Thank you ..Iwas wondering about that.

I know what you mean. I think that is the main reason I divorced my ex! I just couldn't handle it!

This is a very touchy subject and it makes me mad when people just assume you HAVE to be together no matter what. There are certain circumstances where you just cant stay in a relationship just because its a life or death situation. If love would have solved the problems then he wouldnt have been sick to begin with.

At least your ex went to get some help with the medications. Mine was diagnosed and never filled his prescription. The first year was ok, not good but ok and I stayed for 11 more years until he became so unbearable, controlling and the mood swings (need I say more).

Bipolar is the politically correct way of saying manic-depressive. It is a horrible, stigmatized illness. You tell people you are bipolar and they immediately tell you about the story they read in the paper where the bipolar guy killed his family and then himself. It is not like that for everyone. I have never had the anger like so many bipolar's get. I always take my meds, they just don't always work. It's hard when people judge you by one thing that they happen to know about you.

I am dealing with my nephews frist wife the mother of my two great nephews. We are in a custody battle which is on going. It is hard to deal with her at times but I remember she is not well so the insults the threats the lies I have to keep telling myself to walk away, kind of hard when children are involved. We cannot help them unless they help themselves. Medication works wonders and she is pretty easy to talk to but when she is off her med's it is like talking to a wall. The mean and nasty things she has accused us of yet she believes every lie she tells. All we can do is try to get he the help she needs the boys are with my nephew whom has had them since they were born and we will continue to fight for them no matter the cost. All I can tell you is when children are bipolar you understand but when it is a grown adult it is hard to walk away.

My sister-in laws problem was also compounded with diabetes It was like when her depression got bad she would stop watching her diet and then she would stop her meds.
It is indeed a very hard life for the sufferes as well as their family .I know this because she would lash out at me over nothing and then cry for days afterwards.
My brother had to leave his home many times because he could not take it.My heart goes out to everyone thay either suffers from it or has a family member with it.

Bipolar illness usually manifests itself in late teens or early 20's. Thankfully, it is rare to see it in a child. It can also be hereditary. My father was never diagnosed, but after his suicide (1981), it was suggested that he was. I used to curse the fact that I was unable to have biological children. Now, I thank God my Angel is adopted. If I had to watch her go through what I went through, I think it would kill me.

He went, they kept trying different ones, none seemed to work for him!

My ex could handle me being bipolar. What he couldn't handle was the weight gain that the meds caused. He also couldn't deal with the loss of sex drive from the meds (I'm on different ones now, thank goodness. Still have the weight, but at least I have my sex drive back).

a gal i work with is i rarely work with her though she told me and i was quite shocked... could not tell her eds were working well she said.... and my neighbors 7 yr old son is... he was diagnosed at age 5.. hes a handful hard to get the meds right on someone so young

one of my cousins best friend is too... unfortunately half his life hes treated hisself with herion... hes been clean this time though for 2 yrs

I'm 'mercurial', but not bi-polar. I believe my father suffered from it, though. He was never diagnosed, but I believe his efforts to medicate himself with alcohol led to his alcoholism. Very difficult disease to live with...whether suffering from it yourself or a loved one having it.

i'm bipolar, my oldest brother and his kids are bipolar, my mom is bipolar, my stepmom is bipolar, my stepsister and her youngest daughter are bipolar.........


i was diagnosed before anyone else in my family was.....15 years ago

my stepdad and sister are

B-P right here. So yay for me.

I once played a poker game at the bar where this jackass just out of the blue piped up and said "I hate people with bipolar." Funny thing is that he couldn't have known I have it...Still ticked me off. The reaction of the other people at the table was to ignore him, funnily enough.

My dad is by polar and my cousin is...it takes time to understand them but they can be very empathetic and kind people. My dad was just diagnosed now and he is in his 60's I always new he was off the wall but I had a very very entertaining child hood. My cousin had his ups and downs and in his downs he cut himself. It takes alot of patience and love and understand to relate to anyone with mental illness but it is worth the time because with the proper care followed by a trained professional following them all their lives you can see the mental illness as a gift...

I hope in time we can all learn more about mental illness and not let these people become our throw aways. Now my cousin is a very awesome nurse!!!

This is a well written point...everyone has their own responsibilities and if a person is violent that is never love.

Oh, I know what you are saying. My 18 year old is bipolar - we have gone through cutting, suicide attempts, a vehicular homicide attempt, arrests for burglary and shoplifting, numerous hospitalizations, etc. And I can't help but think she will never have a normal relationship with anyone - she doesn't have relationships, she takes hostages...I won't have grandkids...it's sad for everyone.

She doesn't want to be treated - right now I am forcing her to take meds, but how long can I do that? She is 18

BP here. Tough to live with. Im too exausting to live with, but i hate the stigma.......it is unfair. There are higher and lower tiers of it and some are worse than others. Higher and lower functioning people. Sorry for those who have had to deal with and coudnt the higher tiers of people. I know it was hard. Then there are peole like me who are semi functioning. Right in the middle. Very hard to kno whats wrong, have to make yourself behave and take your meds. It's ok though. I have come to terms with it, but it is still very hard and I avoid telling the wrong people. You start to be able to tell who you think can handle it and who can't. Still sucks when you get to know someone you like them and get along well andthen they screw you cuz you're BP. Two edged sword.