I was diagnosed with Bipolar I in 2012 after manic psychosis that led to me being committed. Since then I've had several major episodes of depression and mania. Each time my husband has failed to recognize the symptoms and support. I recently called him on this and he explained that he "doesn't understand Bipolar.* Now this is a highly intelligent man with a doctorate. I take this to mean that he believes my mental health issues to be a moral failing or some sort of choice I am making. When we fight he will shut things down and tell me to call my therapist, blaming any discord on my mental health. Which is ironic given the fact that he claims to not understand it.

I do not want my marriage to end. I want a supportive partner who understands to some degree the mental hell I face. Any advice on literature or other resources for spouses to understand what it is like living with this dreadful disease? Thank you.

Edit: One reason my husband cites an inability to understand is because he knew me before my psychotic break and the ensuing diagnosis. This is frustrating as in retrospect I have clearly demonstrated signs of Bipolar II since I was a teenager, including dysthemia and hypomania. It just wasn't enough to seek treatment until I reached the point of crisis.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar couple of months ago. My mother and I (middle child, the yet another daughter) have always had a weird relationship. I keep my distance and she has kept her kinda distance always.

Now because of Bipolar I'm supposed to sleep well so one day late at night I was awake and she said to me "You ARE Crazy!" while telling me to sleep. There was that tone there, she was not saying silly girl go to sleep, she straight up accused me of being mental. And today again, I said I want to change career paths and her sole response was to tell me to go tell that to my doctor so he can help....so basically again saying that I'm crazy. And she was serious, she meant it, that if I am talking about career change that must be because I am going crazier.

I used to love laughing and doing naughty and funny things all the time in my childhood.

I want that state again.

I used to love laughing and doing naughty and funny things all the time in my childhood.

I want that state again.

I am diagnosed bipolar 1, and I am in active addiction. I primarily drink and do molly, 3-6 times a week. I do worry about triggering a manic episode, but I do not currently plan to get sober. I used marijuana daily for 6 years, and never experienced manic symptoms because of it, outside of my medication-induced mania, in which it made the psychotic symptoms spike. The MDMA though, does make me worry I’m at risk of triggering a manic episode, though my symptoms have remained depressed.

Bipolar type 1

I been taken to a mental institution during a manic episode

Where I suddenly quit my job left the town where I lived with no savings and I was kinda freestyle life until my parents took me kinda by force there .. like they found me and took me ..

And there I was not told my diagnosis, iwas kinda observed

First week or so I cried all day all night all the time lol and after a while I was suddenly working out learning piano at the facility writing a lot planning jobs and writing a memoir and my ghost writing I gig I abandoned when I was admitted there.. all in a notebook .

And only when I left did I know my diagnosis and I was in denial and didn't take my meds until I had crazy episodes again

And that's the thing looking back at the past, I had heavy craycray moments and moments when I was so depressed I didn't even wash my face or brush my hair

But now I feel fine

One day I decided I ll sto taking meds

And it seems like I didn't have a crazy moment like before

Depression can be heavy and I refuse to blame my optimism on mania

And idk do heavy episodes get triggered ? Only ?

I used to travel impulsively cuz I couldnt stand control limits .. cuz I didn't wanna die lie like this ...

My friend who was Bipolar 2 got her adhd assessment and now she tells me I'm adhd

I hate to think about Bipolar but I know it explains a lot,

When I first admitted they thought I was on drugs and did a lot of testings on me

I realised later that without mood regulator , antidepressants make me manic, and I was kinda obsessed wit them fir a while lol

What if my damage is just damage as Diane say

Or am I healed,?

I’ve been waiting for a special someone to go to a boy into a man. Meanwhile I’m doing anything to learn myself. I’m so selfish I have many tantrums throughout the months. So he reaches out and when he does I’m in a love triangle. The person I’m staying with now is suspicious and draws attention to himself (he OD’s into unconscious). All while I’m not finding myself I lose my cool and tell the love of my life to fuck himself. Before this im pacing thinking suicidal I’m calling help and my mom. I should’ve packed my bags but I tell this boy the one I drained myself for to fuck himself. It’s been 12 weeks I’m selfish from all angles and I can’t talk anymore.

I am 23

Diagnosed bipolar 1

Never did drug.. dont do alcohol

When i was 15 yrs old - used to feel like a superstar that everyone knew me even strangers but they were hiding it - got signs from tv shows and vehicles plates and all that - just like in the tru man show but i knew

Been depressed since 15

16,17, 18 - best yrs of my life ... super happy at school .. laughing with friends .. but will be depressed sometimes

18 highschool ends- went through worst depression of my life

19 started university- failed first year dropped out cuz i was top depressed

19- first rage episode towards parents that still take place to this day

Developed severe parania towards parents - thought they did and plot against me to confine me - though father semd everyone to follow where i go and do

20- started working countless small jobs

Have many manic episodes on site where i will shout irrationally at anyone that harm or disturb me emotionnaly

Quit many jobs and get new ones just to quit

If a job i love - i will be super happy everyday but eventually have an occurence where i shouted irrationally at someone

Job i dont love or dont have friend - depressed.

One time i was so depressed during a night job - depression paralyzed me and could not even work-there was 5 hours left for the end of the shift

I feel grandiose most of times but dont have severe delusions that i used to have when i was young.. now i just have paranoia

Been admitted to mental hospital 2 times due to mania

In my early 20s .. there was times when i used to be so happy and it will just crashed and i will just cry so much - felt like a void in my chest and definitely can kill me

I used to be always depressed most of times and i didnt knew it was not normal to always feel sad

Now with meds i dont feel much depressed

So you all think i am bipolar ?

Does my symtoms tally with yours ?

Seriously HOW do you stop spending money? I’m not full blown manic, maybe hypomanic or going towards mania or something? I’m self aware at least. But I. Cannot. Stop. Spending. Money. I’ve spent about $1,000 in the last couple days (no, I’m not lucky and just have the money to spend. (I’ve seen people say this in the past) I’m using Affirm and Klarna. I’m on disability, and I’m in massive debt… Like could definitely file for bankruptcy debt kind of debt - 5 digit debt.)
In the past, my partner has had to hide my phone, but I also need my phone????
It’s like a compulsion. I can put my phone away and do other things, get sucked into a project, but then all of a sudden I think, “I’m going to start working out!” Then I’m on Nike filling my cart with workout clothes. It’s bad.
Just ranting. Assuming others have the same issue. I’m trying to distract myself. But I’m up at night and I get bored and end up scrolling, the targeted ads on IG and such don’t help because they know I’ve been shopping for clothes and hair products and such
I’m in a hole and don’t know how to crawl out
This on top of all my other highly problematic symptoms are so destructive

I was diagnosed with BPD when I was 19 and now bipolar (not sure which type) at 27. I was on mood stabilizers from ages 19-25 for the BPD, so I didn’t realize I had bipolar until I went off my meds. Antidepressants have always made things worse, which should’ve been a clue for me from the start

Anyway, several weeks ago I had a horrible manic episode where I tried to buy a house I couldn’t afford, freaked out, drank, went to the hospital etc etc likely triggered by the death of my friend which caused me a lot of stress

I felt like a complete anxious snowball barreling towards disaster for a lil over a week and it was miserable. Lots of energy, so much anxiety that weed couldn’t fix, rapid speech, thoughts going a million miles a minute etc — it sucked and I knew I was manic

I’ve never really had a “happy” manic episode, sometimes it’s just more directed energy, but I never especially feel happy. I’ve had smaller episodes in the past (10 years ago) that were happyish, but everything nowadays is just anxiety

Does anyone have bipolar like this? Not sure if it’s due to the “borderpolar” or what, but sometimes it makes me feel like i’m not actually bipolar or something even though it runs in my family and i’ve been diagnosed with it lol

Bipolar is a bitch!

To summarize, my partner was preliminary diagnosed as bipolar in April after some initial sessions with a psychiatrist. On Monday, he had to commit himself, since we have been waiting since April for them to take him. He only met with the doctor yesterday and the doctor has doubled his anti depressants (ssri) and kept him on his adhd and sleeping meds. She said she would likely double the adhd meds as well and that she thinks maybe he isn’t bipolar (after one session?!).

My question is around what should happen when someone suspected of bipolar is committed - since everything I’ve read says they should be taken off all meds so a proper diagnosis can be made. Is this reasonable? How can they properly diagnose him without know what he is like without medicine.

For background he went into the hospital here two years ago for what we thought was depression. This is where they gave him all the meds but the adhd which was prescribed the year before. His condition drastically worsened after this and the year and a half he has been spending most of his time in bed or building some computer program. Please help! I just want to advocate for him as best I can and if it means moving him back to Denmark for treatment I will push for that too.

We are in Switzerland for reference, but my partner is Danish and right now they are conducting therapies in German despite him not regularly speaking German for 4 - 5 years.

Hi, I was diagnosed with bipolar one a while ago, my grandmother (my mom’s mom) had it. When I was first diagnosed I was put on anti psychotics and it was going good, but then my mom took me off them and hasn’t had me go back on them again. I’m currently not in therapy or seeing a psychiatrist anymore and am unsure what to do. Idk if it’s because of the trauma my mom has with her mom that she doesn’t want to face it, and she often tells me that it’s just my hormones. I am beginning to doubt if I really do have bipolar disorder and I’m just dramatic like she tells me. I would like to start seeing a psychiatrist again and be medicated but am unsure what to do.

Hello I don't know if this is acceptable to post here but here we go.

I am bubbles with BPD bordeline personality disorder and my partner has BP bipolar type 1 disorder.

I'm dealing with a situation I'm in and I'm looking for someone who can help or give advice please. :( I feel hopeless because no one seems to get it.

Just hit me a DM. Please my dears I'm struggling. Thank you for your help. <$

(Crying so I apologize if this post isn't well written.)

Update: please someone

I often find a lot of humor in my manic episodes once I’m out of them, and have also heard unfortunately funny things from fellow bipolar 1 havers regarding their episodes.

I would love to laugh with my fellow maniacs. Please do share.