Reddit reviews Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

I highly recommend this book. It helped me deal. Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1421412063/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_d44bvb11MJ4RQ

I read this book and it gives you a great holistic understanding of bipolar https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1421412063/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1485316697&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bipolar

Also, the depression bipolar support alliance website has some helpful info as well. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=help_family_center

First, write down a timeline, and key events that you want to remember. Write the dates down as best as you can. I wrote down things like symptoms, dangerous delusions, doctor's names etc. And it was really useful as a reality check looking back.

Next, remember that bipolar runs in families. Families settle on frameworks to stay together and feel ok, and it's super common that means denial and gaslighting, or calling someone crazy and moving on. When you're dealing with your fiance's family's reaction to their episode, remember you are also poking at whatever their history is with bipolar too. Looking at reality means facing stigma and whatever dark times that denial has let them gloss over.

Third, for your fiance, being in denial is really normal. For my SO, he went from being the hero in a dystopic universe to feeling depressed dealing with med side-effects, and ashamed of everything that had happened, and worried about all of his relationships, his future, etc. And it was too painful to face all of it at once for someone who felt so in control all of that time. Also when my guy got out of the hospital, he was still dealing with low grade delusion untangling. He was very disoriented. It takes a while to be able to face down all of that. Give it time.

Focus on surviving for a while. If you can, watch them while they're taking their meds. (my guy was very leery of me after the hospital, and lied to me about taking meds for a while)

As far as the family, I would try to redirect any rudeness, and let them know you are all on the same team. Let the dust settle and try not to buy into their us vs you narrative.

Get a therapist so you can get your own head as straight as you can.

Maybe couples and/or family therapy could be helpful in the future.

I found this book really helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Patients-Families-Hopkins/dp/1421412063/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1523914638&sr=8-5&keywords=bipolar+disorder&dpID=41z7NbVmR3L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

Maybe start with a basic guide book.

https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Patients-Families-Hopkins/dp/1421412063/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=bipolar+teenager&qid=1567329305&s=gateway&sr=8-11

For a bit of a more medical approach: https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Patients-Families-Hopkins/dp/1421412063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486195943&sr=8-1&keywords=john+hopkins+bipolar+disorder

/bipolarso might help but it's all sad and negative
or you could just post to this subreddit and get good advice

If you want a book try this one
https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Patients-Families-Hopkins/dp/1421412063/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523720823&sr=8-3&keywords=bipolar+family&dpID=41z7NbVmR3L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch