Husband newly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Hello, my husband who is in his 30's was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder after having 2 psychotic episodes that required hospitalizations. He's on medication now and I guess stable but we have a baby and I am not sure how to heal from the trauma of watching these episodes occur or how to rebuild trust. Has anyone else gone through something similar with a late diagnosis?
@Peony45
I think late diagnosis is happening more often ... my spouse has not officially been diagnosed but family all thinks he has some sort of place on the spectrum. It is hard because we are in a way relieved that there is a reason for their awkward or off behavior ......... but also angry as my spouse uses this suspected diagnosis as an excuse or crutch...
You are better off that your followed thru and has medication to help. i think too much has past and mine will not have time to make up for the grief he has caused .... I wish the best for you and your family that he stays on medication and you can have a better life.
@toughTiger6481 Thank you, it has been very traumatizing because a year ago he had no symptoms. Sure he had some mild depression but who doesn't? This was a very quick decline and now I'm lost on how to get to the other side.
@Peony45
It is hard to get to the other side ......in my opinion .... ever hear the water under the bridge saying...
Well when we go off course and want to get back to some familiar spot....... we see we drifted down the river and while we might get back the the side we were on we may be in tougher terrain.
We are not sure how we feel we know it may be too hard to trek back up the river or start anew. we cannot go back in time. The hurt or anger is hard to get rid of it even when we start again.... memories are like scars still with us. If any of that makes sense.
Try to think about how hard those must be for your husband. Think about ways you can be supportive and this will help quell your anxiety.
@MaryInthetrees I can't even begin to imagine how scary this must be for my husband. It has been devastating. I'm just trying to figure out how to navigate it all for our baby. He needs healthy happy parents.
Dear Peony,
Firstly, I’m so fortunate that you were so gracious in your response to me. I thought about it and I went back and read what I had originally written to you, and I felt that it came off as Kurt and lacking any depth or even compassion towards your feelings and I certainly did not intend for that. I cannot imagine what you must be going through and I totally, get that this is a bit of a shattering experience for you. I have a very close friend really he’s like a brother at one point he was a lover… Sorry, not trying to rhyme here. It’s just what it’s happening… And he has a traumatic brain on deck that occurred over 10 years ago and even though he is functional many ways can walk and talk drive a car. He has significant behavioral issues at times and out of anger and it can be quite difficult. Also, I will add that his sister who is now passed away, had schizo affective disorder, and he has shared with me, the many experiences and the pain that he and his family went through with her. I have never had to live with somebody who went through a psychotic break, but I can imagine that it must be devastating that the man that you committed to that you built your life with, and that you’ve had your children with is now shaken to the core and compromised by these episodes by this illness. I don’t know specifically how I might offer support and comfort to you, but please know that that is my desire and should you need to talk to me or have someone to listen I am available to you again thank you for your very gracious response to my original *** post yours truly Mary in the trees
Hi Peony,
I just finished writing an extensive note to you, which I don’t see posted so maybe it was too long and so just to summarize I wanted to thank you for your gracious response to me. I went and reread what I originally wrote and found it to be less than compassionate and quite Kurt and I want to apologize for that, let me see if the shorter message will go through and if there’s anyway that I can help be supportive on this platform, please know that I am always willing to listen, and I think that you were showing amazing strength in the situation that must be and feel quite shattering
Hi Peony45,
I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 first. I have started to live a life where I would say I am happy. But, it required a lot of support from my treatment team and family and me being willing to take treatment. When the illness just starts, it is the worst phase. But, with time things can definitely improve, especially with a good support network. Hope your husband can bounce back and live a good life 😊
I want to say here though, I am not minimising your pain or saying what happened was not painful - but what someone does in a psychotic episode is not even 1% under their control.
I am not trying to argue against you, my intention is just to provide my experience on the illness, thinking maybe your husband is going through something of a similar nature.
<3
@Punna23 I appreciate your feed back. I know nothing my husband did was in his control which makes it all the more frightening for myself and our baby. He is on medication and in a program now. I am doing my best to support him (and he also has his mom and stepdad). I know he would never do anything to put us in harms way but his episodes did cause alot of damage. First emotional and then physical (to himself/property not us). So the anxiety of will this ever happen again and when is very overwhelming.
@Punna23 how long did it take for you to get to a happy place?
After 7 years I was OK. Now, after more than 10 years I am comfortable in my life. 😊