He's doing really well

by Rusty
Friday, December 07, 2007

Rusty Caregiver Hi, I have a partner who has been recently diagnosed with... Send Message Subscribe

Rusty

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My partner was diagnosed in April with BP 2. He has been to an excellent specialist and I have been to have a talk to him too. It took him a couple of months of denial but now he has accepted that he has BP. The doc suggested Cognitive therapy, mood recognition and stress re...

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meds and therapy
Hopeful mom
Friday, December 07, 2007 at 07:21 AM
Meds didn't make the changes we wanted to see. We found an excellent therapist who has really taught my son how to channel his anger. He was angry the other day, but never lost control. He was able to tell me what he was feeling and what he needed. That was the first time I was able to sit with him when he felt like he was going to "lose it" and my talking to him didn't make it escalate. She is teaching him that he does have control and I am so thankful we found her. Meds help keep his moods on an even keel but the therapy is what's really changing his mindset.
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Thank you Thank you!
chellbel82
Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:56 AM

Rusty,

Thank you for this post. My partner has BP 2 and we have been trying the medication management. Needless to say the last year has been an absolute nightmare because her doc cannot seem to get her meds right. Not to mention the fact that we haven't tried any sort of behavioral therapy as of yet. She doesn't think that it would help and has really been fighting me on this. Did your partner jump head first into his recovery process?

Her and I are to the point that you said that you and your partner were. I want to be there for her and support her but I really can't get her to see that she is responisble for her own recovery. I think the behavioral therapy would be the best route.

I will definitely give the link that you provided a good look.

Thank you again and peace be with you and him both!

Michelle

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re: Thank you Thank you!
Rusty
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 02:47 AM

Hi Michelle,
No my partner didn't launch headfirst into the cognitive therapy. He fought me on it and told me basically to "back off and stop defining him by his illness". However I bought a copy of the "Bipolar workbook" (on cognitive therapy)which he started to read.This helped him to get out of the "denial" phase and start to work on some of his thinking patterns. Then I found the website.... All I know is that something is working for him but its not always easy to make that first step. All you can do is encourage.
Best wishes,
R

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