How do I get my husband to admit he is bipolar?!
Question: How do I get my husband to admit he is bipolar!?
He has been hospitalized due to manic episodes close to 10 times over the past 20 years!. Unfortunately, he refuses to be compliant with his medication - namely refusing to take the lithium prescribed to him!. He just got out of the hospital this Friday and did agree to go to counseling (since he claims that I am the one with a problem but will go with me to therapy) but now wants to postpone the session!.
I believe that once we can get him to admit he has the condition, then he would probably take the meds!. I've tried to say that he has a medical condition that can be maintained just like someone with asthma or diabetes but that doesn't work!.
He has mentioned that he doesn't like the side effects of lithium and is very afraid of the long term effects it has on the body (i!.e!., kidney failure) but I think that is partially a cop-out as there are now other drugs out there that he could look into!.
I love him dearly and want to spend the rest of our lives together but that will never happen if he refuses to be compliant!. ANY help would be appreciated!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I believe that once we can get him to admit he has the condition, then he would probably take the meds!. I've tried to say that he has a medical condition that can be maintained just like someone with asthma or diabetes but that doesn't work!.
He has mentioned that he doesn't like the side effects of lithium and is very afraid of the long term effects it has on the body (i!.e!., kidney failure) but I think that is partially a cop-out as there are now other drugs out there that he could look into!.
I love him dearly and want to spend the rest of our lives together but that will never happen if he refuses to be compliant!. ANY help would be appreciated!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Unfortunately, non-compliance with treatment is extremely prevalent with psyciatric conditions!. Some of this has to do with the fact that it's often hard for people to recognize that they are "sick", and often, they do not recall after the fact what they feel like after they have an episode and are feeling better!. In addition, society's general misconception that mental illness isn't the same as having, let's say diabetes, so there is a lot of pressue on people to just "snap out of it" without treatment!.
Truthfully, lithium does have some serious side effects, although it is highly effective!. Monitoring and titration must be done carefully!. You need to encourage your husband to discuss his fears about side effects with his health care team!. He needs to understand that he is *sick* and that this medicine, despite the potential side effects, is necessary to his continued health and wellness!. The side effects may seriously be scary to him - especially in the beginning period when all the person is feeling is side effects and not "better"!. This is probably the worst part about psyciatric medications - the side effects happen so soon- and the positive results take so long!.
It may help you to contact a local mental health organization to help you understand how to deal with his illness, and the liklihood of his non-compliance, regressions, etc!. Bipolar illness is a chronic condition, and his diagnosis changes your life too!. Talking with other family members who are experiencing the same situation may be helpful to you as well!.
Make yourself present and known to his health care team!. Most are very open to spousal involvement, but at the end of the day, unfortunately, it's only your husband who can comply with his treatment regeime!.
As a spouse, be present to your husband!. The diagnosis of mental illness carries, unfortunately, so much stigma, that your husband may be embarassed to admit and acknowledge that he has a problem!. In addition, many people with bipolar disorders have a hard time letting go of hypomanic or manic "them", because that is a state that carries so much euphoria and happiness!. Try to discuss what it is that he feels during those periods, and look for ways to show him that he can still have that kind of happiness, with YOU, once he is feeling better!. Let him know that you will not abandon him because he is ill - he may be fearful to admit what's wrong for so many reasons!.
Go with him to counselling, if you think this will help his compliance!. It may give you the opportunity to see what it is that he is thinking or feeling, and time to talk to a therapist about what your own experience will be, on a long road ahead!.
Congratulations to you for accepting your husband's diagnosis, and for knowing and educating yourself on his illness!. It's a long road you have ahead, but not one that will be without rewards!. Take care of yourself first and foremost, so you can offer your husband the support he will need!.
Good luck!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Truthfully, lithium does have some serious side effects, although it is highly effective!. Monitoring and titration must be done carefully!. You need to encourage your husband to discuss his fears about side effects with his health care team!. He needs to understand that he is *sick* and that this medicine, despite the potential side effects, is necessary to his continued health and wellness!. The side effects may seriously be scary to him - especially in the beginning period when all the person is feeling is side effects and not "better"!. This is probably the worst part about psyciatric medications - the side effects happen so soon- and the positive results take so long!.
It may help you to contact a local mental health organization to help you understand how to deal with his illness, and the liklihood of his non-compliance, regressions, etc!. Bipolar illness is a chronic condition, and his diagnosis changes your life too!. Talking with other family members who are experiencing the same situation may be helpful to you as well!.
Make yourself present and known to his health care team!. Most are very open to spousal involvement, but at the end of the day, unfortunately, it's only your husband who can comply with his treatment regeime!.
As a spouse, be present to your husband!. The diagnosis of mental illness carries, unfortunately, so much stigma, that your husband may be embarassed to admit and acknowledge that he has a problem!. In addition, many people with bipolar disorders have a hard time letting go of hypomanic or manic "them", because that is a state that carries so much euphoria and happiness!. Try to discuss what it is that he feels during those periods, and look for ways to show him that he can still have that kind of happiness, with YOU, once he is feeling better!. Let him know that you will not abandon him because he is ill - he may be fearful to admit what's wrong for so many reasons!.
Go with him to counselling, if you think this will help his compliance!. It may give you the opportunity to see what it is that he is thinking or feeling, and time to talk to a therapist about what your own experience will be, on a long road ahead!.
Congratulations to you for accepting your husband's diagnosis, and for knowing and educating yourself on his illness!. It's a long road you have ahead, but not one that will be without rewards!. Take care of yourself first and foremost, so you can offer your husband the support he will need!.
Good luck!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
He needs to talk to another guy with the same problem I find that is the best way to reach my husband!. The one friend we have that takes his lithium once a day says its really great he has no more deep depressions and highs anymore!. Saved his marriage!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Show him some web sites that list symptoms and see how many he has!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Bipolar is awful to live with!
My brother had it since he was a child and it was so sad!. He was the nicest person in the whole world and then he could be the biggest jerk ever in the drop of a hat!. Every few months he would lock himself in his room and not shower or change his clothes and wouldn't leave the house then fairly quickly he would be back to his old self ready to take on the world!
During the manic phase he acted like he was a god and loved everything about life and wanted to live it up!.
My mom tried since he was diagnosed with it to get him to take his medication and he wouldn't!. He even stopped talking to her for about 6 years because she tried so hard!.
He died in 2006 (not from suicide)!. =(
Tell your husband that people with bipolar don't like to take their medication its part of the whole thing in general!. Tell him he hurts everyone around him that cares about him and if anything happens to him everyone will be devestated!.
It's up to the person but he really needs to get on medication no matter how it makes him feel!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
My brother had it since he was a child and it was so sad!. He was the nicest person in the whole world and then he could be the biggest jerk ever in the drop of a hat!. Every few months he would lock himself in his room and not shower or change his clothes and wouldn't leave the house then fairly quickly he would be back to his old self ready to take on the world!
During the manic phase he acted like he was a god and loved everything about life and wanted to live it up!.
My mom tried since he was diagnosed with it to get him to take his medication and he wouldn't!. He even stopped talking to her for about 6 years because she tried so hard!.
He died in 2006 (not from suicide)!. =(
Tell your husband that people with bipolar don't like to take their medication its part of the whole thing in general!. Tell him he hurts everyone around him that cares about him and if anything happens to him everyone will be devestated!.
It's up to the person but he really needs to get on medication no matter how it makes him feel!.Www@Answer-Health@Com