Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

I just wanted to say one thing about bi-polar.  I know it's REAL!!!  I was diagnosed with it many years ago and I'm here to say, "IT'S REAL".  I don't have this diagnosis any longer, but even though I think I'm going to be thrown into that mindframe again sometimes, I haven't actually yet.  And yes it scares me to think that I would be there again. Only thing about it; if somebody is diagnosed with it, do they have it for life?  (hmmm)  You all have a wonderful day.

Ive waited and waited for this topic to FINALLY be discussed by Dr. Phil. 

I am recently divorced from a wonderful man that suffered from bi-polar and has shown symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (PBD) - and has been diagnosed with clinical depression. 

I did not want to divorce him, I wanted to help him and stay by his side, but when you have to deal with mental illness, you never end up with a fairytale ending. He insisted on my children and I leaving, and we had no say. 

This is a strong, wonderful, Godly man and told me just after his first "episonde" as a newlywed, that I should be proud of him every day that he has the strenght not to kill himself. At one time, he threw a hand gun in the bed with me and begged me to put him out of his missery. 

NO ONE can understand the lows of these two disorders. We were together for 6 yrs. and I STILL cannot wrap my mind around the deep darkness he lives with on a daily basis. 

DR. PHIL, PLEASE EXPLORE BPD AND INTRODUCE IT TO THE PUBLIC SOON! 

While researching BPD on line, I found a site for those suffering from BPD, and it is torture.  

If you have a friend with severe mood swings, or a 'split personality-type' attitude.... love them, pray for them, don't walk away - their biggest fear is abandonment and they will test you to the limit or abandon you first. They are so starved for love, and they need loving, educated, understanding. 

A WONDERFUL book for non-BPD persons - and persons that live with bi-polar loved ones, is STOP WALKING ON EGGSHELLS. It will open your eyes to their world and it will give you tools on how to love them thru their pain. I HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERYONE - even those who don't know anyone suffering... why?... b/c there is always that person you see acting strangely in public, and instead of judging them, your heart softens after this book and you think twice about what they may be suffering from. 

Can't wait to see the show tomorrow! 

I agree completely here as well about LABELING... 

people who have diabetes, don't mind being called a diabetic, but when it comes to a disorder, especially one that cannot be helped since it's a chemical imballance, NO ONE wants to be a LABEL.  It's hard enough struggling with it - being labeled only makes it worse. 

When I spoke to a psychiatrist about my husband and spoke in a way of labeling him, he immediately stopped me, said they didn't treat labels, they treated symptoms, and I liked him from that moment on! 

And, yes, EVERYONE has one symptom or another, very true....  

I'm so happy he's found a woman that understands him... and he's very blessed to have such a faithful mother. It's not just the spouses that abandon them, many parents do as well, so kudos to you!  You said "He is brilliant..."  aren't they all! 

My husband is a genious, his siblings are geniouses, his father is a genious, his mother is deceased now, but also a genious. 

He is a 'high perfomance' sufferer, so no one knows at his place of employment, and it was only reavealed behind closed doors with secret 'episodes'. 

I know different treatments work for different persons, but actually, He was a new man when he got off carbs and followed the Atkins diet. But.... the carbs re-entered his life and it was down hill from there. So maybe someone will be inspired to watch their diet and see if it effects the signs. 

Blessings 

Dr. Phil,

I just e-mailed you because I am going through a divorce now and I am bipolar and things are so confusing and emotionally charged. I read, read, read. I take my meds, I am seeing my Dr. etc. My court date with my husband is Thursday and I am so shook up. I was amazed that tomorrows subject is Bipolar Disorder. My husband wanted to divorce me leaving me with outrageous debts, my home of 13yrs was almost forclosed on, I lost my job and I am just so tired of it all. My heart is broken. I waited until I was 42 to marry. I helped him achieve the job he has now. That was the very beginning of our goals that we had hoped for ourselves. A new city with clean air, less traffic, I even was at the final stages of an interview with the county there. Then he made an offer on a house that was contingent on my home selling but my name would't have been on the new one. I put my foot down. It was his turn to step up. I had drained all of my IRA's taken out loans from friends and one credit card ($300.00 limit). All my utilities have been maxed out, I am constantly making arrangements to keep the bare necessities of life. I have no groceries in the fridge and no gas even to get out. I'll have to borrow to get gas to go to court.  He is in Reno with no responsibility and on June 13th he told me he wanted a divorce. I don't know what to do..everyone tells me to snap out of it, get on with my life but I am so devestated so financially and emotionally it seems neverending.I'm crying so much now I have to sign off but after I get some of it out I can probably explain better. I've got to go

 Dr. Phil,

How do you know if you are Bi-Polar? I REALLY think that 3 of my children and myself may be Bi-Polar just by what i have heard about the disorder. Two of my children have ADD but have grown out of it somewhat but, i really feel that there's more too it than that. Since we have no insurance and they are too old for state aid now its very hard to get the help we need. I would really appreciate any input you can give to shed more light on Bi-Polar Disorder.

Dear Dr.Phil

My name is Annie and I have been Bipolar all my life I turned 47 July 26st  the up side of it is I keep myself amused and will laugh at the smallest thing's when I'm on the up side of this disorder that is.

Dr.Phil there's so many other sides of being Bipolar there's the times I cry for nothing at all the times I want to go out in the world and do the thing's like other people but I cant because people make me crazy so for me being alone is best.

In April 19th of 2006 I Had a gastric bypass and I now I'm learning how to walk all over again and my being bipolar has not helped any, one day something just kicked in and out the door I went like the devil himself was on my tail and when i stopped I was one and a half hours away from home.

I have lost 52lb. witch is a good thing but when things like this happen I wind up hurting myself and cant walk the next day I live alone because I cant handle being with people and never see myself getting married because that would mean haven a relationship with someone.

Dr. Phil I really enjoy your show and look forward to seeing it every day mine is a long story but I know you have other things to do.

                                                  Blessed Be!

                                                              Annie Jo

Dear Dr. Phil ,

  I have been dating this guy for almost two years in the beging every thing was great and now it seems i live alone. He is very emotionally abusive and sometimes physically abusive, i think i love him but at times i dont think i love him like i did in the begining bc  of the emotional abusive. what should i dooooo?????

My sister has struggled with Mental Illness for over twenty years but only in the last couple of years she has got alot worse. After getting very unwell she has been diagnosed with Schizo-Affective disorder. This is a mixture of bipolar and schizophrenia. She is getting it under control but its still a struggle for her everyday. We are at the moment caring for her children until she gets it under control more. I didnt see the Dr Phil show but was wondering whether anyone taped it. I would like to see it a girl from work watched it and said that he may make me understand what she is going through. Its hard watching someone go thru this and cant do alot to help her admittedly she doesnt always want my help

CR