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Hi everyone, this is my first time posting on the mental health forum, but I need all the advice I can get right now! Over the weekend, my fiance, whom I love very much, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being laid off and becomming depressed. In a sense, I am relieved because I have suspected this for a long time. He is in the hospital now where he is safe, while they monitor his reaction to Lamactil (anyone have any succes with this?). Meanwhile, I am having a hard time dealing. I have an anxiety disorder that is pretty much under control but still surfaces in cases of extreme stress and I feel like I have no one to talk to about this! I called the intake people at the hospital where he is at and they told me to "do something I enjoy." Whatever! I guess they don't understand the intense worry that comes along with leaving someone you love in a mental unit plus having to deal with all the household issues (we are going to have to sell our house now, look for an apt, etc. because of the layoff). I try to talk to my sisters, but they too have always been on the other side (i.e. they have each made at least one trip to the psych unit and don't get what it's like to be on this side). Plus, I have to start a new job tomorrow and pretend like everything's normal! I'm not trying to sound like a martyr, I'm just so worried and overwhelmed about the next few months as well as the future beyond that. How do you cope when someone you love is suffering so much? I do attend Al Anon, but right now I feel like all of the Al Anon principles aren't really working for me in the context of Bi Polar disorder.

I do have a sister who is bipolar and very stable on zoloft alone, so I am hoping there are others of you out there who have had success with managing this disorder. Any advice you can give for me on how to help him and how to help myself would be very greatly appreciated. Thank you.