Replies to 'Bipolar Disorder'

Hello everone,I am very new to this and am a little nervous. Um I was hopeing someone could help me with some questions. I have a mother-in-law who moved in with us almost seven years ago,I don't have the "normal" mil problems no ,no, I have weird mil problems I could spend all day boring you with stories, but to spare her feelings I won't do that but I will share some just because I amso sure she needs help and I can't get her to help her self. I am Sorry if this is confussing ok see she has these emotional ups and downs,there are times when I feel as if I have a 7,5,and a 4 year olds when accually I have a 7 and 4 year  old! She fights with them like she is a child for instance my for year old (He turns 4 mar 28) got mad at her and said you can't come to my birthday, she got very upset as a child would and wouldn't talk to him then later came out and asked if she could please come to his party, I accually had to sit down my 63 year old mil and explain to her that he was three and trying to get what he wanted out of her.And at this time his birthday was over a month away and he would forget before it was his birthday she just looked at me like she didn't understand.that is a mild example.a few weeks eariler we found out we were expecting a baby,she had picked the boys up from daycare early to help us with expences I came home from work and my whole counter top from one end to the other was covered with dried red kool-aid! the boys were thirsty she didn't get them any thing so they apparantly made them selfs kool-aid. the next day I went in her room very mad and said the stuff to clean the bathroom is set up in there for you I would like it done by the time mike gets home she acted as if I were not there! So I went in the kitchen finished cooling down and getting the rest of the kool-aid up, I felt bad about how I talked to her so I went in her room again I toled her in a calmer voice you'll have to excuse me for being short  But I am very fusterated that you picked the boys up early and didn't watch them and I just spent 3 hours cleaning up kool-aid! So please can you have the restroom clean befor mike comes home?! I kid you not that was at about  12 or 1 o'clock she did not come out of her room for nothing not to use the restroom,not for a drink not even to smoke! So at about 7:00pm I finally did the bathroom my self. 

I went into her room to tell her that she didn't have to worry about it,and Also chose to tell her I was very concerned about her and that I felt she needed to get help! she asked me why I said because it is not normal to shut down like she did just because she didn't want to clean! she gave the excuse thatshe wasn't thirsty,didn't want a cig and didn't need to use the restroom. Which I might have believed if  this was not a regular thing. which I brought up and she tolled me it didn't matter because we didn't have room for her any more I said what?! she claimed we didn't have room for her anymore because we were having a new baby! I didn't know what to say much less what to do. I walked out and shut the door as my eyes filled with tears I hadexpected this fight possibley with my 7 Or 4 year old but not from my 63 yearold mil. She lives alot in the past to this day what ever happened with my husbands father hurt her so bad she gets very agitated when asked about him. 

so not only does my husband not have a father but my boys are out a grand father! there was even a time about 2 years ago the doctors needed to know about his fathers medical history because my son has some medical conditions and she says she'll think and try to rember and then when asked later in the month will make excuses why she didn't have time to rember then change the subject to something that is going on in hollywood! 

I guess what I am asking my husband says she is an undiagnoised bi-polar. I don't  know anything about the diorder and to me yeah there are times I know that samething is not right with her how ever I don't seem to think it is that serious in fact sometimes I just feel that she is down right selfish.please I know your only geting my discribsion of her and probley not a good one at that, I don't think she is a danger to anyone but her self and even then she wouldn't have the guts to like hurt her self by cutting or stuff like that her way is but not eating,drinking, useing the restroom,is that enough for someone to help us get her help? She goes to the doctor but  last time the doctor did bloodwork tolled her to come back this month be cause he  wanted to discuss the depression she won't go back now! 

I do care about her even though some times I just want to beat some kind of careing into her,i am at a lost. any ideas are welcome! 

thankyou in advance. 

mt