Hello and help please

[emjay]

Hi, I have been hovering on here for some time now and finally got the courage to speak!

My hubby has bi-polar diagnosed in Jan after admission to hospital during his first manic session. He came home after 3 months and is still recovering
I have managed to cope with everything ( I would never have thought I could) although I have been very low at times. It has all been such a shock to both of us and now I am really struggling. I try to be strong and cope with caring for him but he seems so lost and in his own world, He sits with his eyes closed and is not at all interested in life. He is elderly but has always been very fit and healthy and younger than his years. I am 15 years younger and we have been marrid 35 years
I long for the life we had before all this happened but I am beginning to despair and lose hope. I cry so much and really have to find a lot of strength to pull myself together.
Have I lost him forever, or will he come back to me? I can't go on like this, seeing him like this makes me so sad. What can I do to help him? I just want him back.
Thank you for listening

[bowlingbun]

Welcome to the forum. You don't mention what support, if any, you and your husband are receiving. Has anyone mentioned benefits at all to you? Sometimes these issues get overlooked, but the more help and support you get, the easier you will find adjusting to your situation. I'm afraid I don't know anything about bi-polar, but there will be others here who will be able to say how they coped with the same problem. Take care.

[Myrtle]

Welcome emjay and well done for plucking up the courage to join
Afraid I don't know much about bi polar but I'm sure there will be someone along soon who does.
Just wanted to say 'Hi'

[emjay]

Thank you Myrtle.

[Brindleboy123]

A warm welcome from me too emjay. I don't have really any words of wisdom that can help but didn't want to let your post go without saying Hello. Glad you found us all here - some wonderful people who will give you plenty of support.

Bell x

[emjay]

Thank you Bell.

[The Cheeky One]

I am not an expert but due to son's autism and OCD I meet people with a lot of different mental health issues. The people I have spoken to with Bi Polar only a handful but they say that when they are taking their medications, after the period of finding what works best for them, they function brilliantly. Some have said that they have felt so well they come off their meds but then they have more episodes. I am positive these are not universal experiences and am no expert but happy to pass on things I've heard from people with Bi-polar.

The future could be good but the journey back is a hard one that I do know from first hand experience from parenting a child wih OCD.

[michael parker]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.Hope you find it useful and fun.

[Lucy Carers UK]

Hi emjay,

Glad you've joined in

I think that The Cheeky One is right, and that with the right treatment, your husband's illness can be managed.

Mind have lots of great information here: http://www.mind.org.uk/search?q=bipolar&x=0&y=0 that should hopefully help.

There are always lots of friendly people on here to talk to so let us know how you are getting on.

Lucy

[emjay]

Thank you for the link Lucy