The best way to talk to the irrational side?

I have bipolar 1, with rapid cycling, and psychosis. I have had some terrible dillusions, and think everyone is conspirizing against me.

I have triggers. It's important to find out what her triggers are.

Mine are abandonment, if my kids are at risk, and old family issues.

My fiance and I are working on this very thing.

So far, I have to do my part, and he has to do his. I have been working on being aware of when the cycle starts, and when it ends. If I pace myself, I know when to get a time out, before it gets out of my control.

There are things I need to do to take care of myself, and I have told my fiance if, I need to take a break from life for a couple of days. My fiance helps me by getting me out of the house. We go work out, or go do errands. I can't take on too much. I have 4 kids, and I can get really stressed out, and need to go get some time out. I used to get so mad, when, I was left home with out a car, with three babies, and no way to get out. I felt isolated. I would wait for by boyfriend to come home, and demand his attention. Mostly, I need to feel like I am important.

My fiance is learning how to deal with me, when, I am manic. He doesn't react, and I usually, can sense when, I am about to try to pull him into a fight. I now can walk away, and go outside, and calm down. When, I beyond the point where, I can't calm down we agreed he needs to leave, or warn me to take my antipsychotic that, I have been given for emergencies.

I also have a crisis support team. My therapist, pdoc, and PSR worker, and close friends.

I am glad you are setting boundaries, and not putting up with any of her dishonest behavior. My fiance , and I have a very honest relationship, and work together pretty well. He has offered to go to my pdoc appointments with me.

Don't worry so much about her reaction. If you walk on egg shells, and let her have this power over you you are enabling her to continue taking this out on you. This is called caretaking. Yopu are afraid of her. You are not taking care of you by dpoing this. You are getting entangled in her sickness. This is her illness, and she needs to take the steps to get help, and get herself better. None of what you are doing is helping her, or keeping her from behaving the way she is.

If you need to take a long break. She has been offered the opportunity to get help. If she doesn't take it she will get worse.

It's time to say no, and get out of the way of the bus. If you keep getting in the way, you will get hit.

She is not able to be responsible, or available. Until she is stable it doesn't help to fight her, or try to reason with her. She is accountable for her actions, but if she wont make the effort to stop, the only way to take care of you is to remove your self from the situation. It is called detaching. Detaching is letting go, and letting someone learn from their own consequences. You have been focussing all your energy on her, that your kids, and you have probably been neglected. Maybe you could get some help for you from a counselor, or friends, and family. She wont be there until she is ready, and sometimes it takes awhile to get stable. Love her from a distance, and allow her story to unfold. This isn't your battle.

Hang in there. WE are here for you.

Just my .02.