Bipolar Disorder - Why Does My Loved One Do the Things He Does?
Supporters of a loved one with bipolar disorder find the disease to be a cunning and baffling one.
They simply do not understand why their loved one does the things that he does sometimes.
Even though there is no cure for bipolar disorder at this time, there is effective treatment.
The most effective treatment consists of medication, because medication can control bipolar episodes.
Those supporters who question why their loved one does the things they do are not asking it about normal periods - they are asking about the behavior exhibited during these episodes, which is understandable.
Many people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medication because they "feel fine.
" This is because the medication is doing its job.
Still, they believe they don't need the medication, and they refuse to take it.
If you are asking, "Why does my loved one do the things he does?" then your loved one is already in an episode and is no longer taking his medication or in treatment for his disorder.
He has now become unstable, and will go into a bipolar episode.
If he goes into a bipolar depressive episode, he will probably sleep more, have no interest in the things that used to interest him (including sex), have a decreased appetite, be less productive, and become very sad.
He may feel helpless and hopeless, and have feelings of guilt and shame.
Your loved one may even have thoughts of death or dying, or even think of suicide.
If he expresses these thoughts to you during this period, you must take him seriously and try to convince him that he needs help.
If he goes into a manic episode, however, he will act completely different.
Most people who experience mania will see no need for treatment, as they "feel great," and enjoy the excitement, increased energy, improved creativity and productivity, and other feelings they experience during this manic phase of their bipolar disorder.
Unfortunately, these feelings are not real - they are just symptoms of the bipolar mania and their impaired judgment.
As your loved one's episode progresses, he will begin risk-taking behavior such as excessive spending, risky sexual behavior, gambling, reckless driving, poor decision making, foolish choices, and even substance abuse.
He may also have grand plans and ideas, but then he won't follow through with them.
He may even experience delusions (false beliefs and illusions), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there), and paranoia.
He may get angry or rage at you, possibly becoming violent or abusive, even if he never has before.
You may even think he is lying to you or manipulating you, but these are also part of your loved one's bipolar manic episode.
Your loved one is acting the way he is not because he doesn't love you, but because he is in a manic episode.
Without treatment, he will only get worse; however, if you can get him to agree to get help, including going back on his medication and/or go into the hospital, your loved one will be restored to stability once again.
They simply do not understand why their loved one does the things that he does sometimes.
Even though there is no cure for bipolar disorder at this time, there is effective treatment.
The most effective treatment consists of medication, because medication can control bipolar episodes.
Those supporters who question why their loved one does the things they do are not asking it about normal periods - they are asking about the behavior exhibited during these episodes, which is understandable.
Many people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medication because they "feel fine.
" This is because the medication is doing its job.
Still, they believe they don't need the medication, and they refuse to take it.
If you are asking, "Why does my loved one do the things he does?" then your loved one is already in an episode and is no longer taking his medication or in treatment for his disorder.
He has now become unstable, and will go into a bipolar episode.
If he goes into a bipolar depressive episode, he will probably sleep more, have no interest in the things that used to interest him (including sex), have a decreased appetite, be less productive, and become very sad.
He may feel helpless and hopeless, and have feelings of guilt and shame.
Your loved one may even have thoughts of death or dying, or even think of suicide.
If he expresses these thoughts to you during this period, you must take him seriously and try to convince him that he needs help.
If he goes into a manic episode, however, he will act completely different.
Most people who experience mania will see no need for treatment, as they "feel great," and enjoy the excitement, increased energy, improved creativity and productivity, and other feelings they experience during this manic phase of their bipolar disorder.
Unfortunately, these feelings are not real - they are just symptoms of the bipolar mania and their impaired judgment.
As your loved one's episode progresses, he will begin risk-taking behavior such as excessive spending, risky sexual behavior, gambling, reckless driving, poor decision making, foolish choices, and even substance abuse.
He may also have grand plans and ideas, but then he won't follow through with them.
He may even experience delusions (false beliefs and illusions), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there), and paranoia.
He may get angry or rage at you, possibly becoming violent or abusive, even if he never has before.
You may even think he is lying to you or manipulating you, but these are also part of your loved one's bipolar manic episode.
Your loved one is acting the way he is not because he doesn't love you, but because he is in a manic episode.
Without treatment, he will only get worse; however, if you can get him to agree to get help, including going back on his medication and/or go into the hospital, your loved one will be restored to stability once again.
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