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09-01-2024 06:56 PM
09-01-2024 06:56 PM
Advice needed
Hi everyone 👋,
I have stumbled upon this forum via Google when I searched for Bipolar information. I am in need of support and advice for my partner of 4 years and how to best handle depressive episodes.
Formally, we had been diagnosed with major depression and is taking anti depressants however I feel like it is Bipolar not just depression due to his extreme mood swings.
He was so happy and ‘high’ (manic) over the holidays but as soon as his mum flew back home (last Wednesday) he has stopped sleeping, and has had a major depressive episode starting Sunday. It is now Tuesday and he was in the process of writing his resignation letter today due to one of the workers simply not messaging him back. I have tried to ‘talk him down’ and stop him from doing such a serious thing over such a small problem. I have suggested he not work over the next few days until he can start sleeping and get his mood a bit higher. The anti depressants doesn’t seem to be doing anything at all. He became very angry at me when I tried to explain that he is having a depressive episode due to coming down from the high of Christmas and his mum being here and not sleeping or eating. I know he is not using logic or reason, and I normally try not to engage with him during these times, but when he is so ‘out of control’ that he almost lost another job due to this condition, I needed to try to reason with him.
foes anyone have any advice as to how I can communicate with him when he is having these episodes or try and protect our family from his outrageous behaviour at the moment.
These episodes can last from three days to a month etc. when he is back to baseline I am going to suggest that we both go to the doctor together so the doctor can hear from me exactly what is going on, and see that I have recorded all of his depressive episodes on a calendar for 2023.
does anyone have any advice as to what I can do and does anyone else experience their Bipolar partner see their support and helping as attacks etc.
x
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10-01-2024 01:01 AM
10-01-2024 01:01 AM
Re: Advice needed
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10-01-2024 03:39 AM
10-01-2024 03:39 AM
Re: Advice needed
Hi Bee,
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes I agree that partners going to the doc with them, is super important. I will need to wait a few days until he is stable and then bring up the subject. Can I ask, does your husband have ‘highs’? I was just wondering what made the psychiatrist diagnose BPD instead of bipolar.
Jo
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10-01-2024 09:14 PM
10-01-2024 09:14 PM
Re: Advice needed
Hey @Animallover123 ,
I had that as well. I was told I had bipolar, was on meds for 10 years, then finally told the meds are doing nothing because I don't have bipolar! That it was BPD instead! I new I had BPD, but one psych attributed it to bipolar.
Both have similar symptoms but the treatment is VERY different. Bipolar requires meds, whereas BPD is about engaging in talking therapies.
Biploar tends to be more chemical-based whereas BPD is affected mainly by environmental factors.
It's good to speak to the professionals.... I'm only speaking from experience. Hence it's best to chat to a doc about it.
Hope this helps a little
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11-01-2024 12:29 AM
11-01-2024 12:29 AM