What makes someone get help?

My wife was diagnosed when she went from mania on steroids to suacidal depression (hospitialized for it immediately!).

For me - I have been asking for it for years..For others, I don't know?

I have bipolar, and have been taken to a psych when, i was a teenager. They said, I was depressed. I was put in treatment when, I was 16 yrs old, for chemical dependency. I always thought it was because, I was an alcaholic.

I was diagnosed everytime, I had a baby with depression. I have 4 kids...LOL

5 yrs ago, I got out of jail, and I went to a place called Voc Rehab, and they ordered a psych eval. They said I was bipolar, and gave me meds, and said to go find a job. I had no idea house serious it was, and was told, I just had alcaholic thinking, and unresolved anger. I threw out the meds.

5 years later, after my 4 th baby, I hit the worst depression, I ever hit.

I was suicidal, and cycling everyday. I was running away from home, because, I felt everyone would be better off with out me. I thought, I just needed counseling. Well the counselor said, I had bipolar. I was mad at first. I was afraid to take meds. I have friends in AA that have this, too, and one of them helped me feel more comfortable about taking meds.

So, after a year, here, I am. It is not an easy process. It is very scary to not be in control of your moods. I had no idea how destructive this illness has been to my life, and the people in it. I have been this way since, I was 10 yrs old. After, I got help, I wondered why I lived in hell for so long.

other factors include,progression of the illness,insurance,uneducated docs,lack of support,or too much support.I say the "to much support" because that fits into my case.i spent years correcting my bp wifes errors never realizing just how many there was.i simply fixed the money issue or overlooked the lies and moved on,helped her find new jobs,or worked a second job to make up the diference.made excuses as to why she did this or that.

last year came the rock bottom.but once again i pulled us out,but this time it was more for my kids and I.