My husband was diagnosed with bi-polar/manic-depression and seasonal mood disore!
Question:
My husband was diagnosed with bi-polar/manic-depression and seasonal mood disoreder at the age of 14. He has?
not been treated or medicated for this since he was 16. He says he just has to 'get over it'. My question is, is it possible for him to deal with this without treatment, or will it only get worse for me and our daughters?
Answers:
He cannot "get over it." Bipolar Disorder can go into remission but you always have it. I know of no one with bipolar disorder who does not suffer more if they do not take medication.
I do have a cousin who does not wish to take medication, he has been through rehab and has been clean and sober for fifteen years or so. He has adapted his life to be very low stress, he is in a financial position where he does not have to work, he breeds and trains dogs. He has a wife who handles things for him. The kids are raised and grown.
My cousin is a big exception and he still has seasonal mood swings. I know that I could not make it without medication. I know that people who take medication will have happier lives, suffer less, and that their families will be able to enjoy their company more.
The sad thing is that it probably will get worse for you and your daughters as it gets worse for him. There is an organization called NAMI http://www.nami.org/ This is the very best place you can probably find support. They have a free course called Family to Family. I recommend that you find your local NAMI and take this course. You will learn all about Bipolar Disorder and what you can do to take care of yourself and your daughters.
Here are some more links about Bipolar Disorder where you can educate yourself.
Bipolar Disorder Internet Resources:
Good Information than anyone can read:
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bipolar_dis...
About.com: http://bipolar.about.com/
Support, Resources and Information:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: http://www.dbsalliance.org
National Allisance for the Mentally Ill: http://www.nami.org
Bipolar Significant Others http://www.bpso.org/
Pendulum per support: http://www.pendulum.org/
Good Sources of Information:
National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar...
Medline Plus: Bipolar Disorder http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipol...
MayoClinic.com: Bipolar Disorder http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar...
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Bipolar Disorder http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/epigen/bp...
emedicine from WebMD: Bipolar Affective Disorder: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic229.ht...
National Guidline Clearinghouse: Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder (this includes the regulatory drug alters and warnings) http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary...
WebMD: Bipolar DIsorder http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder...
PsycCentral:
Goldberg Bipolar Screening Quiz http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarq...
Bipolar Disorder http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx20.h...
Online Resources http://psychcentral.com/resources/bipola...