I think my Dad has Bipolar disorder, but he refuses to see a psychatrist.  How can I get help?Its urgent.?
613381
If he displays any signs of damaging behavior, some jurisdictions you can get a judge to have him tested against his will.
386184
I'm not a mental health provider but I've had bipolar disordar for 15 years. There's help out there. Medicines, therapist. Get to a phone book, now! Look up mental health providers and call!  I hope you get a chance to re-read this answer, I've been thinking about you all night. Last week I felt "weird" and ended up talking to a caseworker at my insurance company for thirty minutes until my husband could get home from work. He stayed home for a week to keep me out of the psychiatric ward.  Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. e-mail me at mybilbrey@yahoo.com if you need to.  I've been on Social Security for 15 years because I get confused and can't work.  I understand! CJB
643164
I was married to a man with bipolar for 12 years. Unfortunately, I had to finally leave him.  It started with figuring it out that he had a problem with alcohol.  I put him through rehab, and when he stopped the alcohol, that is when it became obvious that he was self-medicating to deal with the underlying mental illness.  It started out as depression, then severe depression and then progressed to the point that he could sleep for an entire weekend (other than eating and going to the bathroom). If we would force him to wake up, he would wake up enraged. He would scream, shout, kick in appliances, break things - we would have to call the police. Then he would disappear for hours and come back home like nothing happened. There were also other addictions and behaviors that were present. He would shoplift for no reason, became addicted to porn, chatting in porn chat rooms and eventually meeting up with the women for sex. He couldn't hold a job. He developed a severe dependence on Nyquil.  He had OCD behaviors like ironing his clothes ridiculously (even his shoe laces) and using an entire bar of soap when he showered.  OK, now my situation was one of the worse case scenarios, but just wanted to give you an example.  Bipolars are often really against getting help and taking meds too.  Often times, the meds don't even help much.  After a family intervention where we begged him to get help and he refused, I had to take my daugther and leave. My health was suffering and I would have been driven crazy eventually. It sure can be hard on a spouse. I hope your situation is nowhere near as bad as mine was.
1044725
How long have you had this problem?? One of the answers you received the statement was made that 'there is no cure.' I agree with that. This is hard for me to say but my mother is in the same shoes you are in. My mom has been this way so long that I know when she is telling a lie so I say well mom if that is true then you need to see someone about it. (my mom always has something wrong with her health-she does have health problems but most are away for her to cover-up something she already lied about.) When I tell my mother that she needs to see someone about it, she will agree but then the next day she will call or stop by and say I feel so much better today, I guess I was just feeling bad. \nI think you should see a psychologist for your pathological lying. You made the first step by admitting you have a problem. A psychologist will listen to what you have to say and will help you see things that you didn't even realize, they can not prescribe you medicine but sometimes the best medicine is to have someone to talk to that is in partial to what is going on in your life.\nI just wish my mother would take the step & get help but she says there is nothing wrong with her mentally & she refuses to seek help. If you do have untreated depression then you need to talk to a psycologist, a psychiatrist will want to put you on meds. \nGood Luck.
1153161
I would have him evaluated by a pediatric specialty team at your nearest children's hospital or rehab center. My daughter was dx'd with ADD/ADHD/PDD-NOS and then High-functioning Autism by her ped and later by state funded physical and occupational therapists through early intervention. She was medicated at the school's insistence for ADHD. When that made things worse instead of better, we had her evaluated at our local pediatric rehabilitation center and learned that she was actually a perfect match for the symptoms/actions of Aspergers Syndrome and early onset bi-polar disorder. The reason the meds made things worse was that with bi-polar, you can't give just the anti-depressant, you have to do a mood stabilizer as well, or the manic symptoms will intensify and often times go out of control. Hope you find the help you need to help your child
930637
Most but, not all people suffering from bi-polar disorder or depression, will try to self medicate at one point or another.  If your husband is reluctant to go get help, maybe you should seek counseling for yourself to learn how to live with somebody living with a disability.
210541
Certainly many people do have undignosed mental illness  \nThere is a web site I often refer people to for  simple decriptions of  kinds of mental illness art and decription by the late Don Tatro who was both a digital artist and a forensic Psychologist  his Psychopics might possible help give you in sight to the siruation with your father.\nhttp://dontatro.bryce-alive.net/psychopics.htm
909751
I have bipolar myself so I have some idea of what your going through. what you should do is contact a government agency. I go to a place called MHMR it stands for Mental Health Mental Retardation. They can help you in any way that you need it. They can give you advice on what steps to take with your son. They can set up appointments for your son when he gets out. Just to meet with him and talk with him maybe regulate his meds and see about having him see a therapist on a regular basis. I really hope this helps you out. I really feel for you and the situation your in. Good luck to both you and your son.
89231
With the utmost respect, I want to let you know that it sounds important for you to see a professional. It need not be a medical "doctor." It could be a professional counselor or psychologist. These individuals are trained to make diagnoses, and it would be inappropriate for anyone to make such a diagnosis of bipolar or any other without enough information. Overall, it sounds as if you are going through a very difficult time. It concerns me greatly that you mention suicide attempts...please ask for help if you feel the need to hurt yourself or someone else. I urge you to seek a professional to answer your question in person...I think you will be glad you did. Find someone you can be comfortable talking to and enjoy the healing process.
626497
I have Bipolar Disorder and Borederline Personality Disorder. You have to be nice and be very supported to our mental health prolbems. It helps my family to take me to talk to somebody like every other week. Just read up on the disorders. And make sure he takes his meds. I once got off mine meds for 4 or 5 days and it made me sick.
373549
Just tell them about how you feel. Tell them if anyone else in the family has depression or bipolar disorder because sometimes it runs in the family. It is important to tell your doctor though, because they can help you. My son and I both have depression, and my ex has bi-polar. We take medication and it helps a whole lot. It wasn't hard to talk to my doctor at all.
681624
Dear Karen,\n\nI am bipolar and live very near Ft. Worth. I am giving you the address and e-mail for the Dallas Chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). You may contact them for more information.\n\nDallas\nDBSA Dallas\nContact 1: Carol King\nPhone: (972) 709-5464\nContact 2: Roger Hale\nAdditional Phone: (972) 768-2772\nEmail: dbsa-dallas@comcast.net\n\nI will also provide a links below to the DBSA National, The Mental Health Association of Texas (MHA Texas) and The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Texas).\n\nI hope one of these can help you. If you have further questions please feel free to contact me.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
761627
Ist he must realize that he has a problem. That he is sometimes up, up and up and other times down and bothered.\n\n2ndly He should set an appointment with his physician and talk about ups and downs. The physician can help him to understand his roller coaster ride and his lack of courage to do something with his life.\n\n3rdly if he can get a few hours of talking with a mental health professional he may come to see that his situation is shared by many people and there are therapies and medication that can have a positive affect.\n\n4thly you should support him as he comes to realize his situation.\nyou can encourage him to know that you are ready to help him in \nhis next steps.\n\nHe may need to know that he has more support than it appears. You may also understand that you cannot solve the problems he chooses to face.
22723
First of all, take a deep breathe. It is not so bad really:). Know that this person is dealing with ALLOT her/himself too. Look in your telephone book and in the telephone book will show numbers you can call for guidance. This person is like you and I, and just needs understanding, medication, counseling and allot of love and understanding right now. I know because my mother is one who is bipolar.....they love like everyone else and hurt like everyone else...so smile and give this person a hug daily. It truly helps them overcome anxiousness.
748199
Honey, bipolarity will KILL a relationship.  Trust me. \n\nNo matter what he does, or doesn't do, you have to focus on YOU right now.  Are you on meds?  If no, why not?  That is priority one right now.  You have to get stable in order to maintain any relationship.   I don't know what he does or says or doesn't say, but right now it's all about YOU.  YOU have to have a clear head and meds will do that almost instantaneously.  Don't let this ruin another relationship.  Holidays, stress, we all got it.  Manage yours and he will appreciate it.  Don't lay your stuff at his feet.  Get your act together.\n\nYou said he has a very physical job and is tired - don't put more stress into that.  Just fix you and see if everything else falls into place.\n\nYou can get meds from your family doctor, you don't need a psychiatrist.  Call your doctor tomorrow.
984502
My first suggestion would be to visit a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist that specializes in mood disorders.\n\nI am Bipolar and I've been under the care of a Psychopharmocologist who specializes in mood disorders and a CBT Specialist as well.  In addition, I've spent the last 6 months educating myself on the disorder, treatment and drugs.  I also attend group therapy twice a week in a clinical CBT group and also attend a BPD support group.\n\nBefore I started getting treatment, I was living a life full of rapid cycling (vast change in moods, can be hourly/daily/weekly) high risk behavior and never really knew who the real me was.  So you can say I was having an identity crisis and was suffering from bipolar depression.  \n\nSince being treated, I've been able to manage my condition and live a very productive and healthy lifestyle.\n\nIt's difficult to self diagnose, but if you're looking for an opinion, I would suggest visiting sites with good information on mood disorders and perhaps some discussion boards.\n\nI would also be happy to help if you want to send me an email.  \n\nHere are some helpful sites\nhttp://www.dbsalliance.org/info/aboutmood.html\nhttp://dbsa.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=6\nhttp://www.crazymeds.org/\nhttp://www.crazymeds.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=bipolarquestions\n\nGood luck
304609
If you go to your doctors {Primary Care Physican} and let Dr. know your concerns thats the first plcae to be evaluated, and the doc can take it from there and either referr you to another kind of Doc or treat you.\nBest Wishes\n\nP.S.\nSince you have recognized possible bipolar please \n"dont let it control you and lean on it as a crutch through life..." \nmeaning dont blame everything on having  B P...\n\nI have a close family member-teenage years-and she tends to act out more than ever and always says I cant help it \nits B.P. \nI suspect she is using it as an excuse to get her way with mommy n daddy,\nshe is now at the dating age and wants to run off with her boyfriend and gets away with it cause she blames it on B.P.\n\nSo please dont let it control you, YOU CONTROL IT!!!