Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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How do I help my boyfriend be more open?

deleted_user
deleted_user
My boyfriend seems to think he can treat his bipolar with just meds. He isn't very open to realizing that diet, excercise and so many other things affect his moods. I've asked him to keep a mood chart, journal, look into his diet, read this great book i found "loving someone with bipolar" with me, etc. It's such a struggle to get him into any of it. i don't want him to feel like i'm trying to push or that i'm his mom but i know he needs to embrace a more holistic approach. thanx for the advice.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My husband is the same way with me as far as taking a head-on approach to reading, researching and helping me in any way he can.
Being in your b/f's possition I can understand where he is coming from to an extent. It's hard to accept that you have a problem, and it's easy to forget.
But at the same time, I WANT help... I want to help myself and no matter how badly my husband wants me to get better, I won't until I make those changes myself.
But it is EXTREMELY helpful to have his support, and I think that it's great you are taking the same approach.
But you do need to get serious with him about it-Or he should get serious with you. If he doesn't want to help himself then you need to reconsider your relationship. Those things cannot be one sided and you will end up being hurt in the long run.
Best of luck.
deleted_user
deleted_user
thanx for the reply! He is serious about it just in his own stubborn time. i'm just a bit OCD and like to see things done in my own time!
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's hard to accept you need to change your life. And many times the DR just throws meds at you and says little about these other things. So maybe his Dr is doing the same thing and it seems that you are over reacting. Us men are stubborn!:)
deleted_user
deleted_user
thank you both for the advice! yes i know it is hard for him but i want him to stop having so much of a struggle so it's also hard for me to watch. I go to his dr appts and i'm starting to get more involved. sometimes i feel like his dr kind of brushes me off. yes, U men are stubborn! and he is a taurus so he is the most stubbornest! LOL i'm working and praying on him to open his mind but i'm also mindful that i can not change someone unless they want to change. he really wants our relationship to work so he does things for that but i wish that he would do things for himself more. he doesn't seem to care much about himself even when he's not depressed. big step though, i've gotten him to go back to a therapist! BABY STEPS PEOPLE, BABY STEPS! :D
deleted_user
deleted_user
listen just the fact that he takes his meds is a good step to start with. being male they do tend to be a little more closed up to start with but im sure persistence might pay off. but i reckon you should be just happy hes taking his meds
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