What resources are available for spouses of people with bipolar disorder?

My wife was diagnosed with manic/bipolar disorder six years ago and we are still struggling to find all aspects of stability. It is finally taking a severe emotional toll on me and I worry that I will spend the rest of my life as more of a caregiver than a spouse. Our marriage is in trouble.

In working to help her deal and live with mental illness, I worry that I have not found adequate coping skills to help me deal with the illness as well. Sometimes I feel like the spouse of someone with Alzheimer's--watching helplessly from the outside as we become less and less recognizable to one another.

I empathize with those who suffer from mental illness. What of their spouses? What resources are available to us so that we also can retain a measure of mental health and help our loved ones find the balance they need?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness sponsors Family to Family programs for relatives of people with mental illness. Check with http://www.nami.org for the nearest chapter in your community. NAMI works to advocate for the mentally ill and to de-stigmatize mental illness.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is a support group for people who suffer from bipolar disorder and/or depression and their loved ones. Check with http://www.dbsalliance.com for a chapter near you.

Oh man, I really feel for you on this one. I can only imagine how hard your situation must be. I would suggest going to counseling or support groups yourself. Even though you don't suffer from it directly, it is obviously affecting you too. If you have already made the decision to stick with her through it, then counseling/support groups can teach you how to cope, and possibly get more perspective. If you haven't decided yet, it may help you to reach a decision in deciding what is best for you.
Here is a site that offers some suggestions:
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/art...

Best of luck to you.

First I want to say thank you for being supportive and understanding of your wife's problem. I was recently diagnosed as bipolar and my husband has been so great with all of the struggles with medication and side effects.

You do need to find someone to talk to that is experiencing the same things as you are....just like your wife could benefit from talking to someone who is going thru what she is.

I found this link http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar It looks like a good place to start.

If you would like to talk....you can email me and talk to me or my husband. I know sometimes it can be overwhelming and all it takes is for someone to let you know you're not alone and that what is happening is normal.

Firstly i want to congratulate you on your outstanding attitude. I ma disabled and my husband was left to do everything for me after an accident. it is so hard on the carer!!! what support is available really depends on where you are. if your in astralia you can get 2 fornighlty payments, 1 a carers pension which is about $450 and 2 a carer allowence which is not means tested which means that even if your rich you can still get it and thats $90.
you might also be eligable for home care. homecare will provide showering, feeding and wound care for the disabled person and home care will also provide housework at a minimal cost. if your on a pension theyll charge you around $20 a week. you could also get meals on wheels and respite care. there are 2 types of respite, 1 is where someone comes to your house and cares for your spouse for a couple of hours while you take of, or you take your spouse to a respite care center where she will stay while you have a break. theres also a great service called community options which will give you a case manager and that person is the one that makes the phone calls and aranges all the services you need even public housing, counselling or financial assitence. my comunity options manager bought me a brand new washing machine!!!! start by ringing your local comunity health centre. they will no whats available in your area and can also link you up with support groups. in this country there is a mountain of support for carers as the government places a lot of value on carers that save them money ny careing for there loved one rather than placing them in a government nursing home. so make some phone calls. Goodluck, Sarah