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Bipolar Disorder/spending disorder/depression

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Expert: - 8/21/2011


Question
My step-brother is unemployed and basically never leaves the apartment that is attached to his mom's house.  Mom pays all his bills and spends lavishly on him and his daughter making all sorts of excuses ranging from having to break the cycle of poverty to but he/she is so precious she deserves x__________ to but he's depressed.   My brother makes all sorts of threats that he has carried out to certain extents in the past if his wants and desires are not fulfilled.  To the tune of several thousand dollars a month our joint parents have purchased beyond basic needs to leather couches, apprx ten cars/trucks over time, a house, clothes, all the latest electronic toys, expensive hobby supplies, tickets to events/movies/etc.  College education has been promised to the daughter but zero help is offered to 15 other grandchildren.  Hot meals are brought to him on a plate. The welfare check he keeps receiving is spent on expensive beer and fancy food from Trader Joes plus music.  Never actual needs.  Just wants.  It goes on and on and on.  It gone beyond the best of everything to the best AND everything.  We have tried to point out how unhealthy, and destructive this behavior is to no avail.  It is grossly out of control.  Is this a form of bipolar disorder?  Is there a name for out of control spending on an individual who is capable but refuses to lift a finger?  HELP!

Answer
Hi Ruby,

No wonder your step-brother is behaving the way is does. He is surrounded by "enablers", asking him to continue to be behave the way he is. So long they continue to mollycoddle him he will continue to behave this way. The problem is not with your step brother, it is with the "enablers" who pay the piper.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman

Bipolar Disorder

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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