When we first met he was the sweetest person alive. I have never met anyone so nice and so caring before. A person with road rage could drive by and he would just laugh it off... this was in July of 2007. Sometime in September, he started to show signs of anger issues. He was taking Wellbutrin SR for depression and it seemed to be helping him. He got sick in December he got worse, and the next thing I know he is talking about how he is a reincarnation of the archangel Gabriel and he is put on this earth to do gods work and no on can touch him becuase he is so holy. He recently started speaking in a language that does not exist and thinks he is telepathic and can move things with his mind. He started lying to me (I dont think he realized he was lying) and last weekend he did something he shouldnt have done (not with me) and got himself arrested. He is now in the hospital in the psychiatric intensive care unit. He does not remember doing the bad things. is there meds that can fix this? He seems to be getting better with most of the anger issues. But he still believes that he is an angel on earth (gabriel) He gets angry with me if I do not understand teh weird language he speaks when he talks to me. He told me he found someone for a threesome, I told him I am not interested and he got mad and hung up on me. He then called back and left a voice mail breaking up with me saying that he does not need to be with anyone who DOES NOT support him while he is in the hospital. I am not sure to believe him or if it is the disease talking and he wont remember it... He remembers an altered version of what happend when he was arrested. Its sad and this is really hurting me... I love him so much, but I dont know what to do... here are some treatment of bipolar disorder,,if you love him you'll read my answer even if its long...:)
Self help in understanding
Understanding the symptoms, when they occur and ways to better control them has given many people diagnosed with bipolar a chance. A helpful hint is to remember that this is not a major illness, rather a benefit in most controlled cases.
Lithium salts
had long been used as a first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. In ancient times, doctors would send their mentally ill patients to drink from "alkali springs" as a treatment. They did not know it, but they were really prescribing lithium, which was present in high concentration in the waters. The therapeutic effect of lithium salts appears to be entirely due to the lithium ion, Li+.
The two lithium salts used for bipolar therapy are lithium carbonate (mostly) and lithium citrate (sometimes). Approved for the treatment of acute mania in 1970 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), lithium has been an effective mood-stabilizing medication for many people with bipolar disorder. Lithium is also noted for reducing the risk of suicide. Although lithium is among the most effective mood stabilizers, persons taking it may experience side effects similar to the effects of ingesting too much table salt, such as high blood pressure, water retention, and constipation. Regular blood testing is required when taking lithium to determine the correct lithium levels since the therapeutic dose is close to the toxic dose.
Anticonvulsant medications,
particularly valproate and carbamazepine, have been used as alternatives or adjuncts to lithium in many cases. Valproate (Depakote and Depakene, Epival) was FDA approved for the treatment of acute mania in 1995, and is now considered by some doctors to be the first line of therapy for bipolar disorder. For some, it is preferable to lithium because its side effect profile seems to be less severe, compliance with the medication is better, and fewer breakthrough manic episodes occur. However, valproate is not as effective as lithium in preventing or managing depressive episodes, so patients taking valproate may also need an antidepressant as an adjunct medicinal therapy.
Atypical antipsychotic drugs
The newer atypical antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine are often used in acutely manic patients, because these medications have a rapid onset of psychomotor inhibition, which may be lifesaving in the case of a violent or psychotic patient. Parenteral and orally disintegrating (in particular, Zydis wafers) forms are favoured in emergency room settings.These drugs can also be used as adjunctives to lithium or anticonvulsants in refractory bipolar disorder and in prevention of mania recurrence.
In light of recent evidence, olanzapine (Zyprexa) has been FDA approved as an effective monotherapy for the maintenance of bipolar disorder
Modafinil (Provigil) and pramipexole (Mirapex)
show promise in treating the cognitive deterioration related to bipolar depression.In addition riluzole a ALS treatment has been shown to be effective treatment.
Psychotherapy
Certain types of psychotherapy, used in combination with medication, may provide some benefit in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Psychoeducation has been shown to be effective in improving patients' compliance with their lithium treatment. Several studies of family therapy report it can improve family communication, social functioning and lithium compliance, though it appears to be effective mainly on females.
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is sometimes used to treat severe bipolar depression in cases where other treatments have failed and is 60 to 70 percent effective. Although it has proved to be a highly effective treatment, doctors are reluctant to use it except as a treatment of last resort because of the side-effects and possible temporary memory loss complications of ECT, particularly when repeated treatments ("maintenance ECT") are needed.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids may also be used as a treatment for bipolar disorder, particularly as a supplement to medication. An initial clinical trial by Stoll et al. produced positive results. However, since 1999 attempts to confirm this finding of beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in several larger double-blind clinical trials have produced inconclusive results. It was hypothesized that the therapeutic ingredient in omega-3
Complementary and alternative treatments
Complementary and/or non-Western treatments, such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga and orthomolecular therapy, are used by some people with bipolar disorder, and some research shows one, particularly yoga in mild bipolar depression, may have some scientific merit.However, further studies are needed to indicate which complementary therapies are effective and for what illness type and for whom.
Stress reduction
Obvious forms of stress include having too much to do, too much complexity, conflicting demands, etc. There are also stresses that come from the absence of elements such as human contact, a sense of achievement, constructive creative outlets, and occasions or circumstances that will naturally elicit positive emotions. Stress reduction will involve reducing things that cause anxiety and increasing those that generate happiness. It is not enough to just reduce the anxiety.
hope your fiance gets well.... Maybe you should try seeing an Occupational Therapist? They know what to do. ^_^ there are meds that allow a certain amount of control but to actually fix the problem forever, no.
sorry There are meds called mood stabilizers. There are side effects to most meds, but his doctors can work with him to find one that works the best for his conditions. A couple of meds come to mind, Abilify & Lamictal. If he has been correctly diagnosed and get on a good med, you should see some improvement. I hope things work out well for both of you.:) I was initially diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder (then they changed their minds) but yes all of this erractive behaviour that you are describing is what you would expect with this horrible mental health condition. I would suggest that you talk to his psycharists who should be able to put him on a mood stabiliser and possibly a combination. Dont know how much you know about Bi-polar but to be honest I have friends who are on Medication (bi polar people don't always adhere to taking this, sometimes they convince themselves they really dont need it) but anyway its not full proof as if that person is either rock bottom or sky high they need help to stick to there medication schedule. You can expect mood swings in the extreme but if you can be patient and support him I wont lie and say you won't go through some rough drama's along the way....however sometimes people can be stable for years before they have another episode. When they told me I had it the Doctor suggested I avoid stressful situations that I knew affected my condition. He also said to avoid alcohol, drugs etc (niether of which Im interested in anyway) but sometimes people with Bi-polar are more inclined to get hooked on things such as these. Get yourself some support from a group of this nature and ask his Doc for as much information as possible. Hope all goes well for you. wellbutrin can trigger mania/psychosis especially if there is a family history of bp. He will be ok in the long term but the short term will be hell for him and you. He will needs lots of therapy to deal with what happened to him..but because he is in hospital he will get that long term. When you have an episode like that it takes about a year to feel truly back to normal but each week he will get a little better. He will likely end up on meds for life and it will take time to fine tune them. The road to recovery for him will be weekly therapy, meds and poss weekly family doctor appts and regular psyche appts when he gets out of hospital. Yes. You should take a couple valium, pack and get out of there. Hi, sorry to hear whats happened to you and your hubby. i suffer from the same as your husband, and my meds are not really helping to be honest, but they say that with time things will improve. therapy is another must.
i went manic last year and did so many things i shouldn't have done and would never had done normally. i cant remember what all i did but my husband does, very clearly.
buy every book you can i loved an unquiet mind by kay redfield jamieson. its a brilliant book and explained things about myself to my husband. i find it really hard to explain certain aspects of my illness eg, psychotic symptoms. talk to your husband and listen to him, it will take time but you will get through this. he is in the best place just now, for his sake and yours.
i wish you luck
xxx I am bipolar as well with what's called schizo affective disorder. I don't usually get pyschotic (anymore) b/c I take an anti-psychotic (Geodon, the best one on the market, I think--it helps with rage & anger & has fewer side effects than the others). Yes, there are meds he can take & other ways he can help himself. (Alternative med ideas & changing his diet.)
He needs to see a really good psychiatrist who specializes in bipolar disorder. The key is to get a dr that will not over-medicate him.
The period you explained when he though he was Gabriel is textbook mania--the "upside" of bipolar. (The downside is depression.)
He also needs to be in therapy. May I suggest Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? It's been proven the best for bipolar patients. (I am in it now.) He has to be willing to do the work though. (You get homework assignments & books to read, etc.)
Hope this helps & good luck!
Oh yeah, try to look up on the web Julie somebody's "Bipolar Happens" & sign up for her newsletter. Your fiance is where he needs to be to get the help he needs.
There are medications that can help your fiance. Is he still on the Wellbutrin SR? When someone is bipolar they will not remember doing bad things. The doctor at the hospital my have to try him on different medications until they find the right one that will stablize him. Please be supportive of your fiance. He might need a loved one to talk to. I had family that supported me when I had to go to Philhaven in Mt. Gretna PA.
when I was a teenager for Bipolar disorder issues. I take Tegretol and Risperdal for my disorder. If you need to talk to anyone I'm getting pretty good at talking and emailing others with bipolar disorder. Please don't hestitate to email me at stacey4lm@yahoo.com.
Take Care and God Bless you both! http://www.bpfamily.org/
Needless to say, you can find tons of research, etc about what bipolar is, but I also want to offer support for you. This is a horrible stress for you, and you need to know you are ok, others understand the part of family, who love someone with bipolar. My youngest daughter is bipolar.
MY knowlege/understanding is that antidepressants are a huge risk, for someone who is bipolar, but is not recognized as such at the beginning. Think of it this way... depression is 'down'..bipolar alternates between huge down AND huge 'up' (manic). If the medication being taken is designed to boost someone who is 'down', consider the effect when the illness switches of its own, into manic, and the med being taken, is ALSO 'pushing' up.
Many Drs realize this, while others dispute it. The problem is that someone going in with what seems like just depression, is not aware of the manic side, and the dr does not get the info, to be alert for this.
Sounds like you recognize the key element in here.. that mental illness is (1) not self controllable and (2) the person does things that are NOT OF THEIR OWN CHOICE.
yES.. MEDS CAN HELP. It can take time to find what the exact right meds are... then that can change, since the 'chemistry' in the body does fluctuate.
I am sure that there is a worthwhile and loving person there, once he is stabilized. |
