Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 2/14/2008

Question
My marraige fell apart when my wife fell into an online gaming addiction wehre she has cyber sex and now phone sex wiht guys half her age...she is 34. She also drinks heavily. We have intervention and sent her to rehab and they gave her lithium and some other medication to hurry the process of the lithuim to kick in. They said she has bipolar disorder. She is not taking the mediczation...it seems as if she is self medicating on the internet and her hyper sexual addiction now with her online love afffairs and her online gaming. Some of these kids are high school age and she thinks nothing is wrong wiht it even though she is 34. She was a good wife and great mother...but now cares nothing for the kids...I filed for divorce and won custody...and I won the house but she still has not changed at all. Still on playing online games and having cyber sex and phone sex all night wiht these guys and some are under 18. She is moving out of the house soon...has to be out by March 6th, 2008. (Court order) What is the difference between bipolar disorder and these other addictions (Gaming,alcohol,cyber and phone sex) Are they related at all? I am worried that she will eventually get caught speaking to the wrong kid under 18. She acts now like she is in high school...her memeanor...interests are all the things you will see in a high school girl...

Answer
Hi Nelson . . .

People with bipolar disorder often show both poor control over their impulses and bad judgment. They do things that feel good and rather then ask themselves the question, "does what I'm about to do make sense on a long-term basis?" they just do things that feel good without regard for the potential tragic consequences.  People with bipolar disorder often say and do things that in the long run are terribly self-destructive. They may abuse drugs and alcohol, automobiles, the internet, sex, and anything that provides immediate pleasure.

For such people to give up their addictive behaviors, their bipolar disorder must be treated adequately.

Best regards . . .
Ivan
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