My husband's bipolar delusions are back

[Jarqui]

20. My best friend developed bipolar hypomania in 2013

We're still fighting it.
I talk with him every day. I take him to doctors appointments.
For a while, we were spinning out wheels. Took three commitments to different psych hospitals to get good help.
After he got out, he was on a roller coaster.
A positive change happened when I started attending some of the follow up appointments. He was not remembering to tell the doctor everything that had been going on.

Another thing was changing from 3 month to monthly follow ups with telephone consultation in between. If you are only see the doctor once every 3 months, then you only get four shots to get the meds adjusted and if he is not successful, you've lost another year of his life. I kicked the snot out of his doctors over that and they relented. When he is in trouble, he needs more frequent attention.

We're human - not machines. Adding a quart of oil now and then won't keep the human brain motor running smooth because things change. His care has to be able to be there for when things change. Sometimes a medication loses it's effectiveness. Sometimes, a side effect builds up over time. Sometimes a new medication for another condition affects the mix. There is not a one size fits all medication solution for bipolar. And there is probably not one size fits forever solution either.

Get a blood work up done to check his levels for nutrition and physical functioning. You can reduce bipolar symptoms by getting the other parts of the body running better. His doctors/blood/medical tests dictate what needs to be done. A focus should be considered for supplements like vitamins or homeopathic treatments (that are backed up by medical study) to get him functioning as well as we can without the meds. This minimizes the bipolar meds needed to manage his condition and the side effects that go with them - which reduces the amplitude of the mood rollercoaster he is on. Hibicus tea for example really helps his anxiety.

I liked the posts above about getting a second (or third) opinion.

I liked the post above that talks him through without upsetting him - leading him to reality through his own answers. Like any human, he has strengths and weaknesses or comforts and discomforts - play the discussion towards his strengths and comforts - maybe using metaphors or reasoning that he could more easily relate to.

It can be a very challenging condition. But there are a lot of things we can do to help them.

Hope that helps.