Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 2/10/2006

Question
My wife although not officially diagnosed meets almost every criteria for the disorder and as she has gotten older (30)  and stress has increased has become extremely manic. Some of her fFriends all considerably younger are oblivious to her violent swings. She has left me although at times she exclaims undying love for me,is indulging in dangerous sexual and drug related behaviors. Her parents have listened to her manipulations blaming me and calling me controlling and abusive so they are  also facilitaing her behavior. I love her dearly and only was able to get a grasp of her situation through trying to cope with my confusion. How can I get her to seek help and how can I get the people who care about her but are helping her now see the problem and support her recovery. Her sister and some close friehds agree and are worried as well but have not been able to get through to her parents they are ignoring the problems.She is a mother of 2. Please help me.  

Answer
Hi, Robert . . .

I wish a had a really good answer to your question but unfortuately I don't. I think the most important thing is for as many people who love your wife to come to see that she is sick. This will require you and those who agree with you to help educate the others about the symptoms, and dangers, of a mood disorder.

Eventually it may be necessary to have an "intervention" of some sort. A gathering of all of the people who love your wife, with her present, where it is made clear to her, after it has been agreed to ahead of time by the others, that she will either voluntarily or uncer diuress be brough, that day, to a psychiatric hospital for care. Such an intervention is very stressful and difficult, but when dealing with someone, such as your wife, who apparently has no insight into her illness, is often life-saving.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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