Thu, 08/26/2010 - 09:29
my wife is bi polar looking for good questions and answers on how to be supportive, also wanting to know how to keep communicaton though she doesn't want to spend time with me. i feel our relationship is fading and i want to pull it back.
Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:44
#2
Ron, She is probably cycling
Ron,
She is probably cycling into a depressive episode or into another state where she is not as willing to communicate. The curse and beauty of bipolar is that she is almost certain to cycle out of that state and into one that is easier for you to deal with. Keep trying to be supportive and wait until she cycles into a more talkative phase. Then work on getting her to help you understand what she needs when she starts pulling away like that. It is possible that she won't know, but if she can give you some idea of how she was feeling, you will be more prepared if it happens again and you will feel less threatened by it.
I've spent 25 years married to a man with bipolar disorder and although he was only diagnosed less than 5 years ago, I had already learned that a lot of the normal ways of dealing with people weren't working and I discovered a few tactics that were more helpful. Now that I know what was wrong, I have found that a lot of those ideas work with many people with bipolar disorder.
Bonnie
Mon, 10/03/2011 - 05:09
#3
Tactics
Bonnie,
You said you had a few tactics that you found were helpful what are they? Can you share further?
Wed, 11/03/2010 - 22:34
#4
i am bipolar and I also
i am bipolar and I also sometimes tend to find it difficult to communicate with my husband. i find that he doesn't understand what i am going through and i don't want to overburden him with my problem even further so i don't talk about them. Ask her about how she feels and let her talk about her feelings and emotions, she needs to talk about it!!!!
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 22:26
#5
I also got problem same like
I also got problem same like you, I try talk to him some many times over and over cause due to his illness, when he fine he listen when his manic occur all the words come out his head and mouth lost sense. I keep hoping this nightmare is over I just want my old husband back...I want the man that I married back.
I am Bi Polar and have been married almost 11 years, I feel soo bad for my wife sometimes but often feel anamosity towards her because communication has to be on her terms, and it seems to always be when I need my space and time to get settled mentally, that is when she pushes and then all I want to do is go away. I know this may not make sense but from my perspective she is not always ready to communicate, I guesse what I am saying is be ready when she is, don't make it obvious that you want communication, don't be pushy, if you have kids make time for her to unwind/decompress before attempting to communicate, try working out together then afterwards go have some coffee or tea somewhere quiet she may be more apt to open up then after a good work out. I used to like to take walks with my wife in the park at the river where I live, that is when I opened up more.