Here is a question from Liz.
Her partner has bipolar disorder and recently got out of the hospital. She asks an interesting question- as a partner of someone with the illness, where does help end and needing the person to take care of themselves on their own begin? It’s surely a fine line. I read the question and answer it on the podcast below.
Hi Julie,
I just want to say thank you for having this site and writing your books. My husband was just diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in December after a very scary manic episode where he was on the roof of a McDonalds 45 minutes from our house.
I have learned a lot about bipolar disorder through your book, Loving someone with bipolar disorder and he has just to really begun to read Take charge of Bipolar disorder.
He is on medication and was on sick leave from his job for 6 months and has just returned last week on a light duty schedule. We have a long way to go. As you know, there are bad days and good days. One of our biggest problems is when it is time to go to sleep at night. He cannot go to sleep unless I am in bed with him. We seem to go through the same ritual every night. He goes to bed much earlier than me because he has to get up much earlier for work. He sits on the side of the bed and says, “this can’t be happening to me or I hate feeling this way. After about 10-15 minutes, he then lays down and puts his sleep machine on (sleep apnea) and falls asleep within 5-10 minutes. It is very frustrating for both of us. Any suggestions.
Hi Liz,
I like to answer reader questions on a podcast because it’s just so much more personal when I say in my own voice- I have been there, my ex who has bipolar one has been there, most of the readers and their family members have too!
This illness is frustrating, but it is treatable.
You can listen to the audio below for my answers to your question.
Julie[display_podcast]
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Hi Julie,
First, thanks for your wonderful books. My question might not have an answer – but here goes. Last July my niece got back in contact with me after 14 years of silence and informed me of her bipolar diagnosis. Before that separation we used to be very close and she lived with me for a while. My “problem” is how do I help. She was doing “fairly well” this last year and now she is sliding away again. I had wanted to invite her to live with me again so that I could help her implement your ideas, but this past month she has become more depressed and angry and there has been less communication. I am disabled (physically) and also have MPD; my roommate is physically disabled too. We want to help. Do you think we are in a position to help her (when she indicates she might want us to) or is this all too much for us to undertake. I hate to see that there could be a solution to her situation and not be able to be of help.
thanks
Bree