I am married with children and live in another town as my father. He has been diagnosed with BP and takes meds to control it. He gets really manic in the summers and tends to not take meds, drinks heavily etc. He has a wife that has always managed his meds, his BP and the rollercoaster rides of overspending, verbal abuse and everyone is out to get him. He has had a terrible childhood at the hands of his BP father and has never successfully overcome those issues of abuse. He is now spinning out of control again but this time his wife is done with him threatening divorce etc. and she is leaving him. NOW, I am wondering how this is going to work. He is already in a manic state, not taking meds properly, drinking and won't keep his dr. appts. The BIGGEST dilema is when he talks to me, everything is fine. Is that normal?? He seems fine when I talk to him but when I talk to her it is obvious he is having trouble. Can they just turn things on and off like that? What do I do now? No one is looking out for him. He has over the years aleinated all family, friends and now his wife. This can not get better. He will now I feel lose his job, home etc. and continue to get manic b/c no meds are in place. Suggestions for the daughter who has tried to stay out of this situation for years and who has kids that I don't want subjected to erratic behavior, oh yeah and according to him, everything is fine, everyone else is crazy....??

Hi!
My mom has BiPolar and can shut it off and on like a switch!!!!!!! She has also used alcohol to help with symptoms when not taking the medication! I feel for you and your family, as I know all too well the emotional roller coaster ride that can drain one very badly.
#1. He must pose a physical threat to self and or others before he can be madatorily committed (for either a 72 hr. hold or a week} And one can tell his boss he's in treatment or needs to use vacation time, so as not to loose his job.
#2. His medication problebly needs to be changed or ajusted, if his wife leaves him, then he will more than likely learn the hard way about being responsible for self. Unfortunately learning the hard way usually involves fights, and breaking the law, where they end up in the system, often going without meds, as while incarrerated the police usually don't know that certain individuals are mentally ill!
#3. My advice to you, is keep tabs on him, but make sure you set up boundaries so that he dosn't create KAOS at your home/work/school etc. Last but not least if he dose decide to impose on your family, hard as it might seem, get a restraing order on him and that will help protect the children.

Good Luck

Your Not Alone!!!!!!!!