bipolar disorder

[angel.eyes...]

does anybody have this? my brother does and i find it extremely hard to live with him, if u have this how can i understand it more?
i really care about my brother and i dnt want him to relapse. i dnt want to trigger him but he stresses me out to the point wer i end up being nasty then he flips on me and i feel guilty coz i feel like i pushed him too far.

if he never had bipolar and he stressed me out to the point i was nasty and he fliped on me i wudnt feel guilty coz its just like a brother sister arguement.

any1 help at all?
oh and he is manic (under control but does have his moments)

xxx

[reclaimingkatie]

I have bipolar(Type 2) and my best friend is type 1...so I know a fair bit about it... I would love to help with any questions you have.
It is really stressful when someone you love is going through a hard time cause you have your own emotions you are dealing with and you then have to bottle it or be left feeling guilty if you respond to their behaviour... It makes sense that you fear triggering him...
The biggest thing 'they' say when a family member is diagnosed is to seek support... whether it from a counsellor, a friend, or other members of your family...
I don't have any specific advice but if there are any questions that come up feel free to pm me ; )
Oh...please remember though....as much as bipolar is an illness...your brother is still responsible for his feelings, thoughts, and behaviours....it's not an excuse. In other words...you are not to blame if you guys get in an argument. You are allowed to have spats and get into it once in awhile. It's life. Just because he has an illness doesn't mean life stops or that he has to stop learning to cope or he gets away with learning how to manage with situations.
(However sometimes with being his sister...it would be cool if you played the compassion card sometimes....as long as you play it with yourself as much as you play it with him.)
Take care!

[angel.eyes...]

thank you for ur reply!

when he got his bi polar under control and came out of hospital we went to family counselling but it didnt work, it caused more problems and just make my brother irritated and stressed out and then he refussed to go and refussed to see his carer.

am not possitive but am sure he is bipolar type 1. he has sever hypomania when not on meds.

do u mind me asking, what brought on ur bi polar or did u just get it. my brothers was brought on earlyer than what it would have came out.
xxx

p.s. i have a question: what is it like living with bipolar? and can i ask what meds do u take for it xxx

[Azure]

Hey there :)

I also suffer from manic depression, and my mom does too. My dad has been in a similar position as you are for a very long time, but he isn't as open to accepting help with mending his relations with my mom. He doesn't understand what were going through, and I think that's where you can start healing things with your brother. Do your homework; see a doctor, use the web. I mean, it sucks when people tell you to suck it up when your depressed, or to calm down when your in a manic phase. It really, really sucks because those things are hard to do. Mania is frustrating to deal with - your thoughts are racing and disorganized and you feel like you can do everything. It's easy to get really snappy with people for irrational things, even though you know you are out of line. Depression is just as hard, personally when i'm depressed I cry and cry and cry for no reason other than it feels like the right thing to do - like I should be sad. You feel useless, lethargic. These feelings can all get very debilitating.

I agree with reclaimingkatie, don't worry about arguments and other parts of general life. It's normal to argue, you can't sheild your brother from that part of living.

I know this part is going to suck, but make sure your brother is taking his meds if they work. And if they have adverse effects, try new ones. And be open to conversations about his bipolar disorder, but don't force them on him. Let him know that you're always there to help, and to talk. If he's depressed remind him of that.

Those are the best tips I have for you :)

--Kris xo

[pkgirl]

I have bipolar type two also.

Like the others have said, do your homework and take every day as a new day.
We (he) can't help our mood swings, assist him in getting medical help.
The fights, don't get too hung up about them, everyone has fights every so often, not just us beepers.

[BarbieGirl]

My boyfriend has bipolar and I have just learnt to be ready for all moods.....

one minute we can be fine and then the next something tiny would bug him and he would get all up-tight and closed. but we also don't help each other. Ihave to go get tested for bipolar and we will react to each others moods. so if we are BOTH happy and then all of a sudden I get annoyed and just freak, he will get pissy too and we have to have time to cool down...

I guess what I am saying is that you need to be ready for all moods and when he does just change in mood, give him time to sort it out in his head before you even try to start helping because I know for a fact when me and AJ are like it, we would rather be left to sort it out in our own heads first ya know?!

Good luck with sorting things out girlie =)