I don't know where to begin...

Hi@cappy@soul@Darcy@Shaz51. My husband has been getting help for over 4 years now. But a huge problem is that he thinks he knows more about the meds than the psych. So he starts to change his dose around. I'm so frustrated with how he disregards an expert's advice. I have to treat him like a child to follow up on his actions. Also he refuses to acknowledge the has bipolar. Doc is obviously clueless!!. I'm desperately trying to keep all three people in my family going....one husband with BiPD, one daughter with depression and one son with autism and huge anxiety.
I'm in a spin. Anyone else feel like their life is like that kids toy where you hammer in the one thing and then the other shape pops up.... There's never a calm day. Why can't they all just stay down ...just for a bit 😞

Hi @Lostatsea

It can all be overwhelming.

Meds are a hard one as there are a lot of scholarly articles on what works and what does not and getting them right when a patient is compliant can be hit and miss, let alone when they are not. Often the patient sees side effects and dulling of emotions rather than the positive side of keeping mood stabilised. Getting a good balance is difficult and I know I have struggled with this in relation to Mr Darcy's meds and have had to advocate for him - his BPii diagnosis has been a long time coming as his case has been complex we are up to drug 16 and he is now relatively stable. However, all med changes have been done with his pdoc directing. I asked for dose adjustments in both his current meds, one was successful, the other not so. I have had to read up on the different classes of drugs and treatment of various MI - Mr D had side effects such as hypomania, agitation, memory loss and sexual dysfunction. Often the pdocs do not communicate well and apparently only a small percentage of carers understand the diagnosis, treatment of it and how to interact with a family member that has it, when they do, outcomes are so much better for the patient.
I document my observations using the headings recommended in this talk:

https://youtu.be/NRO0-JXuFMY

Loss of insight complicates things further - I have been recommended a book by Xavier Amador "I am Not Sick, I Do Not Need Help" His focus is how to get a patient to accept help when they cannot see or accept they have a mental illness - these talks explain - he does focus in Sz but mentions stats for BP.

Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lstn6WNnCRc

Part 2:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VxiBgq5G-cI

This is a method that the Qld mental health resources for carers website suggests. (This site was also helpful to me)

http://mhr4c.com.au/coping-strategies/the-leap-approach/

Hope this helps.
Darcy

Hi @Lostatsea

Think the problem with tagging was that there appeared to be no space between names.

Woke up during the night and logged on as I couldn't sleep.

The stress on the carer is enormous, looking after our loved ones and having to go to work to support them. Feeling as though you are their mother and not their beloved, feeling overwhelmed by it all, cursing that there is no definitive test for diagnosis, worrying about what the future holds.

And yet, I hold on to defiant and resolute hope that things can get better, that what I do is worthwhile and that my loved one will improve and live a meaningful life.

Darcy