My son has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He’s in his mid-twenties, so it’s the average time for onset of bipolar disorder. No family history that we know of, but if it was just two generations back, it probably wouldn’t have been talked about.
He had his first manic episode early in the year. He spent a brief time in in-patient treatment, followed by a period of out-patient treatment. During the out-patient treatment, his psychiatrist started to think the diagnosis was incorrect and she weaned him off his meds.
He has had another manic episode, and he’s back in the in-patient facility. Luckily he was able to get back into the same place he was in before, so they aren’t starting from zero. They started him back on different meds, and he’s much better much faster than the first time.
His fiancee was talking to a friend and someone overheard. The person who overheard said her mother was bipolar and she had to take her to the hospital six times, and she told his fiancee that she should break up with him.
The only experts I’ve spoken to have been the doctors in the crisis center, and I don’t know to what degree they are trying to sugar coat things to prevent us from giving up hope.
I’d rather know the reality.
If anyone has any personal experience they can share, I’d appreciate it. If anyone has any professional experience they can share, I’d appreciate that as well.
EDIT: Just wanted to add to this that we were able to visit him today, and he’s doing very well.
My wife of 14 years has bipolar disorder.
My experience with it as someone caring for someone with it is that, when properly managed with appropriate medications, it’s nothing we can’t handle.
Once we found meds that worked effectively, as long as she’s taking them things are fine. She understands the importance of being properly medicated, I make sure she always has the medication she needs and she takes it.
In our normal day to day I don’t think either of us think too much about it. I do know though that there are things that can trigger a manic or depressive episode. Sleep changes are a massive trigger for her, so we stick to a pretty solid routine. She can tell when it feels like she might be on the edge of a manic episode. We check in frequently when that happens, I provide support, and we get her doctors on the phone if we need to.
But in all our time together we’ve not had to go back to in patient treatment once we got our arms around it.
Good luck to you and your son. Just keep in mind that manic episodes are big and loud and people can feel a lot of shame about things they did while manic after the fact. Care, love, support and understanding are the best context to help your loved one find a path that will work for them.
A happy, full, and healthy life for your son is still more than possible.
My wife of 3 years, together 6, I could basically copy and paste your explanation here and it would be 100% true.
We work together making sure the meds are on track, therapy and psych appointments are regular, and she’s a lovely, bustling, fun individual and our relationship couldn’t be better. We have contingency plans in case things go off the rails. I have phone numbers to her care providers for worst case scenarios.
My greatest fear is economic or political turmoil limiting access to meds, because the meds are key.