Bioplar and Marriage issues

[Yoga_has_changed_my_life]

I was diagnosed with Bipolar last week and have been taking new medication which not deliberately I have been forgetting to take my medication and I feel fine.

i have also been having relationship issues with my partner and I think our marriage is falling apart and I’ve been thinking of leaving.

Feeling so lost and feel like I can’t chat to anyone

[quirkywords]

Yoga,

Welcome to the forum. This is a safe , friendly, caring , supportive and non judgmental place and a great place to have a chat.

When you are first diagnosed with any illness it cam be confusing and scary. Add to that having relationship issues , it makes sense you are feeling lost.

I was diagnosed with bipolar many decades ago and I am still learning how to live with it.

I am not sure if by forgetting you mean, forgetting one day, or forgetting it altogether. Either way you may need to check with your doctor.

I was wondering if you were surprised at your diagnosis or was it something you were expecting.

Have you spoken to your partner about how you are feeling?

You have a lot going on with a new diagnosis getting used to medication, and relationship issues that is probably not the time to be making life changing decisions even though you maybe questioning things.

Feel free to post here as often as you like.

There is also another thread called This bipolar life , which has a very interesting very first post and it is an informal and helpful place where people with bipolar can go and chat , and ask questions ,share ideas.etc

I know about feeling lost even after all these years but it always good to know I am not alone.

Quirky

[White_Rose]

Dear Yoga

I am so sorry you have received this diagnosis. It must be a shock to you and your husband, and while you are adjusting to this change in life it will probably throw up differences for both of you.

I have no experience of Bipolar however there is a thread called 'This bipolar life' which is on the Long Term forum. Perhaps if you look at the thread and the comments made by many people here who have bipolar, it may help to adjust. Read the first few posts as this thread was set up by someone newly diagnosed with bipolar and her struggle with the journey she was taking.

You may also like to look at the Black Dog Institute at this address http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ If you click on either Clinical Resources or Getting Help (or both), you will a great deal of information. I think you can download it. I suggest this because no doubt your psychiatrist has talk about bipolar, if you are anything like me once I get home I have forgotten much of the explanations. That is pretty normal after learning you have such a life-changing illness. Having information handy means you can check what's happening.

Any MI can result in you pushing away your partner and children, all the people dear to you. It is part of the illness. However, there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel if you continue to take your meds every day. Whether or not you forget isn't the issue. This medication will help you go through life with fewer problems, including dissolving your marriage. Make a routine every day to take your meds. If it's morning, take them with or just after your breakfast.

The 'I feel fine' comment is what many people say and constantly insist there is no need for meds. I don't mean just for bipolar meds but for all the other MI. It is also part of your bipolar disorder to feel well and therefore have no need for meds. Not true. A doctor once asked me how I was going. I said,'Fine' at which he said feeling fine is not always feeling fine. It made me laugh though it was a little ruefully.

Try to talk with your husband and tell him how you feel. Make a plan together to get through the rough patches, read the information from the Black Dog Institute and put copies where you can easily find them.

Hope you will continue to write in here.

Mary