Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Acceptance

     My immediate family does not believe that I have Bipolar. I accept the diagnosis, but at first it was difficult. To be honest, at times, I still do question my diagnosis of Bipolar. My husband was wonderful and supportive. He filled our bookcase with books about Bipolar and spoke to a few doctors. I was diagnosed three times by different psychiatrists.

   It was very frustrating for me that my Mom and Dad would not read about Bipolar. I gave them recommended reading. I guess it was hard for them to hear there daughter has a mental illness. It was a strain on our relationship. I couldn't reach out to them. Now that time has passed (3 years) wounds have healed.

   My husband and I separated for four months. He started to become more like my caretaker then my husband (overprotective and controling). I didn't need someone to take care of me I needed to gain my independence back.. My husband saw a therapist and it saved our relationship.

   Was it difficult for your family, spouse/partner to accept your diagnosis of a mental illness?

2 comments:

  1. I didn't really believe it, so when I got married my husband didn't really believe it, until I had an extreme manic episode and ended in the hospital. That was the first I accepted it and so did he. I remember being scared about telling my husband they wanted to give me meds and asking if that was OK. He was completely shaken up by the whole thing, but we learned to accept it together which was great.

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  2. Yes, I like this very much. I like your observational eye and the fact you snapped a photo where others would have ignored.

    Pleased you're so open about your relationship and the difficulty you had but I'm also really pleased it's all sorted now. Good on you both for seeing it through. Hugs, hugs an hugs. Mart

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