My boyfriend of seven years was diagnosed as bipolar over 2 years ago. He has taken Paxil, then Symbyax, and Monday was switched again to Seroquel. He was doing ok on the Symbyax at first, but the doc kept messing with the strength. One month he was fine, the next he was a nightmare to live with. He is always sleeping and when he's awake he's always yelling. My family won't come visit, and we have been unwelcomed at some relative's houses because of his behavior when he's off his meds. He now understands that he has to take them, and he don't want to hurt me or our kids with what he says. I've been patient with him, but dealing with his ups and downs is rough. His family tells me I have the patience of a saint, but I really don't! He tells me he'd be lost without me but I don't know how much more I can take. Help!

Get yourself some extra help. You (me too) will need it.
By extra help i mean: this board, friends, family, social workers, Support groups (local in person), church, and any other groups/people you can think of.
I hope this help lead you in a good way to find help.

Perhaps if you were able to get some literature about bipolar and give it to
the closer members of his family. My family knew nothing (and I didn't either)
about Bipolar when I was diagnosed. Slowly but surely they grew educated and the word spread throughout my extended family, now everyone knows and it is a whole lot easier.

I know it's easy to say "get help" but often help is not there to find. However,
seeking to enlighten his family may be the way to go. If you have a printer there are tons of articles which are geared toward the families of those who suffer with Bipolar.

Worse comes to worse, I would see a counsellor, if your budget permits. I"ve
never heard of support groups for families and loved ones of those who have Bipolar, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Why don't you contact your local branch of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) they have good resources usually.
Good luck

Thanks for the help. His family is very supportive, his mother is bipolar too, it's my family that's no help. They think it's some big joke, like I'm making it up. They say stuff like, "Is he taking is happy pills? Is it safe to come over?" I tried to explain it, maybe by finding documentation they will better understand. Thanks again

There are some excellent books out there for families & friends of people with Bipolar Disorder.
I've had Type I my whole life and there ARE some people who will NEVER understand that I cannot "snap out of it" without a mood stabilizing drug. That the brain can have a disorder as well as the pancreas and have a high or low moods as symptoms rather than low or high blood sugar.
I hope your family has an open mind...
:angel: