Affects of adjusting to medicine
I hope someone maybe can help me. Someone I love dearly was recently diagnosed bipolar. Her dr has steadily adjusted her medicine and after the last adjustment I have noticed a significant difference in how she is with me. And not a positive one. She seems almost indifferent towards me now when that was never the case before. She leaves me on read for hours. Even knowing I’m having a hard time she will just vanish on me like I don’t exist anymore. We have been very close for over 3 years and she has never been this way toward me. I don’t understand. It hurts more than anything. Please help.
@LTBama
Such medications often need dosage adjustment, or it may be necessary to try different ones. My sister-n-law needs ongoing adjustments, but she’s managing pretty well. There are periods in which she stays quiet and keeps to herself. I think it’s because there’s an adjustment period after her medication changes.
Since you’ve known her for 3 years, and her present behavior is unusual, medications may be the reason for the change. If that’s the case, it may take a few days or weeks until her body adjusts to them, or it doesn’t, the doctor will probably try a different medication.
For now, she may have all she can handle, dealing with how the new med is making her feel, so her behavior towards you need not be interpreted as her rejecting you.
It can be a fine balance between giving her space and time to adjust and reaching out just enough that she knows you still care for her. Sometimes, when an adjustment is occurring and the person withdraws for a time, they may assume that their friends are upset with them, hence they may continue to avoid them because they don’t want to face the irritation or anger.
Would it help if you could imagine going through unfamiliar feelings, possible lethargy and difficulty managing daily activities? Medications can cause such issues.
Patience, gentle support and compassionate listening are of great value at a time like this.
