Ask Lemmy

I've got type II bipolar.

The depression side sucks, so I'm lucky the hypomania just manifests as boundless energy, racing thoughts, and an inability to sleep.

Going for a walk in the middle of the night actually feels quite nice.

The depression is much more manageable these days, CBT, some time with a therapist, and self exploration with psychedelics helped a lot I think. I still get the big downer episodes, in one at the moment and I hope it'll clear up in a few days.

What sucks is when a wave of paranoia or anxiety hits. As both those make coping much more exhausting.

But I'm alive, in my late 30s now, holding down a job, have a family, and often have people tell me that they think I'm a great parent.

So it's not the end for your son. Everyone's journey and path is different, and there'll be hard moments - but people are strong and we can find ways to push through and adapt.

As a person with a bipolar parent I won’t go near a bipolar person if I can help it. They’re often ok if you’re not too close but it’s only a matter of time until they flip on you and the nature of the disorder is inherently self reinforcing, like most personality disorders. I know some people with bipolar claim to manage with meds and what not but they’re still always off in noticeable ways and I’ve never met a bipolar person I would trust to stay on their meds with out constant supervision and enforcement, idk why so many bipolar people love going off their meds so much but in my experience it’s universal and most will lie to you that they’re still taking them even when it’s obvious they’re not.

I’m sorry you’re both dealing with this and I’m sorry my comment isn’t positive but in my nearly 40 years on this earth that’s what my experience with bipolar people has been