hi there. only thing is to get him to a doctor.

Up and down from day to day is not typical bipolar, our mood swings usually last unmedicated for weeks or months and as you will know from your background there are a bunch of things that will give rise to bipolar type symptoms, including a number physical things.

Unfortunately it can't move forward until he goes for a diagnosis.

good luck.

Never going to happen. I've tried for years to no avail. What I mean by up and down during the day, is after he knows he's gone to far in something he said, he'll back off and claim he's never said it. He'll then act as if everything is okay.

I know it can be any number of disorders, but since he's refused to go to the doctor, there's nothing I can do but take a guess based on symptoms and join a group that can help me get through this mess.

I just read your post on this and it is very helpful. So much I see in my father but not everything.

hmm..well when we are episodic we don't know we are going to far or have gone too far.

I just realise 6 months later.

My son, age 13, was diagnosed w/ BP around age 7. One thing he's doing more & more of is to lie or make things up and then it seems to become reality to him. He also does a lot of blaming, for pretty much everything in his life that goes wrong.

I can relate to what you are saying with the up and down but see what A curious fish is saying too about the moods lasting longer. My mom, recently in a nursing home now, bounces back and forth between good days/weeks and bad days/weeks. One week/day she is happy and pleasant and all is well and the next she is miserable and find fault in everything. (with the nursing home) It is not easy getting them committed. I have had it done twice in the last year. The 2nd time was horrible watching her live like that but I knew I had to wait until it was really bad to be able to take over and do something for her to help on a more permanent basis. I think you should make sure you have a therapist to talk to so that you can deal with your grief as well and your father. Your own mental health is important because you will not be able to do a good job as caregiver unless you are healthy. I would be afraid of the guns in the house and I think I would get rid of them. As for the stories he tells, I hope your relatives are intelligent enough to know this is not the case, if not too bad. You have enough on your plate, dealing with other relatives that are a thorn in the side is over the top and they can take a hike. I am dealing, well more like done with one now myself. You need people around you that are suppoprtive not fair weather friends and relatives. When the chips are down you find out very quickly who is truly a good friend/ relation. It can hurt so be prepared and you may be shocked at who is there and who is not but there is enough to deal with and you don't need anyone else's thorns. My mom's sister is the one who should have been supportive and her life long friends, but they are not there, in fact her sister is blinded by the stories my mom tells and is a huge thorn to me. I have pretty much written her off as she is selfish and chose to say things to my mom that I asked her to keep to herself. The one that is most helpful is my other aunt, the ex-sister-in-law. She has been an incredible supporter for both of us. I know I am off topic here, but I completely understand what you are going through. I could never do what you are doing and take my mom into my home to live, I don't have the patience to do that. She deserves better than what would come of that situation. Perhaps it is just the point I am at in my life with 3 very busy active kids and work, but I needed to be able to leave her home and close the door for my own well being even though I brought the stress home with me. So here it is bottom line, look after yourself first so that you can do the best job possible for your dad.