Bipolar in the family Support Group

Hello, I 'm new as of the 4th to this site and recieved good feedback from Glory.

Since the mishap on the 4th our son-in-law has not spoken to our daughter nor our grandchildren as if it were their fault that he had a meltdown and became close to being violent?

I have once before seen his behavior being rageful and OCD about the rage.

He is on Prozac and lithium. And wrote a note to myself about contacting his Doc for something entirely different not addressing his recent behavior. The note didn't include making an appointment with his therapist.

Can anyone give me some more insight into this?

I'm feeling so helpless for our daughter and grandchildren.

My mother is bipolar and unfortantely one of the symptoms is turning against or becoming paranoid of the ones you love most. During my mother's episode's she would become very violent towards my father. She would call him horrible names and on one occasion punched him in the mouth. She never was violent towards me or my siblings but she distanced herself.

Sounds to me like the combination of medications he is on aren't working. From my understanding Lithium is starting to become an outdated drug because of the side affects associated with it. Depakote and Geodone are now more commonly used.

My mother would often get sick during the summer because she had a tendancy to sweat out her medications. When her medication levels would drop her bipolar symptoms would start to come back, and she would start to get paranoid about the medication and stop taking it altogether. Maybe something like this is occurring with your son-in-law?

Dear SweetCaroline,

I sympathize with your situation, especially for the children. I have read online much about certain manic episodes become worse when bipolars are treated with certain antidepressants. My husband seems manic 24/7 but they still put him on antidepressant...however my understanding is that is specifically for bipolar. Not sure how it is different but it seems to not be making things any worse at this point...not sure if it helping yet though. It has been very hard for me to accept my husband's illness for some of his violent behaviors. I you may be angry and you have a right to be...but while allowing yourself to be angry for how it hurts your family members it helps to end each angry thought with "I know this wouldn't be happening if he weren't sick" At least it helps me to feel good about myself and keep my anger in perspective to continue on. Keep us updated and this is a great place for support.

Dear Honda girl and Sadme.

I so appreciate your feedback, both of you.

It gives me a better insight.

My son-in-law is searching, with the encouragement and insistance of our daughter, to seek another psychiatrist and did see his counselor. His original psychiatrist said he didn't need his meds altered. That is what our son-in-law said.

At any rate, he is not welcome in our home until we hear of his improvement and he is seeing a therapist and a new psychiatrist on a regular basis.

At this time our attention is concentrated on our daughter and grandchildren's well being.

I will keep you posted.

Hi Caroline.

I am hearing a couple of encouraging things from you. First, you and your daughter are handling things very well, with the encuoragment and the boundaries. It sounds like she is insisting he get treatment, and you are too, by not allowing him at your home until he shows improvement. I can't blame you one bit if he has been close to becoming violent.

And, it sounds like you are having some success, as he is seeking treatment. I'm sure you know that it can be very difficult treating BP Disorder. The BP needs to want to get better, and then they need to find, and take the right medication. THis can be hard, a real trial and error process. I hope you are successful.

Let us know how things are going, ok?

Talk to you soon,

Paul

Thank-you Paul,

I appreciate your feedback.

Yes, boundaries and encouragement is important.

Our son-in-law knows that if his behavior continues he stands to lose everything.

He had problems before. This was just the "topping on the cake" for everyone.

He has told me that one of the reasons he wanted to marry our daughter was the stability and closeness of our family.

At this point he is calling other psychiatists in their area. I'm not sure about the counseling if he saw his therapist this week or not.

Bipolar folks need ongoing counseling with their meds indefinitatly I have found.

Thanks so very much for all your support and I look forward to more information from anyone.