What to do.......bi polar........

[kitarusapien]

Our marriage counselor has advised me to seek psychiatric help as she feels that I am bi polar. Now, this is a very interesting turn of events since a previous psych-therapist said, instead, that I had PTSD from my life-long asthma, although my wife, who has studied such phenom in college told me that I was manic/depressive years ago. The real catch here is that once I took the advice to study my possible bi polar disease, I found that MOST bi polar patients CANNOT alter their compulsive behaviors without Lithium or other chemical-altering drugs, and that trying to work through these compulsions without the meds will only make matters worse, NOT BETTER! So I'm left wondering how my wife who apparently knew I was bi polar, knew what the bi polar disorder was doing to me, still managed to decide that it was necessary to continually press me about money issues(which are not out-of-control even now)and my construction of an aircraft(which is almost complete.)rather than concentrate on getting me into therapy!!!! I now understand these things could be a result of my very plausible bi polar compulsive behavior, and I am seeing a psych-therapist now to deal with it( if it's real, I WILL BEAT THIS!), but how could she have known these things and still ride me to change knowing that it would take Lithium or more drugs to actually bring about CHANGE???? I want so much to make things right by saving our 13 year marriage, and I do love my wife, but now I don't know if I can trust her even after I beat this disease. I hope to God that I am overreacting, and not seeing reality.

[bikewench]

No offense Kit...
but... it's not your wife's job to fix or take care of your stuff....

and to top it off...
she's no doubt got her own issues that are workin in her so that... no.... she's not gonna take care of you first...

I've been dealing with my mental issues all my life without prescription medication... and I don't know if that's the right way to go about it or not...
I do know that I'm an addict though... so.. I just seem to feel in my rock bottom gut that using something else to "manage" my head and emotions is really just me sidestepping the issues...

I believe all the answers are out there... I just have to find them....
in the mean time... I have to deal with life with old coping behaviors and tendancies... and thought patterns that are ingrained and have to consciouly be worked at...

some days are good... some days are great... and some days.........



For me... it's walking the line every day...

but.. if I even spend one second thinking this is someone else's problem to help fix me...
puts me in pause immediately...

I do know that I can deal with most things... one day... 24 hours at a time...


A warm welcome to Sober Recovery...

[pedagogue]

Medication is not required for all BPD persons. Medication for some is a life-saver, but for others it might not be the best solution. I *strongly* suggest seeing a therapist to help first figure out your situation. Once you get a handle on your situation, you can work in conjunction with your therapist to develop a plan to better manage your day to day life.

Many people with BPD have adjusted and live 'normal' lives....you just need to figure out the proper coping skills and/or life changes you need to make. In many cases medication *CAN* make a meaningful difference, but it is not a silver bullet....and there are many different pharma choices....so if you do try a medication, don't quit if the first one doesn't work.

-pedagogue