Mania Archives

I know I need to go to the doctors but before I do I wanted to get other opinions. I’ll start at the beginning; when I was in year 4 I used to scrap my hands on the floor and hurt myself, pinching, pushing my eyes. Things like that. Self-harm has been something I have done a lot, I have also cut for several years but now it is burning myself. However, I have not had an incident in a few months.

I quite often get scared for no reason, angry and excited too. I also get these sexual visions, I’ll be sat there and I start imagining the people around me doing sick and disgusting things. I’ve always loved sex, still, do and I would say I was rather promiscuous.

The reason I think I have bipolar is because my moods can just flip on the slightest of things and the smallest thing can bring me crashing down. I never seem to be just ok, I am either elated, ecstatic or the complete opposite, no energy, no lust for life. My sleeping ranges from 2 hours to 17. I have also noticed that on occasion I can get very very angry and this has only happened in the last year, I get an intense frustration from time to time where everything just makes me so annoyed and I want to punch it. I am also incredibly bad with money. I have maxed out 3 credit cards, lost inheritance. I also get this really intense sadness where I want to cry and feel like there is no hope and I just can’t do anything right.

I don’t feel suicidal anymore but have tried to commit several times.

I actually love being social however my best friend just moved away, my other has hurt my really badly and the other doesn’t seem to make any effort and then on occasion I have thoughts about killing people and torturing them. I entertain the idea for an hour or two and then I feel guilty and disgusted.

I binge eat but never throw it up, I binge work out, I try and not eat but then over eat. I sometimes spend £30 on food when I really need the money elsewhere.

I think that’s about it. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Bipolar disorder is a possibility. The only way to know what diagnosis you may have is to undergo an evaluation by a mental health professional. Thankfully, it sounds as though you will be having one soon. That will provide you with the most specific information and answers to your questions.

When it comes to treating mental illness, having a diagnosis is important, but equally important is working with good mental health professionals, those whom you like and trust. Often, finding the right medication is also important. Counseling and medication will help you tremendously and could eliminate the symptoms you have described.

If you’re willing to participate in treatment, then you should expect a successful outcome. I wish you the best of luck. Please take care.

Dr. Kristina Randle

My wife has been diagnosed as Bipolar since her induced menopause from 7-8 years ago. Her behavior has changes sporadically during that time, culminating in a serious manic phase earlier in the year where her Xanax use and alcohol abuse resulted in some very troubling actions. I had to file for divorce in order to protect myself it got so bad. Eventually we were able get her to agree to committing herself to a Mental Health program in southern FL that took about 2-3 months to complete followed by 6 weeks of group therapy locally. She is now back home, on the proper medications and actually doing well. My concern is I cannot get her to reach out to family and friends. I really believe this all stems from being ashamed of her manic behavior earlier, which really was out of control. She is fine with me but hardly ever leaves the house or talks to anyone. Her doctor says to give it time but I think she needs therapy to address this. Do you have any suggestions? She has come so far but cannot seem to move forward.

You mentioned that she had engaged in some “very troubling actions” so much so, that you needed to file for divorce in order to protect yourself. It would’ve been helpful to have included more details about her troubling actions for context. More information would have made it easier to understand why she is now reluctant to reach out to friends and family.

You are pushing her to do something that she is not comfortable doing. Again, without more information about her history, it’s difficult for me to know whether or not you are doing the right thing. The fact that her doctor does not endorse your idea leads me to believe that it may simply be too soon for her. Her doctor knows all of the facts of her case and is still advising you to “give it time.” People are ready when they are ready and no sooner. You might be prematurely pushing her to do things that she’s not ready to do.

She might feel a great deal of shame and embarrassment about what happened. That can be difficult to get over. You mentioned that she had been in treatment, but it’s not clear that she’s in treatment now. She obviously has a doctor but it’s not clear whether she also has a therapist and is in counseling. You might encourage her to undergo counseling to examine why she is reluctant to connect with friends and family. Counseling is the ideal place to deal with these types of issues.

One potential risk of pushing her to do things too soon might be her having another episode. You would never want to jeopardize her mental stability by pushing her to do something she’s not ready to do. It might be best to follow the doctor’s orders.

Talk to your wife. Voice your concerns but don’t push her too hard. Ask her why she’s reluctant to reach out to friends and family. You might already know or think you know but it wouldn’t hurt to ask her to expound upon her reasons and to share her feelings. She might need more time to overcome whatever it is that she’s feeling as a result of that difficult time in her life.

If you’re uncertain about how to proceed or are struggling with your relationship, you might consult a therapist, for individual counseling. There you might learn helpful strategies for supporting your wife. It can be difficult to love someone with mental health issues. That’s one of the primary reasons that advocacy groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) exists. It was started by family members who struggled with their lack of support for their loved ones with mental illnesses.

I hope this issue can quickly come to a resolution. It may simply be that she needs more time and you need more patience. A therapist could assist you in making a determination about how best to proceed. Thank you for your question. Good luck and please take care.

Dr. Kristina Randle

Mania

I Think I Have Bipolar

Social Anxiety Tied to Prior Manic Phase Activities