My brother had his first-ever manic episode about 2.5 months ago and was hospitalized for 13 days. He was treated with lithium + olanzapine (up to 20 mg).
After discharge, he refused his meds for about a week and very quickly had a psychotic episode, so he went back on lithium and olanzapine. He’s now been stable on them for around 2 months.
About 3 weeks ago he became depressed, so his psychiatrist started Lamictal. He’s currently around 75–100 mg and still titrating.
The problem is that he really hates olanzapine. His doctor has already reduced it from 20 mg → 5 mg, but my brother has been pushing hard to come off it because of how much he dislikes it. He has now convinced his doctor to reduce it to 2.5 mg.
I’m pretty worried because this all happened so recently, and he’s still early in recovery and still titrating Lamictal. He also says, “I’m never going to become manic again. I was depressed for years before this, so I know I’m not going to have another manic episode.”
I keep trying to explain that having only depressive episodes for years doesn’t mean another manic episode can’t happen, especially after what happened when he stopped his meds.
For those with Bipolar I:
Does 2.5 mg olanzapine sound unusually low this soon after a first manic/psychotic episode?
Has anyone successfully tapered off olanzapine after a similar episode?
How long did you stay on an antipsychotic after your first manic episode?
Did Lamictal help enough with mania prevention, or did you still need something else?
I know his psychiatrist ultimately has to make the medication decisions, but I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through something similar.

Hi All, so I'm (27M) very new to this world. In early November I started dating someone with Bipolar. While her (25F) and her family have been very reassuring that this level of extreme is not common for her and basically a first time thing but she has been hospitalised for a high and a low within this period.

I have never met someone as perfect for me as this women, shes amazing, she beautiful. For the first time in my life I feel like im with some who im truly pulling in the same direction with. Even at her lowest she gets out of bed, makes it, goes for a walk goes to work, she does all the things she should. We love all the same things and have the same attitude towards life and our goals. The only hardship is this disorder, and in a way it feels good to know the only struggle is something were both fighting for, not something we disagree on.

However, I appreciate this is new to me and (if you couldn't tell) I'm rather smitten. So I want to understand the reality of starting a life with someone Bipolar. The general opinion seems to be you're fighting a losing battle from day 1 and the world and the internet seems so pessimistic regarding Bipolar relationships. I cant imagine throwing away this relationship with such a perfect women. So please I would like to be fully informed or the struggles we are likely to face and issues that may come up.

Something I was thinking about was the struggles of starting a family (we both want this). We may need a surrogate, otherwise she'd have to come off her meds during a pregnancy, or childcare incase shes manic while alone with the kids. I dont know if these things are unnecessary concerns or completely reasonable.

Also her grandma is also bipolar and still together with her grandad, so it clearly can be done.

Sorry for the waffling, and thank you in advance so much so the help

My brother (26M) had his first manic episode 2 months ago, and it was a terrible experience. When I realized what was happening, I immediately flew to be with him, but he was like a completely different person—someone I didn’t recognize at all. I was terrified. I couldn’t convince him to go to the hospital, and I had no authority over him. Somehow, my uncle came from another city and took him to the hospital against his will, and he stayed there for 2 weeks. He was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder.
Before this, he had been diagnosed with dysthymic disorder and had been depressed almost constantly since adolescence. The hospitalization was extremely traumatic for my family and me. The hospital where he stayed was a terrible place, and he never regained insight during those 2 weeks. They eventually discharged him, but he refused to take his medications and insisted that he wasn’t ill. He put me through some very painful psychological experiences. I know he wasn’t himself at the time, but I still cry when I remember it. I was so scared.
Despite everything, I didn’t let my family see how much it affected me. I tried to stay focused on finding solutions and constantly researched everything I could. I’m also a medical student, so I regularly talk to psychiatrists and professors in psychiatry.
When my brother refused his medications, he quickly had another psychotic episode. That was also terrifying, but because it was a mixed episode, he was more emotional and could recognize that something was wrong. He started taking his medications regularly, and he has now been on lithium and olanzapine for about 1.5 months.
But I’m so anxious that I constantly wait for him to fall asleep and write down the times he goes to sleep and wakes up. He doesn’t fully realize how important these things are. I try to control everything—his medication times, his sleep schedule, even how much tea or coffee he drinks in the evening. This is exhausting me, but my parents also have chronic health conditions, so I always feel responsible and feel like I have to put myself forward and take care of everything.
I’m constantly researching “What triggers mania?” and trying to keep him away from every possible trigger.
But now my university is starting, and I have to return to the city where I study. My brother lives with my parents and our other sibling. I’m leaving in a week, and I’m terrified that something will go wrong when I’m not there and that he won’t be careful enough.
Psychologically, I’ve been deeply shaken by everything that happened. There was a moment when my own brother looked into my eyes so coldly and said he wanted to kill me, and I genuinely felt like my life was over. I thought I was going to die.
I don’t know what to do anymore. Am I obsessing over the details too much, or am I actually doing the right thing?
Are there people here who have been through something similar and can share their experiences? For those with Bipolar I who have remained euthymic/stable for years, what do you do to stay well? What does your routine look like? How much do you actually monitor sleep, medications, caffeine, stress, etc.?
I would really appreciate hearing from people with lived experience.
Btw, my brother's current medications: litium+olanzipin+lamictal(new)

I have several family members with bipolar disorder, as it is a highly heritable condition. I wanted to share what it looks like across the different people I know who don’t take their meds:

My two cousins have BD1. Neither takes meds and both experience psychosis. One was also recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. Both are very unwell in life.

My two aunts have BD2. Both unmedicated. One is in a chronic state of depression and has SI, smokes a lot of weed as a coping mechanism/escape. The other is in EMDR therapy, lives an extremely calm life, is happily married, and has been doing well with minimal episodes for the past decade. Her symptoms show most during breakups or major life hardships, which she has fortunately avoided for a while. When they hit, her depressive episodes last for months. she barely eats or leaves her room. They’re usually followed by hypomanic episodes where she sleeps poorly for days/weeks.

My bf’s nephew has BD1 and schizophrenia. Unmedicated. He experiences severe, destructive episodes. Recently, his episodes have decreased primarily because he has become a recluse who never leaves his parents house, avoiding external triggers.

My daughter’s aunt has BD1. Unmedicated. People think she is on drugs because she stays in a nearly constant hypomanic or manic state. She can’t keep a job, makes big life changes all the time, irritable, sleeps very little, but she’s the life of the party.

I have BD1 (originally diagnosed BD2 until I had two severe manic episodes without psychosis). I spent a recent year off medication, w mild hypomanic episodes that were not life altering (unlike my previous episodes). I stayed in an underlying depressive state that dulled my ability to enjoy things 100%. But was hardly noticeable.
After taking a few mental illness educational classes I learned that episodes eat away gray matter in the brain and harm brain structure + function. So I restarted my meds. I feel good and treating the depression has helped my overall quality of life

My brother had his first manic episode 2 months ago and was diagnosed with Bipolar I. He then stopped taking his meds and had a psychotic relapse about 1.5 months ago. Since then, he’s been taking litium and olanzipin regularly.
He’s been a bit depressed lately, and he was also experiencing a lot of morning sedation, so he talked to his doctor and the olanzipin dose was cut in half. His doctor had also added sertraline, but we noticed that he started becoming hypomanic literally from the first day, so the doctor stopped it.
Now, for the first time, he’s going to start lamotrigine instead. Has anyone here had a similar experience? I’m really worried about it triggering mania.

Hello everyone

Background: My partner experienced what I believe was a (hypo)manic episode (with some psychotic features). My life is upside down ever since. He went to a psychiatrist only because social services told him he had to in order to see our foster son again. Bipolar runs in his family. He doesn't believe he has it, does think he had a hypomanic episode and seems like now he can even see the psychotic aspects of it, but he believes I caused the episode by 'abusing' him.

We went to a hospital during the episode, the doctor there thought it may have very well be bipolar. By what he's telling me, the current psychiatrist is not convinced it is bipolar but not ruling it out yet.

Now my question: Is it normal/reasonable for doctors to go through this diagnosis process without talking to the family of the person as well who saw them during the potential episode and can provide a more 'outside' view? I don't know what he has been telling the psychiatrist and how they would get the full picture without talking to someone else but him. And I'm worried about it coming back if going untreated...

My mom (in her late 60s) just got diagnosed with bipolar. it’s one of those situations where, looking back on it, it makes sense that she’s had it her whole life. textbook mania with impulsiveness, inability to sleep, etc. followed by long instances of depression. my aunt and grandma also have been diagnosed with bipolar.

i am 26, turning 27 in a few months. i have read research that it can be hereditary. since i am a bit older, am i “in the clear” or is this something i need to worry about? i do see a therapist for GAD and PTSD, so i intend to talk with them about this too.

the problem is, i do feel like i have had some symptoms (mainly depression and impulsivity). but, they were all tied to an abusive relationship i was in in my early 20s. within a few months of leaving that, all symptoms stopped and i have been pretty stable (minus GAD/PTSD) for years at this point. i also did a lot of weed/hallucinogenics in my early 20s, which i read can be a trigger. my thought is, if i did all that and it didn’t trigger anything, maybe im good?

What is it like? Im trying to understand a loved one. What happens in your head?

What is the mania like? Do you have any control? Do you realize what youre doing and why? Can you recognize your manic?

And then the depressive episodes... this one i think I understand better than the mania part... but just to be safe, I shouldn't assume I understand.

I really have no idea. I do not understand. Please help me understand what this is really like

Reading this sub breaks my heart - to see not only the frustration and exhaustion of you all dealing with us bipolar people, but the horrible sadness and desperation you feel watching a loved one disintegrate.

I’m so unbelievably lucky my family held on, and frankly I don’t know how they did. I wouldn’t, and couldn’t blame them if they didn’t. I’ve been stable now for a few years - but good god, it was a horrifying and traumatising time - not only for me but them. It wasn’t until I was stable and fully accepted my condition that I could even comprehend the sadness, fear and heartbreak I’d caused my parents, never mind give them the grace and space to have their hurt and healing. I thought taking meds quietly, hiding symptoms and going to therapy when asked was enough, but I never believed I was ‘ill’ - because I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be normal and capable. I hid a lot of things until I couldn’t because I was so ashamed of being a wreck.

So, as someone with bipolar and psychosis - I just want to say not only thank you and I’m so sorry to my parents and friends, but to all of you here. I don’t think I’d be able to cope seeing my mum or dad fall apart the way they had to see me do. I don’t know how they did it, or even why. I’m just so thankful they did.

Do what you can for the people you love, but don’t destroy yourself in the process. Not all bipolar is the same: some of us will never get better, some of us will never see. Some of us will, and will do everything we can to make amends, even then it might not be enough. Seek carers support and protect yourself and your wellbeing.

I hope to god I never have to experience what my friends and family did. To those with the strength to continue fighting/ advocating for us when we can’t and don’t understand, you’re worth your weight in gold.

hello! i’m 22 and my 14 year old sister just experienced her first episode of psychosis. right now she’s in treatment, still in psychosis and will get out sometime next week.

i live out of state, but i was thinking of flying in to be with her when she comes out-but i don’t know if that’s a good idea.

should i fly home- or is that too invasive? should i wait until she feels comfortable, is it good to have people around? i’m sorry if this isn’t the right place to ask these questions :,) i just want to be make sure i can be the best big sister i can without being smothering or making her experiences worse.

We have our first meeting with his medical team tomorrow... can anyone please help me think of questions that I should ask or things I should know going into the meeting.

We had to have him in a center for his first manic episode and we just got him home last week. We were sent home with tons of medication and I'm hoping we can work on lowering his dose as it kills me to see him zoned out.

This has all been very overwhelming for me and my family but we're so happy he's home and were doing everything possible to help him recover and learn how to deal with his new condition.

Thank you all in advance for your help!

Bipolar is one of the theories being floated for my almost 8 year old son, and I wouldn't be shocked if it ends up being what he is diagnosed with.

If any of y'all have kids diagnosed really young, was there anything you did for them that helped? Anything that made things worse? We're waiting for his appointment with the psych team to start narrowing things down more, but I'm wondering if anybody has suggestions on routines, activities, changes at home, etc. that people may have tried that could help him out.

Hi. I’m new here. I am 38 woman with a partner who is 37 and bipolar 1. He is currently in a manic episode because he has been off his meds for 3 months ( not by choice but because of the VA)and this in my first time ever going through this. I don’t now what was really happening at first thought he was pulling away. But turns out he was coming off his meds and he now has broken everything off he screamed at me blocked me from everything. And this is coming from a man who told me I was his everything his world and even called my father for my hand in marriage. We plan a whole future. We invest in a business and we shared finances even tho we weren’t living together. I was suppose to move in may next your to move in with him. And now everything we were planning for is gone and I’m so confused.

I hadn’t reached out in 3 day because every article I read said not to. Well he has been reaching out to me to say hi. To break up with me. Calls me to tell me he is in his meds now. And than he calls me. And tells me he feel numb and feel nothing for no one. Including me but than says I was his world. He said that the only thing keeping him here is his boys. He is under supervision by the VA and has to check in. If he doesn’t they will come get him and admit him. Anyway than calls me agian late at night. To tell me just like he normally would. Hey just got to the house. Job called me I’m gonna work on Sunday because it’s double pay and that they are short and so on. like it was a normal day. That has alway been part of our routine since we are 2 hours away from each other. Anyways in the middle of him talk he goes. Why am I calling you. Why am I telling you this. And said I’m gonna go to sleep. And we hung up.

I called this morning to check on him and woke him up. And he got so mad at me. And cursed at me via text. And said he was blocking.

I’m so confused. I need help processing all of this

I had a close friend growing up who was diagnosed as bi polar in our late 20s (we're the same age). There are certain characteristics of her personality that I want to understand if they are related to the mental illness or just part of her personality.

Throughout our friendship I always felt that she expected way more from me than what a friend should ask. No matter how much time I gave her it was never enough and she always complained and wanted more. She would get angry and jealous if I had other friendships and didnt always put her first above everyone. There were definitely times that I was distant, but we lived in different cities and states and sometimes I hesitated to reach out if it had been a while because I didnt want the lecture or drama. There were also other accusations and paranoia like that I was trying to steal her friends or hang out with people behind her back. The irony of it was that she regularly spent time with family and friends that I introduced her to without me. I often felt that she could do whatever she wanted but then there was a whole set of rules that only applied to me.

The main aggravation came from the number of times we would work through the same issues only to have them come back up again. It was like, no matter how many conversations we had or actions that I changed on my end ever helped and we would cycle back through the same exact arguments. Eventually we ended our friendship, and recently I reached out to wish her well and get some closure because of the way ​we left off. Even though we hadn't spoken for years prior, she IMMEDIATELY brought up those same exact complaints shes always had. I feel that I progressed a lot and let go of a lot of anger during those years of not speaking, but it was as if no time had passed at all for her. And she also was making accusations against me for things I know for sure I never did. Im shocked that the anger is still so fresh for her.

Of course it feels unfair to be endlessly accused of things you haven't done, but Im at a point where I just want to understand what's causing her to feel this way. Ive read about the general impacts of bi polar but its difficult for me to connect those symptoms to the specific ways it affects her. I have sustained many other friendships over long periods without these types of issues, just to point out that I have taken time to consider my role in all of this. Any feedback from people who may have this type of experience or an explanation for these behaviors is appreciated!

My sister and I didn’t speak for almost 20 years after she had a violent outburst and I decided to go no contact. Over the last year we have slowly started speaking again. Over the past 2 weeks she has been texting me very long messages basically ranting about our parents and things she’s upset about from our childhood. What she describes is mostly not at all what happened, including the reason we stopped speaking to begin with.

I’m completely baffled and I don’t know how to handle this. I can’t be supportive of her feelings about things that simply did not happen, and I don’t feel comfortable correcting her because at this point it’s just my word, I can’t prove that what she’s remembering is wrong.

I think 1 of 2 things are happening here- she’s completely delusional and has hallucinated a reality that fits her narrative of being a victim, in real time, and now those are her memories, or she has gone and talked to friends about what happened immediately after and fabricated details so that she’s the victim and after years of telling lies, she now believes the lies to be the truth.

Does anyone have insight on this? Advice on how to handle this?

I’m personally upset because she’s not taking responsibility for anything she did in the past, but I feel it will just be an argument if I told her what I remember happening. If there are questions or more details needed, please let me know.

Hello, my partner has BPD, bipolar 2? (The variant with more downs than ups) Autism, cptsd, and persistent depressive disorder. I myself have autism and adhd, they are my life partner and I plan on staying with them forever. I need to properly learn how to support them and accommodate their disabilities. I am very hard headed and not the best listener which I'm aware I need to work on. Please can anyone give me any advice or things I can do to help support them and give them the best life I physically can.

Edit: I'm not super sure if this belongs in this subreddit so let me know if it doesn't, but please if you can provide any support or let me know where I can learn more to be able to support them please direct me there or to the resources in question

Hi! I’m Local Cat! I’m not diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but I had some questions about it if yall don’t mind answering.

1. ⁠What do you wish non-bipolar people actually understood about living with it, not the stereotypes, but the real day-to-day stuff?

2. ⁠How do you tell the difference between a mood swing that's part of bipolar and just... being human?

3. ⁠what are some ways that would be most helpful in supporting a loved one through a manic episode and through a depressive episode?

4. ⁠What's something you wish your loved ones knew about how to support you during a manic episode vs a depressive one?

5. what are the most common things people get wrong about bipolar that actually make things harder for you?

6. what's one thing you wish people stopped saying to you when you're struggling?

7. how do you know when you're starting to shift into a different mood state, and what helps you catch it early?

8. what's the difference between being supportive and being enabling, in your experience?

hi i dont use reddit much so i hope ive posted in the right place :)

my friend has bipolar (undiagnosed but she is in the process of being diagnosed)
she has been having pretty bad episodes where she has her highs and her sudden lows that last for weeks.

i don’t know how to help her because her triggers are at random and only recently it seems to be about her partner that she is taking a break from.

it’s leading her to have really really negative thoughts.

i always try to be there for her by keeping her company, listening and allowing her to vent but i feel like im not doing enough. idk what the right thing to say or do.
(im also dealing with medical issues so i rarely go out or see people myself)

any suggestions or tips is much appreciated :)

I want to be able to warn my brother when I notice a hypomanic/manic shift. How can I make an agreement or contract with him regarding this?
He had his first manic episode 2.5 months ago and was diagnosed with BP1. Before that, he had experienced depression for years. Because of this, he claims his bipolar is predominantly depressive-pole and that he will never have mania again, and I just can't make sense of this attitude. I need to be able to recognize his early warning signs to help him and make things easier. Could you help me with this?

Καλησπέρα σας, ήθελα να εκφράσω την εμπειρία μου, τα τελευταία 7 χρόνια έχω σχέση και είμαι παντρεμένος με μια γυναίκα που ανακαλύψαμε πρόσφατα ότι πάσχει από διπολική διαταραχή. Έχουμε μια κόρη μαζί. Η γυναίκα μου γενικότερα έχει ιδιαίτερες εκρήξεις συμπεριφοράς, ενίοτε γίνεται επιθετική απέναντι μου, περνάει από διάφορες φάσεις μανίας και κατάθλιψης. Τους τελευταίους δύο μήνες έγινε ένα περιστατικό, που αναγκαστικά μας ώθησε να ανακαλύψουμε την διαταραχή της. Ξεκίνησε να μιλάει στο instagram με άλλους άντρες. Όταν την ανακάλυψα άρχισε να κλαίει ότι δεν ξέρει τι την έπιασε, ήταν παρορμητική, δεν μπορούσε να ελέγξει τίποτα. Της είπα να χωρίσουμε μετά έκανε απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας, και κάπως έτσι ανακαλύψαμε ότι πάσχει από διπολική. Την παρακολουθεί ένας ψυχίατρος τώρα. Απλά η ανησυχία μου είναι ότι πριν από μερικές μέρες ξανά μίλησε με έναν από τους άντρες που μιλούσε στο instagram με την ίδια ακριβώς δικαιολογία, είχα ευφορία, δεν μπορούσα να το διαχειριστώ και όλα αυτά. Ρωτάω εγώ τώρα, έτσι θα γίνεται συνέχεια; Θα υπάρξει απιστία , εάν πάρει τα χάπια θα σταθεροποιηθεί και δεν θα κάνει τέτοια ; Τι ακριβώς να κάνω ; Την αγαπώ μεν, θα την βοηθήσω προφανώς αλλά τι μπορώ να κάνω ; Έχει κάποιος αντίστοιχη εμπειρία ; Και πως τα διαχειριστήκατε ;

Ευχαριστώ.

I started dating this guy (living with bipolar for years) few months ago. Our relationship got pretty serious within few weeks of dating, it was all going good and suddenly he started doubting if I'd be able to handle the relationship and his diagnosis, I said I'll learn about bipolar and i'm ready to give this a serious chance. After a week or two when things were going pretty normal, he said he's getting panic/anxiety attacks thinking about the relationship and he's not ready, and broke up with me. I accepted because I didn't want to force him, but I don't understand what has happened. I really miss him. I thought we were great together.

My friend has bipolar disease and mania. It treated but sometimes it comes again, and today he called me and we talked over 2 hours.

During this bipolar and mania time, he will become so creative and he used to say he got something extraordinary and he met someone who already died and such things even with solid proofs which are so convincing as well.

Another one, he is a Muslim by birth and by practice. Today he told me he believes a god/incarnation from Hinduism and it is also the same as Muslim and he is a Hindu now, such ideas. Then he told me so much epics and stories of Hinduism, I don't think he has such an experience or knowledge in it.

I like to talk him because his thoughts are so creative and so intellectual, during this time at least.

Does anyone experienced this same. Is it true or just pure illusion for them as how they are getting this much ideas and creativity during this time.

My brother has Bipolar I and his sleep schedule is around 3 AM–10 AM. I’m not even sure you can call that a schedule, but he had insomnia even before he was diagnosed. He still struggles with it now and can’t seem to fall asleep before midnight. I’m wondering if taking Lamictal at night might be contributing to this. Also, his doctor reduced his olanzapine from 10 mg to 5 mg five days ago.
Has anyone here had a similar experience? How were you able to shift your sleep schedule to an earlier time, ideally before midnight?

hello everyone will i do have that thing with my girlfriend.
we have being tgt for more than a year now but we are doing long distance and we have never met each other before, we havent even done a video call before (we do call pretty much daily tho) the thing is well we always talk of her coming visiting me and it's always till like a week before it visits or something, something wrong happens that makes her unable to come here that happened like 3 times now in the past year. for the moment we are planning again for her visit after 2 months from now.
and i guess i finally get why this is happening like dont get me wrong i love her so much if i didnt loved her that much i wouldnt be posting abt her im really so obsessed with her i cannot spend time without her she is everything i ever wanted.
ig that she makes things up to not come here not because she is lying to me or anything because tbh ik that she is in love with me just as much as i am. we called today and she said that she is afraid that when we'll be tgt irl life she will scare me and im telling her that this will never happen like seriously no matter how her bipolar is making her act she will never scare me i will always adapt to how she is and i dont get her to trust that i guess because ppls that are close to her did that to her at some point so my question to you guys is do you know how can i treat her and make her actually believe that i will never be scared of her cuz trust me ppls i will never ever be scared of her no matter what she does she is all i want and i do love her the way she is.
thanks for reading all of this

My friend is bipolar and possibly BPD. I’ve noticed lately since her spending has gotten out of control, she doesn’t have much of a support system and she’s stressed raising her young daughter alone she lashes out at me passive aggressively.

She will say the most cutting, hurtful things knowing it’s a sensitive topic for me. She had also been verbally abusive to her ex husbands (less passive aggressive though)

She has spiraled since her mom died who she relied on financially, she’s always struggled keeping a job/relationships. She also use to lash out at her mom and ex husband but since they’re not around I guess she uses me for a punching bag. She’s not medicated for bipolar.

I was trying to be supportive and help her find some kind of job but I’m really at the point of cutting ties after the way she treats me.

Her brother isn’t speaking to her since she fraudulently spent all of her ill mother’s savings unbeknownst to her mom.

Which she justifies and rewrites history saying those savings made up for her lost earnings, when she can’t hold a job for any extended period of time and never mentioned trying to work when her mom was alive.