Family & Friends of Bipolar Support Group

This community is dedicated to parents, siblings, grandparents, other relatives and friends of someone who is Bipolar. The purpose of this community is to help families and friends develop greater patience and understanding, as well as maintain a positive, caring relationships with those diagnosed as Bipolar.

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/ Family & Friends of Bipolar Support Group

Venting

1234nc
1234nc

My dad is Bipolar, diagnosed about eight years ago, and is starting to get much worse. He is medicated, but does not go to therapy, and came from quite a rough childhood. I think his meds are not doing the job, but I really don't want to get involved, as I was the one who got him diagnosed, and that was a challenge in its self.


I'm getting quite frustrated with his behavior, especially with his gambling and telling me I should be supporting him. He has been earning a six-figure income for his long career of 40+ years and should have retired a long time ago. 


I am just now gotten a somewhat decent temporary job, but it is in my crappy town and looking to use this money to move away permanently from this situation.


He is also recently divorced, as of last year, and keeps trying to pull me into his crap. He has no social life or hobbies, unless you count TV...  


I don't really want to cut ties, but it is definitely getting tiring listening to his problems and drama.


He is the last of the family I have left due to having a mentally ill mother and her family being quite toxic too. 


I can't move away from this situation until at least August, when this work, hopefully, finishes and I can move on.


Anyway, thanks for reading if you got this far.



I think I'm just tired of not really having a normal family life or a really significant social life due to a messed up start.

Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Big hug 1234...... I would tell him that you're recognizing signs that he's unwell and that he needs professional help and that's not something you can do

Gambling can be manic or hypomanic behaviour .... however it can also be addiction??

His meds don't seem to be working if he is taking them.... He has to plug into his treatment in order to be stable and I would tell him just that

There is nothing wrong with having boundaries if he isn't helping himself in fact it's a healthy thing to do

Big hug.....xo
thesister
thesister
I am so glad you shared your heart on this. My first thought is good for you for recognizing he is toxic for you. I have a father that struggles a lot, and I have always been there for him no matter what. I am currently working on boundaries while I am being there for him. Family is so important, it makes sense that you want to maintain or improve your relationship with him - not just because he is all you have, but also he is your dad. We want our daddy's no matter what, but what I have found is, at least for me, I want the fairytale dad that is in my head. For the past year I have been working on living in reality by not putting false qualities on my dad and being upset that he is not attaining them. My dad is what he is and I love him. Setting boundaries and living in reality is how I survive. Good luck friend!
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