marshmallow
11-11-2006, 10:25 PM
I have read so many books and articles on bipolar and none give the full symptoms. It seems like they give general ones but I dont think one really knows the full impact of this illness before living with it or someone that has it. I feel that so many pdocs are not really tuned in. My husband and I went to one pdoc that said he couldn't be bp because he never saw any mood swings. One hour a week and he expects to see this. Anyone else have similar experiences?
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kiehn
11-11-2006, 11:49 PM
Hi Marshmellow
Your statement is very true. Part of the problem is not everyone has all the same symptoms. For example I read bipolar's lie a lot. My reaction was NO WAY. Then I thought about other family members that were bipolar and some of them lied terribly. I always thought they just had a problem with lying now I realize it can be part of the illness. Maybe the doctor wasnt very educated becasue there are several different types of bipolars, some may only have a manic state once or twice there whole life but experience depression constantly. Some cycle many times a day, a week, a month, or years. So it would depend on your husbands cycling. I have wondered many times, doctors and counselors are evaluating behavior based on normal human nature. If they always see someone that's upbeat and one day them come in screaming ranting and raving they say what the heck is wrong with you when they should know. My last counselor was praising me one minute for my behavior and a couple months later when I cycled down berated me in her actions and behavior like she took it personal. That's when I realized they dont always fully understand. Myself Ive often thought maybe I would be better off living on my own because my moods, actions and behaviors affect the whole house, which lays even more guilt on me. I will tell you before I found this board I was so alone. I constantly wished I would die.
If you could get your husband to just read some of the board here. Helping each other here is how we learn to find tools to deal with this disorder.
Butterfly wishes to you, Sue
Your statement is very true. Part of the problem is not everyone has all the same symptoms. For example I read bipolar's lie a lot. My reaction was NO WAY. Then I thought about other family members that were bipolar and some of them lied terribly. I always thought they just had a problem with lying now I realize it can be part of the illness. Maybe the doctor wasnt very educated becasue there are several different types of bipolars, some may only have a manic state once or twice there whole life but experience depression constantly. Some cycle many times a day, a week, a month, or years. So it would depend on your husbands cycling. I have wondered many times, doctors and counselors are evaluating behavior based on normal human nature. If they always see someone that's upbeat and one day them come in screaming ranting and raving they say what the heck is wrong with you when they should know. My last counselor was praising me one minute for my behavior and a couple months later when I cycled down berated me in her actions and behavior like she took it personal. That's when I realized they dont always fully understand. Myself Ive often thought maybe I would be better off living on my own because my moods, actions and behaviors affect the whole house, which lays even more guilt on me. I will tell you before I found this board I was so alone. I constantly wished I would die.
If you could get your husband to just read some of the board here. Helping each other here is how we learn to find tools to deal with this disorder.
Butterfly wishes to you, Sue
marshmallow
11-12-2006, 09:58 AM
Thank you for your reply. I tried to get him to read the posts some time ago when we were togheter but he said NO. He said those people have an agenda and they dont know anything. Wow, I thought how can they not know about an illness that affects their whole life. He is too deep into denial. I guess at this point I have to stop concentrating on him and pick up my shattered pieces. My marriage to him has really taken so much from me not because he is bp but because he refuses to see he is. I don't understand how a person can fill their life with so much rage, anger and upheaval and not see it but perhaps it is all part of his denial. I admire those that get help.
Shame on your pdoc for belittling you.
Shame on your pdoc for belittling you.
Dee-nah
11-12-2006, 11:09 AM
There is a book out there called Unquiet Mind, it's about a doctor that has BP and she tells her story in detail. This was referred to me when I was hospitalized.
Hope this will help some, it helped me.
Hope this will help some, it helped me.
EYESTWO22
11-12-2006, 11:18 AM
Point of Information :
There is a Thread listed at the Top of this Bipolar Disorder Board :
"Attention Newbies! Please Read: Bipolar Disorder Symptom Primer"
This Tread, witten by reesie (06-06-2005), and was approved by the Moderators. It answers a lot of question about,"What are the symptoms of Bipolar?"
It is well worth reviwing and printing for family members to read who need some guidence and general education on Bipolar Disorder.
Eyes
There is a Thread listed at the Top of this Bipolar Disorder Board :
"Attention Newbies! Please Read: Bipolar Disorder Symptom Primer"
This Tread, witten by reesie (06-06-2005), and was approved by the Moderators. It answers a lot of question about,"What are the symptoms of Bipolar?"
It is well worth reviwing and printing for family members to read who need some guidence and general education on Bipolar Disorder.
Eyes
marshmallow
11-12-2006, 01:27 PM
I have heard of An Unquiet Mind but never read it. I also read the post with the symptoms listed. What I meant was there are so many other things that make up the illness of bipolar and you don't realize it until you have lived with a person with it or have it. They barely ever mention the rage or the way a person changes their mind from minute to minute. The misunderstandings that come from the lack of insight is very hard to live with also and not mention often with symptoms. I have the book New Hope for Bipolar and I am Not Sick I Dont Need Help. While both are helpful the full picture is never painted. I do think that my husband has more than bipolar and that could be part of it.
Neleah
11-12-2006, 04:45 PM
There is a book out there called Unquiet Mind, it's about a doctor that has BP and she tells her story in detail. This was referred to me when I was hospitalized.
Hope this will help some, it helped me.
I read the last pages to my ex because it describes him to a T - the good and the bad. She says that she would chose to be bp if she had a choice - but only because lithium works for her. Since my ex is very afraid of being "labeled" mentally ill AND afraid of meds, those pages are perfect...
It was not the time to read it because it didn't really penetrate at the time, but he did admit that it sounds like him. And it's a book that I would recommend to SOs and friends. It helped me a lot, too.
Hope this will help some, it helped me.
I read the last pages to my ex because it describes him to a T - the good and the bad. She says that she would chose to be bp if she had a choice - but only because lithium works for her. Since my ex is very afraid of being "labeled" mentally ill AND afraid of meds, those pages are perfect...
It was not the time to read it because it didn't really penetrate at the time, but he did admit that it sounds like him. And it's a book that I would recommend to SOs and friends. It helped me a lot, too.