Bi-Polar and the Law - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

kewlgirl · 02-01-2005, 07:53 PM

Just curious if anyone out there has had any experience/suggestions with how to deal with being bi-polar and the law.

Situation:

My boyfriend was diagnosed as bi-polar his senior year of Pre-med and voluntarily checked himself into the hospital because he was yoyo'ing (emotionally) all the time and had classic symptoms.

He was in-patient for 5 days where they did a whole slew of tests and found nothing wrong. They finally decided he was mildly bi-polar and put him on meds and sent him home.

His family treated him like a freak show, thinking he was a mental case. This happened back in 1993. He lost most of his friends due to their ignorance of knowing what bi-polar is and they treated him differently because of it.

His doctors pretty much told him he would never be able to live a normal life, and they signed him up for SSD (social security disability, bi-polar does qualify) and he began living off SSD benefits. People criticized him for being on social security because at first glance, he's perfectly normal.

He's a self-employed in construction and highly intelligent (hence, he was just about to enter med. school when things came crashing down around him). The med. school discouraged him from continuing saying that him being bi-polar may get in the way of professional judgement as a physician....in other words the school pretty much rejected him, as did his family and friends.

He's had virtually no support throughout this whole ordeal. His family and friends and professional colleagues (med school) have labelled him as unstable because of the word bi-polar.

He quit his meds (not sure which ones he was on) because he was tired of being devoid of emotion that his meds caused. He has adjusted well and leads a 95% normal life. The only problem he really has to speak of is restlessness and difficulty sleeping.

He's trying to get off SSD, but because he's self-employed, most of what he does make is written off as business expenses and he doesn't work a full 8-hour day so according to the government it's not substantial income because he's not full time (according to their standards) and they are hindering him being on his own.

He was married and divorced in early 2000 and it didn't work out and they divorced. They have a 3-year-old daughter together and his ex-wife hired a lawyer and her lawyer held his bi-polar condition against him and he lost custody of his daughter because of being bi-polar. His parents have joint custody with his ex-wife and the only way he can see her is if he goes to his parents.

He's considering suing his ex-wife and her lawyer, and the state for civil rights violations. He basically raised her from when she was an infant and his ex-wife went to work, but now that they're divorced, she suddenly claims he's unfit (drama queen).

He has no history of violence and functions fine without meds. His ex-wife is on prozac and other psychological drugs and she has a tendancy to be violent yet she has full custody.

He's in the process of finding a mental-health lawyer to take his case. Finances aren't an issue so hopefully something moves in his favor.

Any suggestions/comments on similiar experiences with the law are appreciated. He wants his daughter back and is willing to take any feedback out there.

kiehn · 02-02-2005, 01:30 AM

Are you in the U.S. because the state I live (WA) in they do everything to keep yo off
of SSD, out of the hospital and encourage you to work at any profession if you feel up to it go for it, they even offer vouchers for free retraining to get you back into the
job market.

He just might have ot retain a lawyer to fight his case. How sad his friends and family have treated him as they have. Of course a lot of families and friends dont understand do just that.

Being bipolar is not a crime nor are we by law required to tell anyone of our conditiion.
Has he thought of moving out of the area and getting a fresh start. Once he's stable in a job or self employement he can fight for custody of his daugher. I wish him
strength and success. K

mudhound · 02-02-2005, 04:41 AM

Just a short note here. I tend to see people in trouble with the law for petty reasons. I know very little about the justice system. However, There are avocates out there. Contact the state mental health dept and ask were to call to reach one. It could not hurt.

ManiMe · 02-02-2005, 11:21 AM

kewl -

Thank you for a very profound thread. I can relate to very much of that.

Now, I'm beginning to think the lawyer I consulted (pre-consultation considering divorce action) might have been "blowing smoke" when he indicated that my Bi-Polar diagnosis would in no way effect custody issues.

Unfortunately, as others indicated, those familiar with your state laws and local "decisions" might need to be consulted. They usually have some idea how the local judges lean in terms of granting custody (in general, and specifically IF any similar cases have appeared).

In my area (county and state), the judges generally NEVER give majority custody to the male - unless the mother is majorly "whacked".

Eons of prejudicial conditioning.

I agree in total, that mothers have a much more tolerant bond with their offspring - but the financial inequities I've seen perpetrated here are quite disquieting (that's a separate issue) - it's as if those who are NOT dead-beat dads are forced to pay extra to make up for the others.

Your boyfriend has been through a lot. I can totally relate.

Best wishes !

PS (afterthought) - My own psychotherapist was the one that sent me to consult an attorney - and said she'd vouch for me in court if/when the time comes. I still don't know what difference it will/would make. If your boyfriend has received ongoing counselling, at least it's a consideration (and one that the "opposition" might not have in its corner).

Jennita · 02-02-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kewlgirl

Just curious if anyone out there has had any experience/suggestions with how to deal with being bi-polar and the law.

Situation:

My boyfriend was diagnosed as bi-polar his senior year of Pre-med and voluntarily checked himself into the hospital because he was yoyo'ing (emotionally) all the time and had classic symptoms.

He was in-patient for 5 days where they did a whole slew of tests and found nothing wrong. They finally decided he was mildly bi-polar and put him on meds and sent him home.

His family treated him like a freak show, thinking he was a mental case. This happened back in 1993. He lost most of his friends due to their ignorance of knowing what bi-polar is and they treated him differently because of it.

His doctors pretty much told him he would never be able to live a normal life, and they signed him up for SSD (social security disability, bi-polar does qualify) and he began living off SSD benefits. People criticized him for being on social security because at first glance, he's perfectly normal.

He's a self-employed in construction and highly intelligent (hence, he was just about to enter med. school when things came crashing down around him). The med. school discouraged him from continuing saying that him being bi-polar may get in the way of professional judgement as a physician....in other words the school pretty much rejected him, as did his family and friends.

He's had virtually no support throughout this whole ordeal. His family and friends and professional colleagues (med school) have labelled him as unstable because of the word bi-polar.

He quit his meds (not sure which ones he was on) because he was tired of being devoid of emotion that his meds caused. He has adjusted well and leads a 95% normal life. The only problem he really has to speak of is restlessness and difficulty sleeping.

He's trying to get off SSD, but because he's self-employed, most of what he does make is written off as business expenses and he doesn't work a full 8-hour day so according to the government it's not substantial income because he's not full time (according to their standards) and they are hindering him being on his own.

He was married and divorced in early 2000 and it didn't work out and they divorced. They have a 3-year-old daughter together and his ex-wife hired a lawyer and her lawyer held his bi-polar condition against him and he lost custody of his daughter because of being bi-polar. His parents have joint custody with his ex-wife and the only way he can see her is if he goes to his parents.

He's considering suing his ex-wife and her lawyer, and the state for civil rights violations. He basically raised her from when she was an infant and his ex-wife went to work, but now that they're divorced, she suddenly claims he's unfit (drama queen).

He has no history of violence and functions fine without meds. His ex-wife is on prozac and other psychological drugs and she has a tendancy to be violent yet she has full custody.

He's in the process of finding a mental-health lawyer to take his case. Finances aren't an issue so hopefully something moves in his favor.

Any suggestions/comments on similiar experiences with the law are appreciated. He wants his daughter back and is willing to take any feedback out there.

If he functions fine without meds, couldn't he get a new diagnosis from another doc? Perhaps he is no longer bi-polar....sleep problems can be caused by other things so that's no confirmation of bi-polar so if that's all he has, he is probably just fine. THe brain can recover/change over time, he may not be bi-polar at all now!

A question as to whether or not he is bipolar anymore may prove to be in his favor if he can find a doc who wouldn't pre-judge because of his former mental health history and only evaluate him on his current condition.