Need advice regarding a bipolar family member.?!
Question: Need advice regarding a bipolar family member!.!?
My brother-in-law had been diagnosed bipolar at the age of 17 he is now 42!. After my mother-in-law died, he became worse!. My husband is his only sibling!. He despises everyone around him and accuses people of doing things they didn't do!. He purposely says things to aggravate people and threatens (that he is going to kill my family or burn down my house) from time to time!. My husband gets furious with him and tells him not to call our house due to the harassment!. My B-I-L says he would never act on it!. He leaves vulgar messages, threats, and excerpts from movies like Star Trek and Star Wars!. He uses up all the tape on the message machine and calls all night long and throughout the day!. I do try to talk to him however I don't voice much because if I try to prove him wrong with his implications, he gets angered!. Yesterday, I was on the phone with him for 3 hours!. He is arguing constantly with people in his building and other relatives!. He is on Lithium and something else, not sure what!. Please does anyone have any suggestions!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Assuming that this is a real change in behavior and that he doesn't have anger issues or a comorbid personality disorder, he's probably not taking his meds or he needs them adjusted!. Assuming that's it, the options I can think of are for your husband to call his psychiatrist and explain the behavior!. It's very unlikely that the psychiatrist will tell your husband anything, but at least s/he will have info that s/he wouldn't otherwise have!. Your husband can also have a real sit down and tell his bro to get his act together or stop all contact!. Next, if he continues the harassment, you could try calling the police and have him committed to get him back on proper med dosing with the hope that he'll be held long enough to stabilize and then decide life is better stable and on meds!. Last would be to get a restraining order!. That's just a piece of paper in reality, but it would make it easier to have him picked up!. All this assumes that he's manic!. If the problem is anger management or a personality problem, the "hospital" would be jail and I'd certainly try everything shy of that!. In reality, I'd try everything shy of a mandatory hold as well!. It'd only work if he goes along with med compliance afterwards!.
I have bipolar and can understand being irrational, but not hostile!. Just the same, I can understand not realizing just how unrational you can be until meds start working!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have bipolar and can understand being irrational, but not hostile!. Just the same, I can understand not realizing just how unrational you can be until meds start working!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
if is really is as bad as you say he honestly needs some help!. one thing though: it is the toughest thing to tell bi-polar people they have a problem!. there is nothing you can really do!. if your husband wants to have a sit down and talk calmly to him maybe that might help!. if he is on pills then he should not be acting that way!. he probably doesn't even know he is doing it!. most deny that they have a problem!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
the best way to handle this is!.!.!.!. don't get sucked in to the drama, just witness it!.!.!.!.
witness it without reaction!.!.!.!. and don't take it too seriously
be present, and just listen, and this will actually help him
whatever you do, just avoid reaction!.!.!.!. his suffering is an illusion and illusion is nothing to get upset aboutWww@Answer-Health@Com
witness it without reaction!.!.!.!. and don't take it too seriously
be present, and just listen, and this will actually help him
whatever you do, just avoid reaction!.!.!.!. his suffering is an illusion and illusion is nothing to get upset aboutWww@Answer-Health@Com
Is it not so strange how predictabile mental illness is !?
Is there a family history of bi polar illness !?
He got it in young adulthood !.
Why has the doctor not cured him !?
If the doctor has no cure then what are
you to do !?
Beats me !.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Is there a family history of bi polar illness !?
He got it in young adulthood !.
Why has the doctor not cured him !?
If the doctor has no cure then what are
you to do !?
Beats me !.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Sounds like he needs a med adjustmentWww@Answer-Health@Com
By the sounds of it he should seek some kind of counselling!. Don't take his threats lightly and don't take his word for it that he would never act on them!. Why do you think they call it Bi-Polar!? Cause they can flip in an instant!. I have had personal experiences when Bi-Polar people!. Counselling is a major key to getting them to know how to deal with alot of their problems!. He should have started that a long time ago!. One thing they really need is family support!. I know it's hard to support someone like that but it's really the best way to help themWww@Answer-Health@Com