Bipolar Disorder: Setting Boundaries

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has a NAMI’s Family-to-Family Program – a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Several years ago, when I had my first encounter with bipolar disorder in my family, I enrolled in the program and found it very helpful.
While the program devotes a great [...]

Posted on August 12, 2009 Filed Under Marriage, Relationships | 21 Comments

Can I Have My Manic Loved One Hospitalized?

Many friends and family members of people with bipolar disorder become frustrated with the fact that they can rarely, if ever, “make” their loved one obtain treatment. This is more of a challenge when the person is manic rather than depressed. In a manic episode, your loved one is more likely to think that you’re [...]

Posted on October 29, 2008 Filed Under Hospitalization, Marriage, Relationships | 14 Comments

Immaculate Conception

From Joe
I saw my wife at the “hospital” yesterday, Tuesday. The doctor was supposed to have started her on lithium. I learned that he was unable to do so, because he needed to run a pregnancy test first. I’ve had a vasectomy, and I am 99.99999% sure that my wife has not had an affair, so [...]

Posted on June 11, 2008 Filed Under Hospitalization, Marriage, Relationships | 8 Comments

Bipolar Disorder: In the Heat of the Battle

By Joe 
Over the past two weeks, I have been dealing with a bipolar disorder crisis in my family. Even though I have learned a great deal about bipolar disorder over the years – from working on the book and our blog, from past experiences, and from extensive research – during these two weeks, I have [...]

Posted on June 9, 2008 Filed Under Hospitalization, Marriage, Relationships | 3 Comments

Considering Relationship Dynamics

By Joe 
In a previous post, “Should I Go or Should I Stay?” I discuss the dilemma that many people face when living with someone who has bipolar disorder.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about relationship dynamics and how these dynamics can trigger confrontations. I’m one of those people, for example, who really needs to please others. I’ll [...]

Posted on April 20, 2008 Filed Under Marriage, Relationships | 53 Comments

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