Sample Email 18 - Bipolar Disorder or Manic-Depression Marriage.

By Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, DCC

Dear N.,

I am very sorry to hear of your recent pain. Unfortunately, it is not unusual at all for someone who has not displayed any symptoms of Manic-Depression or what is now called Bipolar Disorder to suddenly be stricken with this chemical condition. It is one of the more serious mental disorders and when the condition is extreme it can wreak utter chaos in a family, and in your case a very close and healthy marriage.

It is important to realize that Bipolar Disorder or Manic-Depression can, like any disorder, range on a continuum from mild to moderate to severe. In severe cases a person can actually exhibit psychotic symptoms. These include visual and/or auditory hallucinations and delusions, which are irrational beliefs such as paranoid fears of someone harming them. Strangely enough, it is almost always someone who they are very close to and trust when they are in contact with reality that they are suspicious of. It is very hard, but often sufferers of this condition are not in their right mind and often relatives do not realize this and begin to wonder if their loved one ever really cared about them.

Bipolar Disorder used to be called Manic-Depression. They are the same condition. It is one of the affective disorders, which means that it mainly affects a persons' mood or emotions. In the classic form a person will be depressed for a few weeks or months and then the mood will swing to normal and then to either elated or irritable. During the depression all of the usual symptoms of negativity, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, and lack of concentration are present.

In the manic form a person is often euphoric or anxious. They often have an incredible amount of energy and need very little sleep. Their thoughts race and they think in very scattered and tangential ways. They are often very impulsive and erratic and grandiose. Logic means nothing during this phase. They can also be very irritable at these times. Although these mood swings can happen at any time and are not always so distinct, people who suffer from this illness often shift in the Spring or Fall.

The moods shift for no particular reason and the illness does have a strong hereditary basis. It is also a very stress related disorder in that if a person does not get enough sleep or take care of themselves or suffer from a lot of stress the moods can be triggered more easily.

The treatment for this problem is education and counseling about the illness and medication. The medication is crucial and if the illness has become severe it often takes a temporary anti-psychotic drug to make an effect. The other medication used is Lithium or one of the newer anti-convulscant drugs such as Depacote. At times an anti-depressant is used as well, but some of these can actually contribute to a manic episode.

I wish you luck with your wife. When she is stable on her medication it is quite likely that she will be amazed at what she has said and done and therefore the marriage might still be safe. I hope it is.

Take care.

Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, DCC

© 2004 AskTheInternetTherapist.com

Return to the Mental Health Tips Archives Page