I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, I can’t cure it.
I’ve been struggling the past few days with my DH’s current bipolar episode and am finding it rare to come across resources for spouses of people with mental illnesses, resources that help you deal with your spouse but also with the pressures and emotions (and there are many) that the partners are under.
Yesterday I sent many hours just flicking through web pages searching for some meaning and for some help…anything at all to let me know that I’m not alone and anything to give me ideas on how to help DH and keep our relationship alive at the same time.
I came accross this website written by lady who is the wife of a bipolar man. She made me laugh at parts and made my cry also. I can definately relate to some of what Bonnie is saying and her idea of a sanctuary where spouses of people with mental illnesses can go to connect, talk and relax is absolutely awesome.
Check out her website at http://getolife.com/what.aspx
I especially related to the ‘Reality’, ‘Stay or leave’. The ‘why not work’ and the ’stressors’ page gave me a laugh.
The title of this page is borrowed from her ’stickers’ page. When I read this I felt a sense of calm I hadn’t felt for days.
Another useful website I stumbled across was
http://www.bpso.org/
It is aimed at Bipolar Significant Others (aka, spouses and families) and has a fantastic collection of links to all kinds of useful information, such as Bonnies page.
I guess the only thing for me to keep in mind is that a lot of these websites assume the bipolar person is on meds and under a doctors care, which is not the case with us…and also that most of this stuff is aimed at an American audience.
It would be great if there were some Australian sites like these….maybe they are out there and I’m just not seeing them?
