My husband was diagnosed bipolar, but he is not typical of the disorder. His dad is the exact same way. His mood can change in seconds and go from highs to lows in an instant. Earlier tonight he was fine, and then he just got in a very foul mood for no reason, and now he's sleeping on the couch. We've been married 10 years, and I love him so much, but sometimes I get so frustrated. He's on antidepressants, and it helps but nothing makes these symptoms go away completely. My brother is bipolar, so I know all about it, and it just doesn't fit my husband. I'm thinking Ultradian cycling is a lot closer to what he experiences. Anyone out there have it or know someone who does? Any advice for treatment or coping? Thanks!

welcome to the forums.
I have not heard of this bipolar before.
Sounds frustrating to say the least.
bizi

Hi,

Is he taking anything in addition to the antidepressants?
Antidepressants alone are horrible for people with bipolar.

Nami --- National Alliance on Mental Illness --- offers support for family members

He could have exactly what you describe. That sounds awful. It is horrible for him and for you. He needs better medications.

Mari

Yes, it is frustrating, for him and for me. I wish there was more research into it. The genetic component is very strong, as my husband is the third generation with it, and I worry about my 2-year-old daughter might have it too. I know it's too soon to know, but she seems to have the same drastic mood swings. I'm hoping it's just her being a toddler, but I worry! On the one hand, it's so much less severe than my brother's bipolar disorder, but in other ways, it's just such a *****. One second, he's my sweet, loving husband; the next, he's an angry, irrational jerk; and then he's depressed and full of regret. By next morning, he's usually himself again. It's truly a Jeckyll/Hyde type situation. It tends to happen cyclically I've noticed. If he were a woman, you'd think he had extreme PMDD. The meds have him somewhat regulated, but at least once a month, it happens. One minute, he is smiling and happy, and the next, the tiniest thing sets him off.

Tonight, i brought home indian food, but instead of sitting down and eating with me, he said he was going to the store. I suggested he eat first and then go, and he got all nasty, saying he was sick of our dogs, the baby was driving him crazy, he had too much to do, he hated life, etc. and so forth--spewing negativity. I tried to tell him, hey, let me take on your responsibilities, and you can just relax, but that didn't help his mood. He took his dinner and ate it by himself in the family room and then never went to the store. Instead, at 7:30, he curled up on the couch and went to sleep without saying another word; then an hour later, he went upstairs and went to bed. in the meantime, I took care of our daughter and put her to bed and took the dogs for a walk. It bugs me that he just gets to shut down like that and leave me with all the responsibility, but he did work a long day, whereas I'm currently unemployed, so I don't really mind, but I do mind being treated like that for no reason at all. At the same time, I'm not mad, just sad and worried about our daughter. How is she supposed to understand why her daddy gets mad/sad suddenly for no reason sometimes?

His dad tried every med in the book for bipolar disorder and eventually ended up on Prozac. It really works for him. He had two "nervous breakdowns" but now you'd never guess it. He seems very even in mood, though I'm sure he has his moments.

Prozac didn't work for my husband, and he tried several other antidepressants without success. Wellbutrin, which he's on now, works the best of the antidepressants. He's never tried anything else that is typically prescribed for bipolar disorder because I don't think the doctors know what to do with him. One diagnosed him bipolar, but as I said, he doesn't fit with the normal criteria. I researched and found the info on Ultradian cycling. It's not a well accepted diagnosis, and I think it's pretty rare. It's the only thing that makes sense though. I wish I could find more info on it or find someone who has studied it or someone else living with it. There's got to be something else to help him.

Thanks for telling me about NAMI. I'll look into it!

Hi,

I have to do that to -- exactly what you described. It is really really really hard to hold it together to keep a job. Sometimes I tell my husband it is better if he not talk to me and let me be alone with something else like tv or computer. Most of the time, he understands. We do not have children for that reason --- I would not be able to deal with them.

Your daughter is going to be o.k. You and your husband will know what to do to help her. Actually what we think of bipolar for children is now going to be called this:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=123544191
Your daughter is probably a regualar two year old, but here is a book:
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder, Third Edition by Demitri Papolos

Your husband needs better medications. Ultra rapid is horrible and dangerous.

You might like the book Bipolar for Dummies. Even though you have experience with this, it might have a few things in it that are helpful.


M

http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html

Hi,

The above site has good information about

1. medications,
2. sleep,
3. light, and
4. exercise

that I have found very good. A psychiatrist built the site.

Crazy meds US is the best site on the internet for meds.

http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

Wellbutrin is a good medication.
Is your husband on a mood stabilzer?

M

No he isn't. I think his main problem is he's never been to a decent psychiatrist. He now gets his meds from a primary care physician. The psychiatrist he went to for a while just didn't seem to get it and barely gave him any time, and my husband is resistant to going to another one. I'm going to try to get him to go to one over the summer when he's not teaching. There's no hope of getting him to go during the school year. He is sooo much better than he used to be, I even hate the idea of adjusting his meds, but I think he may really need a mood stabilizer. I'm not sure why he's never been prescribed one.

You might also look up

Intermittent explosive disorder. It sounds a lot like this.

My 31 year old has this, and was diagnosed at 16 with this. When put on a combination of wellbutrin and depakote it controlled the explosive side pretty good.

I would definately look it up.

The wellbutrin was always on board.

Donna