How do you and your partner handle Bipolar Disorder together?
Hello everyone,
Im new the the community and I have a question (or two).
First off let me introduce myself, Im Jeanette and I have Bipolar Depression and Generalized Anxiety. Im currently off my meds and have been since January (not my best decision) but Im so forgetful that I would skip weeks at a time and just ultimately decided to just end it. I am 23 and I am also a teacher, I have gotten so far in life and at times I am so grateful to be where I am. So why am I here? Because I have been having so many outbursts and ups/downs that its really hard to keep track of. Every day consists of so many different emotions - I cry like once a day (sometimes for nothing), I overreact to slightest problems, I get mad at my significant other for little problems.
So my questions to you involve your significant other. How do you and your significant other deal with the problems that arise in your every day life? I cant seem to control my days and its been really hard on the both of us, Im in dire need of some healthy relationship advice/strategies.
Also, do any of your significant others attend therapy or psychiatric appointments?
Oh, I feel this. I have bipolar and anxiety, and the two of them seem to work together in just the worst way to screw with my relationships... Particularly my boyfriend, because we are so close and spend so much time in each other's company. The difficulty arises for me when my anxiety gets so bad I cannot speak. Literally, can't open my mouth. So, when I'm having a mood swing or an extreme reaction to something, it's nearly impossible sometimes to talk with him about it. And if it's something he's doing, you know, that's an issue! We've really been working on this. Journaling helps - a lot - because my thoughts become so disordered when I'm having an upswing or a downswing, and it helps to review what was on my mind afterward. I can't keep track or speak to him about problems without having my notes as a crutch, because my mind is just all over the place or I space out and cannot focus for being overwhelmed... It also helps because I speak and act so impulsively when my mood changes, writing things out slows me down and rationalizes everything for me. As I'm writing, I'll see that what I'm thinking may be ridiculous and paranoid, which helps me get out of my head a little. Or I'll think of something better to do, an alternative. It's like having a game plan laid out, and it's really nice. When I find myself unable to cope, I make a counseling appointment. Never hurts to seek outside advice. Sometimes she just advises me on very practical things and helps me get back to a normal mode of thinking when I'm freaked out.
