Living with a Bipolar Husband

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2007
Living with a Bipolar Husband
4
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 10:06am
This is my first time on the site, but I thought I would give it a shot seeing as how there is little out there for those of us living with someone who is bipolar...Anyone out there dealing with this same thing?
My husband is Bipolar, he is also OCD and an alcoholic. It came out of the blue and therefore I have been hit in the face with the reality. He's on an upswing now, things have been ok for about a month, but I seem to be waiting for the other shoe to fall.
I know much about psychological disorders as I have studied them in school and lived with a family member who was bipolar and an alcoholic, but...never have I been married to someone diagnosed with these things; and it seems that being married to someone suffering from these things puts an entire new spin on the issue.
Is there a book out there? Anyone who has gone through it and come out on top?
There seems to be so much support out there for those with the problem and there is support for those related to alcoholics but is there support for other disorders?
Thanks for your time...
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 12:13pm

NAMI has support groups for friends and family members of the mentally ill all across the country--you can find a group on their web site www.nami.org .

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 4:53pm

Because I'm desperately trying to keep busy (without doing what I need to do), I checked on a few books:


Helping Someone with Mental Illness

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 5:03pm
Just found another one of possible interest, when I went to check out one of the others:
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 8:03pm

Hi, I too am married to a husband with bipolar disorder. My life has been one long roller coaster with him. He went undiagnosed for many years, which was difficult, but now even on meds. it is still like a roller coaster, only not quite as bad. One day he will tell me how much he loves me, and the next, he will think our relationship is terrible. I really have to watch what I say around him, and sometimes that is very hard. I have to tell the kids not to talk to him when he is cranky, as he will just go on and on and yell at them etc. It is really like walking on eggshells sometimes. I think he needs his meds. changed or something right now, but he doesn't agree. It is hard to get him to the Dr. sometimes, especially if he thinks his behaviour is fine, and everyone else's isn't. Before he was diagnosed he had an affair, we were seperated for a few months, and that was pure H*&! The kids really suffered and I don't want them to have to go through that again. I have had many sleepless nights because of him, and I can honestly say I don't know if I would have married him if I knew what our marriage and life together would be like. I do love him, but I have almost had enough already. Sorry if I sound so negative, of course there are positive things about bipolar, like the kind of hyper manic, but not too manic phase that my DH goes through sometimes, that I do like. I am here if you need support.

Take care,
Lori