last resort hun, but there's a duty to protect the vulnerable people and others they might come into contact with. You may have to ask more than once but insist angel, and state the reasons that you have here - that you fear for her and others' safety.
You can also contact your local A&E in an emergency as there is a duty on-call psychiatrist.
Also, you can call NHSDirect who also handle mental ill health.

Have you called her Crisis Team hun? You could give them this information as concerned relatives. As with the dr, they won't discuss her health with you. They could do a home visit where possible and make an assessment. She would be seen by Adult Mental Health Services. The Crisis Team are mental health professionals who work in the community with clients to try and prevent the need for admission or to monitor a client and if they feel it's appropriate to get them the best professional help they can at the time of crisis.

If you can wait, try and get her to allow you to go with her to her dr's appointments. Then when she omits things, you can add them in.

If not, I would advise you and your other sister to make an appointment, with your sister's gp in her name, explaining to the receptionist that you're her next of kin and have some important information.

The gp will keep your sister's health private and confidential and won't be able to discuss her situation with you, but it will give you and your sister a way of presenting the information to him/her that they might need to know.
Point out to the dr, everything you have here and then just simply question, ''Do you think she might have ...?'' You could even print out your post here if you'd find it hard to explain.
Whatever the diagnosis is hun, the professionals will have to make it. Once you alert them as to her actual behaviour and what she doesn't tell them, they will bear this in mind.

For what it's worth angel, I think it's great that you're both trying to support your sister. Well done. It's a terrible position to be in on all sides, as many here have testified, but the most important thing is to keep your sister safe and get her the help she needs.

And most importantly, keep loving your sister - you're doing a great job from the sounds of it.;) Thinking of you all.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Eels100

Thanks so much for all your advice - she's done really well for the last week or so (funnily she seems better after she decided to stop taking Prozac all together, whether placebo effect or otherwise). She's been happier without being too 'high', which is encouraging. She's also, I think, starting to realise (after some tactful and carefully timed chats from family members) that it's not normal to get so hyper.

I would be happier if we'd achieved a diagnosis but for now she's finding herself able to study and concentrate and as she has exams looming we don't want to rock the boat. But all your kind words of advice have been noted as I do fear we may find ourselves going through a similar wobbly patch again.

Tiff_2

Hi eels!
I was hoping that she'd be well enough to complete her studies and glad that things are on an even keel right now hun. At least as you say, you'll have all this information to hand when there are wobbly times. Good luck to her and her exams and to you and the family angel.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx