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.
Background
Wife was a friendly, competent, fully functional mother, wife, employee, mother of 3, through her life and is now 64. We decided to move, had serious problems, challenges about what house to get and got none and bounced to several family places. She had serious depression and anxiety, and has now changed to seeming paranoia, and seeming schizophrenia. She believes people are out to get her, and blames herself. She can be periodically angry and needy. Sometimes she does not want to leave the house and other time not come back. Hospitalized once. On zyprexa and Lexipro which seem to do little.
Friends and family are shocked and saddened at the change. Any suggestions, particularly in crisis situations where she is frightened and perceives strange dangers in her environment.
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
Sounds like there might have been lots of very Heavy Duty Emotional changes: selling family home where kids grew up, empty nest, ending a job....extreme stress can really do damage. Then just throw in lack of self care/eating, sleeping, fun, relaxing....going right out the window.
Sadly, so many painful memories can also play a huge role too....those stuffed down for a life time and all those moves and changes could have been a trigger bringing them to the surface....any huge loss of loved ones, friends?
Sadly in our world today the challenges of covid too have blown out 'normal' and Sadly. today's New Normal Is Paranoid/Angry/Fearful. In Life anyone, we all just want to be loved, heard, and have our feelings validated.....
go slow, gentle and ask Her what she wants or needs....she knows, yet might not feel like she 'deserves' good things right now. Best To You Both!!
Ativan seems pretty effective, she had a bad episode today and that calmed her down, but psych people suggest Ativan is not designed for long-term use. .
It can take quite some times for some people and that includes me to have found the right med/cocktail as well as adding other tools
We do have a treatable disorder and the majority of people can be stabilized ..Meds, therapy, journaling, exercise support gratitude faith if you have one... All of these things can help... Meditation... mindfulness etc
However I've never known it to just go away....
Working with a psychiatrist and not against having bipolar will help her most of all
I am really med sensitive as well and I had to try several before I found what works best for me.... Unfortunately it's not one size fits all and I know it's miserable while you're figuring it out
Ativan simply tranquillized her for a while but it's not addressing the disorder..... xo