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.
My bf has recently found what he has termed his "life calling" - to return to college for an MS and become "a success".
Unfortunately, from my perspective, I feel like he is trying to keep up/prove himself to his father, because his choice of majors very closely parallels his father's career.
(I have not said this to him)
Since this has happened, I notice him picking fights/escalating things into "issues" that should never be, creating fights/looking for arguments,
I also feel he is grasping at straws to create "incompatibility"...silly things such as I have no interest in his field of study (OK, and he has no interest in my career either!)big deal.
I also "don't like to travel" - total lie.
I worry that he wants to be free of any obligation so he can be free to act out sexually, even though he wants me to believe he wants the distance to focus on his school. He does not work.
He then told me he wanted me to tell him it would be ok for him to date other women.
I sense things verging on mania (non stop gogogogogo from the time he gets up in the early am until he crashes.) And that is another compatibility issue...I am too laid back!!!
I hope someone can offer me some reassurances here that this is the disorder and not him.
I have already been told not to diagnose or mother hen him as well. Very defensive these days.
He denies hypomania and gets very angry and defensive when I say anything to him about it. What can I do?
Unfortunately, from my perspective, I feel like he is trying to keep up/prove himself to his father, because his choice of majors very closely parallels his father's career.
(I have not said this to him)
Since this has happened, I notice him picking fights/escalating things into "issues" that should never be, creating fights/looking for arguments,
I also feel he is grasping at straws to create "incompatibility"...silly things such as I have no interest in his field of study (OK, and he has no interest in my career either!)big deal.
I also "don't like to travel" - total lie.
I worry that he wants to be free of any obligation so he can be free to act out sexually, even though he wants me to believe he wants the distance to focus on his school. He does not work.
He then told me he wanted me to tell him it would be ok for him to date other women.
I sense things verging on mania (non stop gogogogogo from the time he gets up in the early am until he crashes.) And that is another compatibility issue...I am too laid back!!!
I hope someone can offer me some reassurances here that this is the disorder and not him.
I have already been told not to diagnose or mother hen him as well. Very defensive these days.
He denies hypomania and gets very angry and defensive when I say anything to him about it. What can I do?
Is there anything I can do besides just sit back and watch? If that is all I can do I will do it. I don't want to escalate anything or make it worse!
I would keep my radar on high alert if I was you and get him to a P-Doc. You can point out that if he goes and the doc says he is not cycling then you will back off and accept that. It's like my mom says "See the doctor - just for my peace of mind" when she is worried - sometimes she's right, sometimes she's wrong but we have that agreement- I'll go because if she's right she'll save me a lot of pain down the road and if she is wrong she backs off. (Just make sure he is seeing someone experienced with Bipolar) If he will not go just try and do everything you can to protect yourself from what may be coming.
I also suggest that you keep a list of psych urgent cares on hand and a list of people/docs you can call. Sometimes it is even a good idea to make the appointment now, even if he is saying he wont go, because it can take so long to get in (up to a month or two where I live) and you can always cancel it later if you need to. Being the support person is never easy.