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 ahve never been arrested and i have never been in jail..but I have got a question...WHY DO THE POLICE AND LAWYERS HATE BI POLAR PEOPLE? Do they think it is catchy? Now let me tell you about a few cases...there was a man in New York who had a very unhappy life and his father was miserable.The man left home at 18 and just didnt go home and there was no contact for at least 35 years...now something has happened to the parents.The father was diagnosed with Altheimzers and this man told me that under no circumstance will he take care of his father and wants no contact with him.He asked me if he was rotten.He told me he was bi-polar and didnt want alheimzers..First of all...i told him...it isnt catching.Now he is under watch in a hospital.It seems that the doctor gave him valium for a breif depression.The doctor told him to take 2 at bedtime and go home...he had a fight with his son and took the pills with him.There was a party in work..a retirment party and liquor was served.This man loves his scotch....he told the valium with is scotch.and he had 3 .Noone knows he is under a doctors care...He is a very private person.Well..it was raining and he was coming home and he was speeding...guess what? He hit 3 parked cars and one of them was a sheriffs deputy car and this guy was off duty.This man did not stop.He kept on going.He kept on speeding.He lead them on a chase and then fainted at the wheel.He surrended.Now he is jail.You are allowed one call.Guess who he called? He called me! What can I do? I live in seattle and I am on ssi..as for the bail money..I simply cant afford it.His blood alcohol level was .008 and that is above the level and he requested the breathlayers...I told him that I will see what I can do...What would you do? I have known him since 1953...and even as a child...my friend was difficult..and then he told the lawyer..he was bi polar and the lawyer told him that the police in New York and around the country dont like to do business with "you people." Now what does he mean? I dont drink nor smoke.I havent been to a doctor in ten years...I am up everyday at 4 o clock because Brad goes to work at 6 and I watch BBC news and all of the news shows...but you know hes right...even the justices on the Supreme Court have difficulty with us bi polar people why? And do you think he remembers hitting the cars??HE DOESNT REMEMBER...BECAUSE HE BLACKED OUT IN THE CAR...AND WHEN HE AWOKE =....HE DIDNT KNOW WHERE HE WAS...WHAT SHOULD I DO?
In all of your long story, the key part there was, HE TOOK MEDS AND DRANK. Anybody and I mean anybody knows not to do that. He has to be held accountable for his actions. He could have killed someone.
On your view of lawyers and police not liking people with bipolar disorder.......I disagree. I am sure there are some and I believe it is because.......we can be angry and abusive when drinking and on meds and many of us use our disorder as an excuse for bad behavior. I know lots of police officers and court officers who have respect for those of us with mental illness that take responsibility for our behavior. So it isnt a blanket dislike.
Your friend did something very wrong and he put alot of people in danger by his one choice to take meds and drink. If you bail him out, you enable him to continue his bad behavior. I know this all too well from raising four boys and experience with my in laws. The best thing to do for him is pray. Hugs
"...the police in New York and around the country dont like to do business with 'you people.'"
but this part also sucks:
"This man loves his scotch....he to[ok] the valium with [h]is scotch."
the best way to fight stigma/bias is not to play into it. your friend could have easily died that night and taken other people with him under circumstances that i would not necessarily call an accident.
he is obviously not managing his bp well and either needs to get back on track himself or needs to ask for help in doing it...
i don't know what the best legal course of action is in getting him that help. prison may only make him worse...who knows...
but getting upset with the justice system over this incident sure seems like a side issue to the main event to me...
good luck to your friend in getting help. i'm sure he's already had his wake up call...
xx, beep.
still hope your friend gets help...but there's nothing that says you have to be a part of any of his drama.
xx, beep.
I guess, I would say something similar to what these guys said----His life sounds waaaaaaay too complicated for anything less than a team of professionals to be able to deal with. I'm on disability as well, and it takes everything we've got just to keep our family surviving. We have had our share of people who try to drain us, or people who can't help the fact that they're draining, but they just are, and if we let people drain us, then we run dry and we don't have anything left to give anyone.