Any suggestion on dealing with a bi polar sibling?

[Victor_c3]

3. I have a bipolar wife

From what I understand, it usually takes on average 7 years from the time a bipolar person is first diagnosed with depression before a bipolar diagnosis is made. Apparently it is a hard condition for psychiatrists to diagnose.

The quote "high functioning at her profession but a wrench in her personal life" sounds just like my wife. I don't doubt at all my wife's intelligence and her proficiency at what she does, but all of her relationships that I see seem to follow the same basic patterns - especially deeper relationships. Also, when you mentioned the email and verbal attacks, it sounds again like my wife.

Unfortunately, from what I've seen, it is a difficult condition to reign in. People with it are resistant to therapies that involve talking to psychologists and are often reluctant to take medication that will help relieve symptoms as well. My wife has had a diagnosis for a couple of years now, maybe 3 or 4 years.

I'm currently in a really bad relationship with my wife as a result. She can be a nasty awful person at times and she isn't the same person I married 9.5 years ago. When I'm home, I basically avoid her all that I can, I know better than to start any conversation with her, and I keep my answers to her questions or conversations as short as I can. The only reason I'm still married is because I have to kids who are aged 3 and 5 with her and they would be devastated to be separated from their mother or myself as a result of a custody battle.

I keep telling myself that she is the way that she is as the result of a legitimate condition that she can't help, but it is still hell. I try to be understanding, supportive, and helpful but nothing I do can help her. No matter how much I try to show that I support her or love her she'll just turn anything around and bash me with it.

I'm really only touching the surface of my experiences here but suffice it to say that it is extremely hard living with a bipolar person.