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Bipolar Disorder/Couples with bi-polar

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Expert: Libby Bonner - 11/7/2006


Question
My boyfriend and i are both bi-polar we met at a group.  we are both working full time and take our medications.  we are very much in love, everyone is telling us that it isn't going to work even his doctor.  What if this is a once in a lifetime love.

Answer
How old are each of you and how long each diagnosed?  How long have you known each other?  What does your own doc say?
Do you each have social workers, or other people who know you and understand your illnesses well?  What do they say?

In the meantime -- you will want to be very, very, very careful not to get pregnant.   Go to a Planned Parenthood center to advice and help.

I'll wait to hear more from you before offering other opinions.

Bipolar Disorder

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Libby Bonner

Expertise

I can answers questions from family members of adult patients with serious mental illnesses. I am most familiar with bipolar disorder [manic-depression] and schizophrenia. I use principles of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill to provide clinical info, emotional support, and practical suggestions, including finances/insurance. Emphasis is on family health; family preservation and functioning; coping skills; and effective communications with patients [consumers] and with providers of services. I am not qualified to help families with patients under 18 I cannot answer questions about herbal remedies.

Experience

I have a daughter w/ bipolar illness. Have experience with clinical medicine/psychiatry through my work in a hospital library. I have taken and now monitor the NAMI Family to Family educational program and I facilitate NAMI family caring and sharing evenings.

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