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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maisy on September 5, 2001, at 8:51:42
Hello all! My brother has been diagnosed as being hypomanic but the only thing his psychiatrist has done so far is throw large amounts of valium at him, which of course he mixes with alcohol. Here is my question for everyone... what can I do to help my brother gain insight into his condition? His behavior is very destructive and I am afriad it will be the cause of his demise. It seems he has been hypomanic his entire life, or at least as far back as I can remember. He is now in his mid-forties and his behaviour pattern is so engrained it is difficult for him to see that there is any problem. He only went to the psychiatrist under duress and gives the guy lip service. The only change that I can see in his behaviour is that now he has added valium to his list of substances to abuse. I know you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, but I would like some advice on things I can try to do to help him, at least for myself, so if he does pass on I will feel at ease knowing I did what I could. Any helpful hints will be appreciated.
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 5, 2001, at 19:58:28
In reply to Re: Hypomania sans depression » Maisy, posted by SalArmy4me on September 5, 2001, at 12:57:58
It's a really tough one. I'm bipolar and my brother, imo, is bipolar and destructive. there's been nothing i can do (he's cut himself off from the family) but i understand the want to help.
i can't imagine the mentality behind the valium prescription. my guess would be he needs to be hospitalized to "really" be helped - some stabilizers work pretty quickly, and he get at least some regime going there.
But i don't suppose that's an option?...
Posted by Mitch on September 5, 2001, at 23:56:10
In reply to Hypomania sans depression, posted by Maisy on September 5, 2001, at 8:51:42
> Hello all! My brother has been diagnosed as being hypomanic but the only thing his psychiatrist has done so far is throw large amounts of valium at him, which of course he mixes with alcohol. Here is my question for everyone... what can I do to help my brother gain insight into his condition? His behavior is very destructive and I am afriad it will be the cause of his demise. It seems he has been hypomanic his entire life, or at least as far back as I can remember. He is now in his mid-forties and his behaviour pattern is so engrained it is difficult for him to see that there is any problem. He only went to the psychiatrist under duress and gives the guy lip service. The only change that I can see in his behaviour is that now he has added valium to his list of substances to abuse. I know you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, but I would like some advice on things I can try to do to help him, at least for myself, so if he does pass on I will feel at ease knowing I did what I could. Any helpful hints will be appreciated.
You say that he only went to the pdoc under duress. Does that mean that he went on his own volition with his family's insistence, or was it a court mandated thing? Either way, what was going on that *specifically* brought him to the attention of a doctor?
You say he was diagnosed as "being hypomanic". Can you clarify? Was it bipolarI, II, or cyclothymic? Was this a diagnosis which was conveyed to you by him or his psychiatrist?
Posted by Maisy on September 6, 2001, at 6:34:48
In reply to Re: Hypomania sans depression » Maisy, posted by Mitch on September 5, 2001, at 23:56:10
Mitch, All I know is what his wife tells me, and all she was told was "hypomania". He went to the dr. because he was having a lot of issues in his marriage and finally realized he needed some help. This attitude quickly dissapated and now he feels there is not a problem, then sometimes he feels there is but it can be dealt with by the I Ching, and going to higher spiritual plains. All this while he was self-mutilating. I tried to speak to him again this past weekend and again he told me how he was going about treating himself spiritually instead. He has threatened suicide in the past, and has engaged in very dangerous behaviour. I don't know if I should play "good cop" or "bad cop"!! What do you think? Do I have a right to call his psychiatrist? We really want him to go to a different psychiatrist but he doesn't want to because we think he can easily bamboozle this one, plus he gets the valium. Don't know what to do.
Posted by Mitch on September 6, 2001, at 9:41:59
In reply to Re: Hypomania sans depression Mitch, posted by Maisy on September 6, 2001, at 6:34:48
> Mitch, All I know is what his wife tells me, and all she was told was "hypomania". He went to the dr. because he was having a lot of issues in his marriage and finally realized he needed some help. This attitude quickly dissapated and now he feels there is not a problem, then sometimes he feels there is but it can be dealt with by the I Ching, and going to higher spiritual plains. All this while he was self-mutilating. I tried to speak to him again this past weekend and again he told me how he was going about treating himself spiritually instead. He has threatened suicide in the past, and has engaged in very dangerous behaviour. I don't know if I should play "good cop" or "bad cop"!! What do you think? Do I have a right to call his psychiatrist? We really want him to go to a different psychiatrist but he doesn't want to because we think he can easily bamboozle this one, plus he gets the valium. Don't know what to do.
The "good" thing is that he *is* seeing a doctor. There may be more to his relationship with his current doctor than merely getting valium. It wouldn't surprise me that he may have been prescribed other meds as well and your brother may not be divulging everything. Just a hunch, but from what you say it sounds like your brother is an attention seeker who likes to shock people (esp. his family). He is an adult and he is the one that is going to have to make the decision to get serious about psychiatric medical intervention including meds for treatment. Unfortunately, it seems like he is holding his family "hostage". I would suggest seeing a professional counselor (not necessarily a psychiatrist)to find ways to deal with your brother's behavior-so you can stop being a character in this ongoing circus your sibling seems to be self-perpetuating at your expense.
Posted by Maisy on September 6, 2001, at 12:45:39
In reply to Re: Hypomania sans depression Mitch » Maisy, posted by Mitch on September 6, 2001, at 9:41:59
Mitch, Unfortunately you have described my brother quite accurately and I think you are probably right on with your advice as well. Thank you very much for your input!!
This is the end of the thread.
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