Does anyone have experience of how to live with someone with manic depression/ bi polar disorder?
Not everyone with bipolar disorder has the same problems – each person is still unique, but there are some fundamentals. People with Bipolar I disorder can reach manic peaks of excitement that become grandiose and possibly delusional, with an extreme example of thinking that they are Jesus or something, and not sleeping for days on end. Their extreme behavior might even make you suspect that they are taking drugs like crystal methamphetamines – but during a Manic episode they have this kind of energy without any drugs. Their depressive episodes likewise can plumb depths of despair that are incomprehensible to a normal person. Bipolar II disorder is a milder form in which there are hypomanic episodes, not fully manic, so they don’t go “crazy” but they might seem to be extraordinarily energetic, need little sleep, be the “life of the party”, be overconfident, and show some poor judgement or be impulsive. They can become very depressed also. 1) Don’t blame the person for their illness. (j
