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.
I need some help from my wonderful DS family please. I'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place and I'm in desperate need of some opinions. I'm sorry this is so long but I want to make sure I cover it all.
My boyfriend and I have been together for about 3 years. He's a wonderful man whom I love dearly. Shortly after we got together I began to really suspect that he is bipolar. I know even "normal" people have fluctuations in emotion but he seems to have all the signs in my opinion. He also has many (4?) family members that are bipolar. In addition, I am bipolar myself and therefore have experience with it and have researched it. I've talked to him about seeking help and he finally did earlier this month. The psychiatrist said that it is more common to have depression if bipolar runs in your family. He said that because he wasn't going on $20,000 shopping sprees, going on police chases, partying, and declaring he was God that it can't be bipolar. He prescribed my boyfriend antidepressants.
This past week I really feel like my boyfriend is having some serious issues. I really think he might be having a manic episode with delusions of jealousy. Here is what has happened... When I take my kids down to the bus stop there are other people who live in our little community of apartments for lack of a better description. One of them is a male neighbor who is obviously there to put his daughter on the bus as well. A few days into the school year he asked me what was wrong with my leg (I have some medical issue going on and walk with a cane). He then asked if I could use a wheelchair or a walker because he had a relative pass away and his family had one in storage. Since then we've had normal, polite, neighborly conversation regarding our children and my leg. We walk back up the driveway, stop and finish up our conversation, then we say have a nice day and part ways for our separate buildings.
My boyfriend has asked me every single day since the first conversation if I have talked to this man. I don't even know his name. I have told him about every conversation. He wants every detail of what has happened, what we talked about, where we were standing, and so on. I have been completely honest in answering all his questions. Since our first argument about this subject I have avoided this man.
Some of the things that he has said leads me to believe that all of this is more than just him being a jealous jerk and more to do with his antidepressants. I told him he could ask one of our other neighbors about it. He said the other neighbor was my friend and would lie for me/cover it up. He said if he comes home during the day for a "surprise visit" and "catches me" talking to this man he will beat him up and there is nothing I can do to stop him. He said that talking to this man will lead to a friendship which will be a relationship and "that's how it all starts". He now refers to this guy as "my little buddy" and says now I can "go cry on his shoulder while he goes to work and busts his a**". He has said that if I can make "guy friends" than he can make "girl friends" and that he will go hang out with them for hours and b.s. with them. He has accused me of both lying and possibly cheating on him. He said that because I'm upset with him I must either be lying and still be talking to the man anymore or I must really like the man and be angry that I "can't" talk to him anymore. He said he won't go back to see his therapist again. He refused to listen that this might possibly be related to his new medication and defiantly (yes defiantly, it would almost be funny if it hadn't been just last night) popped his Prozac right in front of me and told me he's going to keep taking it, he feels just fine.
I know that antidepressants can trigger mania, it's happened to me. I've also read that it's possible to have delusions (irrational, false beliefs that you won't let go of no matter what anyone says) of jealousy. My therapist seemed to think this was in the realm of "normal" yesterday. I think she's completely wrong. He's been jealous before but this is like a whole new level. I really need some opinions about whether or not this is "normal", he's just a jerk, or if it's the meds. I know we're not doctors but we do all have some experience with these issues in here. Please I need some help and advice I don't know what the heck to do. If I call his doctor I'm afraid he'll totally lose it on me. Any and all advice at all is appreciated, thanks!!
My boyfriend and I have been together for about 3 years. He's a wonderful man whom I love dearly. Shortly after we got together I began to really suspect that he is bipolar. I know even "normal" people have fluctuations in emotion but he seems to have all the signs in my opinion. He also has many (4?) family members that are bipolar. In addition, I am bipolar myself and therefore have experience with it and have researched it. I've talked to him about seeking help and he finally did earlier this month. The psychiatrist said that it is more common to have depression if bipolar runs in your family. He said that because he wasn't going on $20,000 shopping sprees, going on police chases, partying, and declaring he was God that it can't be bipolar. He prescribed my boyfriend antidepressants.
This past week I really feel like my boyfriend is having some serious issues. I really think he might be having a manic episode with delusions of jealousy. Here is what has happened... When I take my kids down to the bus stop there are other people who live in our little community of apartments for lack of a better description. One of them is a male neighbor who is obviously there to put his daughter on the bus as well. A few days into the school year he asked me what was wrong with my leg (I have some medical issue going on and walk with a cane). He then asked if I could use a wheelchair or a walker because he had a relative pass away and his family had one in storage. Since then we've had normal, polite, neighborly conversation regarding our children and my leg. We walk back up the driveway, stop and finish up our conversation, then we say have a nice day and part ways for our separate buildings.
My boyfriend has asked me every single day since the first conversation if I have talked to this man. I don't even know his name. I have told him about every conversation. He wants every detail of what has happened, what we talked about, where we were standing, and so on. I have been completely honest in answering all his questions. Since our first argument about this subject I have avoided this man.
Some of the things that he has said leads me to believe that all of this is more than just him being a jealous jerk and more to do with his antidepressants. I told him he could ask one of our other neighbors about it. He said the other neighbor was my friend and would lie for me/cover it up. He said if he comes home during the day for a "surprise visit" and "catches me" talking to this man he will beat him up and there is nothing I can do to stop him. He said that talking to this man will lead to a friendship which will be a relationship and "that's how it all starts". He now refers to this guy as "my little buddy" and says now I can "go cry on his shoulder while he goes to work and busts his a**". He has said that if I can make "guy friends" than he can make "girl friends" and that he will go hang out with them for hours and b.s. with them. He has accused me of both lying and possibly cheating on him. He said that because I'm upset with him I must either be lying and still be talking to the man anymore or I must really like the man and be angry that I "can't" talk to him anymore. He said he won't go back to see his therapist again. He refused to listen that this might possibly be related to his new medication and defiantly (yes defiantly, it would almost be funny if it hadn't been just last night) popped his Prozac right in front of me and told me he's going to keep taking it, he feels just fine.
I know that antidepressants can trigger mania, it's happened to me. I've also read that it's possible to have delusions (irrational, false beliefs that you won't let go of no matter what anyone says) of jealousy. My therapist seemed to think this was in the realm of "normal" yesterday. I think she's completely wrong. He's been jealous before but this is like a whole new level. I really need some opinions about whether or not this is "normal", he's just a jerk, or if it's the meds. I know we're not doctors but we do all have some experience with these issues in here. Please I need some help and advice I don't know what the heck to do. If I call his doctor I'm afraid he'll totally lose it on me. Any and all advice at all is appreciated, thanks!!
I really wish I could offer you some tangible advice, but I find interpersonal relationships SO hard to give advice on. I know I commented before regarding this issue (the neighbor) - you said he IS jealous but has never been jealous on this level. I would seriously think about that issue. Jealousy is very hard to live with.
I have definitely become manic on antidepressants so if his mood has fluctuated that greatly, I can understand your concern. The problem is - he doesn't sound like he is willing to own up to any of his behaviors. Would you be able to talk him into seeing another doctor for a second opinion? Is boyfriend even willing to SEE another doctor?
Last night he came over and insisted on reading my chat with one of my friends. When I tried to refuse he threatened to break my computer. He's threatening to beat up the neighbor. I don't think he'd hurt me but I'm worried that he might damage property or hurt someone else, like the neighbor. I actually stayed on the opposite side of the parking lot from the guy today for his own safety. It's kind of ironic that he probably thinks I'm being a royal b**** for no reason he can see right now. I'm afraid to even tell him that I can't talk to him.
I know he sounds horrible by how I'm describing him right now but I swear when he's stable, which he was for a while, he's great. If I didn't know what he was normally like I would have run like heck by now. It's because I love him and think that it's because of his mental health issues that I don't want to go. I know what it's like to be bipolar and have people judge you and leave you when you need them the most. I would never want to do that to someone.
We both see the same practice but different people. I was thinking about calling my therapist and having her consult with my med guy about the symptoms to get some kind of answer from someone I trust. His doctor seemed like a real idiot to me. My boyfriend isn't even supposed to go back for a check up on his meds until the 14th of this month. How exactly did they expect me to handle this if it happened. I even warned the guy, I wanna smack him.