Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 10/24/2007

Question
My live in boyfriend of 8 years has met a girl that he befriended and has been trying to help.  She has become completely obsessed with him to the point of telling everyone he is her husband, having her son call him daddy, jealous when he is home with me, calls him several times during the day.  He has told her he wants nothing to do with her except be her friend and yet she does not seem to get it through her head.  From the things he tells me that she does, I'm thinking she may be bipolar.  My question is, if she thinks I'm in the way, would she hurt me?  She had her brothers shoot her ex husband after they divorced. Do I have reason to be concerned?

Answer
Deanna . . .

There is no way I can comment on the possible dangerousness of a person I have never seen. BUT, I can say a few things about people with bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder often believe that they are spoecial and above the law. Such people often have very bad judgment and do not fully realize what the consequences of their behavior might be. Such people often have very poor control over their impoulses and can behave impulsively when it comes to dealing with their sexual and aggressive impulses.

I think you can draw the necessary conclusions.

Best regards . . .
Ivan
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