Desperate for help

[johngalt50]

My son (34) was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 about 8 months ago.  He was put on praxil, zyprexa and trezadone (for insomnia).  He stayed on the meds for a couple of months then got off, saying he did not trust them.  He has been belligerent about seeking help.  Recently, he has started abusing alcohol.  He is currently in a very bad way, swinging back and forth, but we can't get him to commit himself or to seek outpatient help.  
Anyone have ideas?

[johngalt50]

Thanks for all of the comments.  You have stated largely what I suspected.  A couple of additional factors.  My wife is also bipolar, but has had enormous success with lithium for a very long time.  My son was in the hospital for a total of 10 days, once for 7 and a few days later for 3.  In my opinion, he was never properly stabilized before he asked to be released.  Since the laws in Texas are pretty stiff on commitment, there was nothing we could do.  I went to visit his psychiatrist with him once.  I asked about lithium and the psychiatrist was amenable to introducing it, especially as a family member had success with it.  My son resisted.  Shortly thereafter, he stopped going to the outpatient clinic and also went off his meds.  I agree about the Paxil.  I don't think it was effective in his case.
One of my real concerns here is his domestic partner and their daughter.  She is only 13 months old.  I am very concerned, as is her mother, over his behavior right now.  It is hard to force him out of the house, but that may be what has to be done.  So far he has not been a danger, but there are times when his judgement is not sound at all.  I just spent an entire day trying to coax, debate and, unfortunately, bully him into going in to see the doctor.  No dice.  This is a tough one.  

[Germur]

Hi,

Unfortuntely your son's life is out of your control.  It he choses to not seek help he will prolong the effects of untreated bpd. All you and the docs can do is encourage him to help himself.  He has to be the one that is determined to straighten out his life.  And with the right treatment and drugs, he can learn to live without the mood swings.  He may feel that he is some sort of mental "freak"  but I learned that bpd is quite common and it effects about 1 in 70 persons.  Also, one of my docs told me that Paxil is a very bad drug for treating bpd.  He said it actually make matter worse and works against the treatment plan.

Continue to encourage him, and I suggest if you present him with some facts and tell him about famous persons who function and have the same illness, maybe he will want to get into treatment.  The sooner the better.  Also, get a psych doc who specializes in treating bpd.  You do not want to go to a generalist.  Good luck!

[zzzmykids]

Dear Johngalt50,
I am sorry you are going through this with your son. bastet56, is correct. When we have been medicated for awhile, some choose to go off meds because of the nagging side effects of them and the remembering of the euphoric ideas and feelings from the mania and forgetting the pain of the depth of pain in the pit of hell.  Now he chooses to self medicate, swinging from pole to pole.  Was he being seen by a general practitioner (gp) or a psychiatrist (pdoc)? The only time I have been at risk of being institutionalized was when my gp took me off meds and after a week I was crazy into swinging in rapid cycling.  They put me in lock down. Anyways enough that's history. I was thinking if you could preform an intervention with him. Gp or pdoc and have a place ready for him to go, if  he after hearing all of you say how it really is, he'd go...just a thought.
I am sorry for what you are experiencing and the helplessness.  We are hear to listen for you, johngalt50.
Sincerely,
zzzmykids

[bastet56]

If you and his dr can't get thru to him, he may have to hit bottom on his own unfortuatley. The problem is, many bpers have to learn the hard way to take their meds and keep with it. We feel better, quit the meds, tank, go back on meds, get the idea finally that the meds are why we feel better and learn to stay on them. Alcohol is just self medicating in a bad way. He may also have paranoia which can be part of bp.Unless he lives with you and you can use this as leverage to make him see a dr there is not a whole lot you can do that I know of. I know it's hard as I have put my family thru a lot with this illness but he is a grown man albiet an ill one. Try talking to his dr for ideas. Good Luck