Bipolar in the family Support Group

My husband and i have been married for 4 years now but together for over 9! 2 years ago, he got hooked on pain medecine and now he cant stop using. he takes oxycodone and xanax when he has money. and if not he loads himself up with sleeping pills. lately i have notice a strange attitude in him and i am wondering if he might not be bipolar. besides the fact that he constantly wants to pick a fight with me for no reason, he just doesnt sleep at all at night and keeps me up. he can go on and talk about everything and anything, making absolutely no sense what so ever. i even hear him talk to himself in the hallway as if he was talking to someone. like an hallucination! he also does really weird thing in the middle of the night. he emptied the dirty dishwasher and put most of it in the fridge??? anyway, i am really worry. he has threaten me many times, to hurt me or my cats and then a minute later he will say, ok sweety lets make out!!! he goes from one extreme to another. i am afraid and i need to know more about this bipolar disease. please any advice anyone??

You need tg get your husband diagnosed before you can help him. A good psychiatrist and psychologist is what you should start with. I had bippolar all my life but didnt get diagnosed until about 4 years ago. I felt it was like a life sentence, but at least I knew what was wrong with me. If he is bipolar, he needs to be on meds and receive counseling and stick with it. And you are going to have to be very patient and understanding.Hopefully, the meds will work and relieve many symptoms, but wont cure the disease. It's a test of true love. You sound like you really care. God Bless, Terry

Hi, Baby. Most of my husband's life he was drug addicted until 1991, when he entered treatment again and stayed clean and sober until 2007 when he was prescribed pain meds for his back pain. Anyway, he was off and running for six months until he went to a rehab in Florida. After coming back home and going to oupatient therapy, they diagnosed him as bipolar. He did some of the things your husband is doing now, like needing less sleep and talking a lot, which was not usual for him. I'm starting to think he was maybe bipolar all along and that's what made him use drugs, just trying to make himself feel better. Like Terry said, he should see a doctor and get diagnosed. My husband was put on Lamictal, which he has taken now for about six weeks, and I do see a change in him. I know it's scary for you, but you have to be patient and take care of yourself in the meantime. They say if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to help him. I am seeing a therapist and it is helping me not to react to him like I would do in the past. There is help out there for the both of you. Take care.

Cathy