Living with a bipolar partner

System

Ames wrote: »

My experience of bipolar is that it doesn't have such a regular pattern. I have hypomanic episodes every couple of years, with depression most of the time in between. It varies with the different types of bipolar, but constantly switching back and forth like that doesn't really fit.

Unless it was rapid cycling? I have a friend who rapid cycles and her mood can be manic one hour and depressed the next. That certainly needs more careful monitoring.

Though personally i tend to have long periods of depresseion/stability, interspersed with shorter periods of hypermania.

Ames

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Unless it was rapid cycling? I have a friend who rapid cycles and her mood can be manic one hour and depressed the next. That certainly needs more careful monitoring.

Though personally i tend to have long periods of depresseion/stability, interspersed with shorter periods of hypermania.

Rapid cycling tends to be up and down by the hour or day, not a few weeks of each then switching overnight, or at least that's my understanding.

Although I'm not sure that what the OP describes is really 'up' and 'down' anyway, more 'aggressive' and 'not aggressive'.

kimplus8

interstellaflyer wrote: »

OP, I live with a partner who has BiPolar affected Disorder, what you describe doesn't fit my experience, I'm not saying there is not some sort of mental health issue just that it doesn't sound like BiPolar, could these mmod swings and bouts of depression coincide with times that your partner may be under a lot of stress?

Bipolar is very subjective, it's not a straightforward diagnosis and is more of a spectrum on which a person may lie.
He sounds like he is more bipolar type 2 which is far less manic than type 1 bipolar and can co-inside with borderline personality disorder.
You should take up the offer of some secondary mental health service such as the counselling or CBT and then see if you can be referred to a primary service where you can see a psychologist.

hazyjo

kimplus8 wrote: »

Bipolar is very subjective, it's not a straightforward diagnosis and is more of a spectrum on which a person may lie.

Absolutely this - there is no 'one size fits all' with Bipolar Everyone is different.


Do think counselling should be tried - not everything is a condition, sometimes they just have anger issues, possibly as a result of something buried deep within.


Jx

peachyprice

Spinkz wrote: »

:hello::hello::hello::hello:

The sun is a good source of vitamin D. Nice sunny day today to absorb that D vit, but of course use plenty of sun cream! Safety first

That defeats the objects and goes some way to explain why Vit D deficiency is becoming more prevalent.

In order to absorb Vit D you need short burst without sunscreen.

mad_spaniel

If not full blown bipolar it could be cyclothymia.

Skylar34

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying and thank you all for your helpful responses, its much appreciated, will try and reply to all, apologies if I miss anything.


Thank you for sharing your personal stories here whether that be dealing with this personally or a partner who has mental health issues, its good to hear that you have either been able to learn to cope in your own way or been able to get help even if it has taken some time to get the right diagnosis/advice/medication.


Hazyjo great to hear your bf is doing so well and is happy and settled and that you have a good relationship now.


Messedup, sorry to hear that it took so long for the right medication for you but good to hear that you are doing well now and have a really supportive partner, thank you for sharing your story.


With regard to the drug taking, I really don't think its that although am open minded enough to see it could be a possibility. He has never given any indications that he could be taking anything, no signs of anything and we are together in the evenings once home from work and weekends that's not to say if he was he could not be getting/taking things when I am not there but I don't think it's that.


He had a strange childhood, won't disclose too much on here but due to the fathers womanising ways his mother left with him when he was under 10 that still really gets to him, his real father does not show much interest in him and never really has, they have never had a close relationship and see each other once a year if that so I think that could be part of his issues.


He holds down a good job and got a lot of qualifications but does struggle with responsibility, I think if he could do a mundane job with no real stress then he would probably be a lot better.


His behaviour is very up and down, he can be happy, relaxed and fine and then can snap over something that I would call very minor, then we go through spells of everything is wrong for example if we are having a nice day together and I said something that annoyed him, instead of accepting what was said and then moving on he will snap and blame me for supposedly ruining the whole day and be in a foul mood for hours.


The depressive type moods are him saying he is useless, no one likes him, he is incapable at work etc


He cannot take any form of criticism and will storm off if say for example he was criticised even in a jokey way for something in public.


He accuses me of moving stuff around the house while tidying up, if he can't find anything then instead of thinking to look for it he will start shouting within second of not being able to find it.


He is starting to become quite forgetful as well.


The above are just a few examples but it is worrying, we are both seeing doctor next week and waiting for the counselling appointment which he wants me to go with him to so hopefully we are moving forward and can get the right approach.


Thanks again for all the help on here

Huskyrunner

Skylar34 wrote: »

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying and thank you all for your helpful responses, its much appreciated, will try and reply to all, apologies if I miss anything.


Thank you for sharing your personal stories here whether that be dealing with this personally or a partner who has mental health issues, its good to hear that you have either been able to learn to cope in your own way or been able to get help even if it has taken some time to get the right diagnosis/advice/medication.


I cant comment from a partner point of view but he sounds a lot like me lol

I was diagnosed with type 2 bipolar in march after years and years of gps saying i have depression and giving me anti depressant after anti depressant. The antidepressants i took didnt really help.

Has your partner ever seen a psychiatrist?? And is he just purely on vit d tabs or is he on any other med?? Reason i ask is if he is does have dramatic mood changes like your describing
they are more a trait of bipolar ie going from fine too mania in the flick of a switch. The issue your gp cant diagnose bipolar it has too be a psychiatrist, from here a psychiatrist can prescribe mood stabilisers which will help greatly

ska_lover

Some doctors are just awful at recognizing and treating mental health issues.


try another doctor

Ames

It sounds a lot like how my Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, Borderline Type (usually shortened to Borderline Personality Disorder) affects me. In particular when I had a partner I'd flick into monster mode at the slightest thing.

Diagnosis by internet forum really isn't useful though.

It's hard to get a referral to psych services, but with your support hopefully you can keep pushing the GP for one.

That's assuming your partner actually wants a referral and diagnosis?