Hi Kristen,

My name is Stacy.  As I am reading your post; I got chills up and down my arms and began to cry.  I am going through exactly the same thing!  My husband is bipolar, won't admit it or get treatment any longer, wants a divorce.  We have three children together and married 10 years.  His family also has a history of bipolar, depression and anoxeria. I am dying inside.  He has become a complete stranger.  I am still looking for the man I married.  Every January he begins until August, then depression.  He has cheated on me, and lies constantly.  He has become obsessed with internet and is angry all the time.  I am trying to save us, but he is deteriorating and reverting back to past girlfriends, who tell him there's nothing wrong with him, and I am trying to control him.  This is consuming my life.  I can only hope an pray you are able to talk him into going to a Psychiatrist.  I believe the best time to do it is when they are really depressed.  NEVER do it when they are in a manic phase.  He will get angry and think you are against him.  TRUST ME, I've been through this for over 2 years now.  He previously was on meds but stopped them abruptly.  His ex-girlfriends told him he doesn't need them.  He doesn't rationalize or realize he is losing his family.  Our oldest son barely wants to see him, our daughter is very angry with him because he is very mean to her.  I have to take him to the Psychiatrist today, I am going to tell the truth, He is going to explode and probably walk out on me again.  I don't know myself how to handle this.  But, remember it's not you!  Don't take anything he says personally.  He is not thinking on a normal level.

Stacy.   Good Luck Kristen.

Hi Kristin, I just read your story and our lives seem to run parallel.  My husband is manic and bi polar, will not go to a Dr. to get diagnosed.  It also runs in his family.  He can't see it.  I can, his family can, everyone can.  He is recovering drug addict, this can't be helping the situation either.  I am looking for the man I have loved my  It h life and the man I married.  He is gone.  It hurts.  It hurts very very badly. I never know what I will deal with day to day, hour to hour.  He is verbally abusive and tells me he doesn't love me, that he wants a divorce, that it is all my fault.  He regresses back to a time in his life where he was very successful, and says things to our daughter like get your hair cut and feathered.  His cycles are getting shorter and shorter, he is a very aggressive, angry person.  He is verbally abusive to the girls but loves my little boy.  He has called my girls (13 and 8) sluts, brats, spoiled etc. then goes on to tell people that things are all their fault.  He says that I show all the signs of an alcholic relapsing .... I DON"T EVEN DRINK ... EVER!!!!  basically everything that he does to others he believes that they are doing to him. It is bizarre, weird, scary.  I don't know what else to do or how to handle it.  I think at this point my only choice is to move forward with my life and ask him to leave, the mood swings and thought process are completely irrational.  All he does when isn't yelling at someone is sleep, he goes for days (as many as 9) without a shower.