Posted by gazo on March 23, 2007, at 21:23:25
In reply to Re: People with experience, what should I expect?, posted by Cynthia_Greene on March 23, 2007, at 12:33:41
maybe it is none of my biz.. but i have BP and so i know one end of it at least. If it were me (which it isn't) I would ask him some point blank questions.. has he ever read the criteria for bipolar or any of the other mood disorders (cyclothemia, etc)? If no, then he needs to read them and so should you. AFter he has read them, or if he already has, and he still feels he fits many of the criteria then he needs to see a psychiatrist. Period.
i am not one who believes that every person with it needs to be on meds, but to seriously think you have it and not see a doc is not the smartest idea. No offense.
Bipolar is not like the flu.. it doesn't go away. SOme people might only ever have one or two episodes ever... but most will struggle throughout life off and on. Most people have more trouble with depression. If he indeed is bp.. then sooner or later it will bite him hard. There is an effect called "kindling" which, in short terms, means that more and more of the brain gets misfired with each episode. It can be cumulative.
It does NOT mean he can't be successful, or a good lover, partner, husband, father or whatever. It just means he has to be willing to take care of himself, and that should include a doc's supervision. If he doesn't care about that, you should.
i am not trying to scare you away from him. Not at all. i have a lot of problems, but most are from poor emotional skills i developed before i was dx'd. My bp is stable. i have a decent job and a decent life. Very few people around me would suspect I have BP.
would i date me? hmmm... yes, as long as i was committed to being well. Think of it maybe like alcoholism... I would date a recovered alcoholic, but not one who was unwilling to deal with the problem. make sense?
poster:gazo
thread:743306
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/relate/20070210/msgs/743597.html