Hi all,
The people next door have just sold and moved and now we have been told
a middleaged/older man is moving in with bipolar but at the moment he is in a psychiatric hospital because moving has somehow disrupted his medication taking, and he needs to stabilize again? This man is a widower so living alone. We know nothing about bipolar but a man who was moving the furniture in said "he has never hurt anyone but can act strange sometimes" and other stuff which has made me Kay feel a bit uneasy if my husband is ever away over night.
Is bipolar a cause for violence? I am asking for help to know what to do re talk to this man? befriend him? ignore him other than "hello" To be honest I am nervous and do not like the feeling with our new neighbour to be. He comes out of hospital today and moving into his house. My husband and I would just like to know what Bipolar is? how do re react to him? (someone told us people with bipolar lie and often tell people what they want to hear and sometimes go "round the bend" sounds frightening. Please people with bipolar do not take offence as we are just trying to understand and do the right thing for the man next door and ourselves. Anyone with any type of illness deserves to be accepted and we are accepting but just want to understand what we should do?
Thanks
Kay

I'm bi-polar and have met many other bi-polars in my hospital stays. I've personally never known someone with the disease to actually hurt someone other than themselves.

If he's not taking his medication:
Some signs to watch out for is if he's overly friendly. It could be a sign of a manic stage. The manic stage can last for months. Always wanting to come over to your house to talk about nonsensical things at all hours of the day and night. Inviting you over to his house for grandiose parties that he hasn't even planned out yet. He'll talk himself up like he's the king of the world and nothing can hurt him. This is actually a very dangerous phase of the disease. Potentially this could be dangerous to you and himself just because there's the high potential of confrontation. If he trespasses on your property or keeps knocking on the door, call the police and explain that your neighbor is having a manic phase and he's bi-polar and he's trespassing. The police will take him to a hospital where he can get back on his meds. Most manics refuse to believe they're having a problem because they're so full of joy and energy. The annoying part is that he'll still want to share every thought, idea, and invention with you even as they're loading him in the cop car. He'll swear up and down that he's fine.

The most dangerous part of the disease for him is the depressed phase. He'll do a 360 from how he was acting and isolate himself. Sleep excessively, maybe stop eating. I doubt you'll even see the guy for the few months it lasts. Suicidal thoughts are almost constant. The depressed stage is when most bi-polars will willingly accept going to a mental hospital where they can start taking their meds again. So if you ever become friends with your neighbor a short talk about his depression and introducing the idea of going to the hospital could save his life.

Most bi-polars will take their medicines for 6 months to a year. Then they'll actually miss the mood swings (usually the manic stage)and quit their meds.

I'm notorious for stopping my meds. But I'm lucky that I'm surrounded by enough friends who recognize my symptoms. I can never tell when I'm manic. I just think I'm having a string of really good days, and my house gets really clean. Me knowing when I'm depressed is really hard for me too. I usually end up slicing up my arms trying to kill myself before I realize I should have gone to the hospital before it was too late.

If he is on his medicine he should be the most normal acting person you know. And make a great neighbor.

Hi NevetsRex,
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and for not taking offence
realising we are just trying to understand and do the best we can for ourselves and our new neighbour. Your explanation is very helpful!
We are now armed with a bit of knowledge and will be more able to see if the man is having problems.
Actually he still has not moved in and in the psych. hospital so we hope he is o.k. :)
Once again we really appreciate your help and good luck with your own health. You have a lot to cope with but then again nearly everyone has something to cope with and we just have to "get on with what we are given and do our best hey?"
Kay and Max.