The thing that scares me is

My husband has a high position in a company. What if it happens someday there. Sure in most interactions there he seems to get by but what happens one day if someone accidentally pushes that button? His career could go down the toilet in an instant because of his emotional instability.

I thought the world had come to an end when my husband ended up hospitalized after an extreme manic episode. What if someone found out, etc., etc. Turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to us. He finally had to confront the fact that something was "wrong". He's been stable on meds and med-compliant ever since.

I don't spend my time worrying about this too much only recognize that it could happen. It's another reason too seek another medical opinion to see if a different med could help his emotional lability.

Is he currently seeing a pdoc? Who is prescribing for him? I hope it's not a GP.

We have been dealing with this to an extreme since my first son was born. He's 9 now. In the meantime we have had 3 more children.

We first went to a psychologist who recommended a psychiatrist who diagnosed BP2 and prescribed Depakote.

We then returned to the psychologist who really did nothing to help us. Another psychologist in his practice informed me that my husband does not have bipolar at all that it is cluster B personality disorder. Every place you go to research the subject of Borderline Personality Disorder, offers no hope, no treatment, no meds. Except in select areas where Dialectical Behavior Therapy is offered and it can be cost prohibitive. It involves reteaching the person how to think. I really think it is time to go to another psychiatrist since my husband's has retired, give him the low down and get an educated prognosis, plan for treatment if possible, ask what his recommendation would be as far as talk therapy for my husband etc. I feel good about this move and feel like there is no way it can harm the situation.

I will plan to go first by myself and see what he says, if he thinks meds could help my husband I will approach my husband with it.

I am just so thankful for this ray of hope. Even if that's all it is. Thank you for that.

Post edited by: damselndistress, at: 04/24/2008 10:11

DEFINITELY time for a new psychiatrist. And don't let the psychologists do the dxing, let them do the therapy. I think the dx he was handed is highly suspect. But even if they are right, the med treatment is basically the same (just like it is for BPI and BPII... who cares if it's a chicken? if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, IT'S A DUCK!!)

He has emotional stability issues. So do BPs. From what you've written, it sounds like he has dysphoric manic episodes. Either the Depakote isn't working as well as it should, or he needs the dosage raised. He may even benefit from a low dose of an antipsychotic (tends to roll the mania down).

Check your listings locally and see if you can find a psychopharmacologist. They're the best--specially trained pdocs with a greater understanding of meds. Had to use one once and I was greatly impressed by his knowledge. (Didn't have much bedside manner, but that didn't matter at the time.)