Does this sound like bipolar?

I will try to make my story short. I have been with my husband for 10 years. In those 10 years he has left me 5 times. Not for another women or anything like that. 3 times he was at work, and just up and left with no trace. He has no money, no car, not even his ID at those times. Last May he left me again but this time went to a friends house, so I knew where he was. We got back together a month later. 3 nights ago he leaves me in the middle of the night, no warning, no nothing. This time he steals all my money and has his wallet with him. He took no clothes though and none of his tools, he is a carpenter and his tools are his way of life. No goodbyes, nothing! I have no doubts that he loves me and our family. He is VERY moody. One minute he's kind and the next he's yelling at everyone. He thinks he is superman and can do anything he wants. He honestly thinks he has superhuman powers. He thinks he is one of the strongest men alive...and grant it, he is very strong. He goes through stages with everything in his life. He'll play and buy guitars for 4 months then stop it all together and start working out for 3 months, then go to something else, ect. I believe he lives in fantasy worlds and dreams of walking through the mountains or becoming a UFC fighter. He acts like teenager most of the time. Half the time he doesn't want to work and he is always going in late. He has had...I can't even count how many jobs since we've been together. He'll just up and quit them for no reason even if he's making great money. He is VERY influenced by movies and unreal things. He has totally secluded himself from everyone the past 6 months. One minute he'll allow the kids to do something and the next day he yells at them for doing it. My daughter has always joked about him being bipolar, but I'm really wondering if it wasn't a joke. There are times he wouldn't bath for a week. His sexual drive will be out of this world, then nothing at all. He has tried to beat up my sons friend who are 17. He has been drinking lately, but nothing major, but more than he would do. He wouldn't get drunk though. I have lupus and get vicodin for my pain and he stoled them the night he left and would always ask me for some, like getting high was not enough for him. He could sleep all day if you let him. He did nothing around the house except watch TV and eat.

I guess I could go on and on, but that is the main parts I guess. I really believe something is wrong with him. If it's not bipolar, does anyone have a clue what it could be? I'm not taking him back this time, but I would love to understand the hell I have been through the past 10 years. Thank you for anyone that reads this.


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Post Edited By Moderator (olivia of course) : 3/16/2008 6:11:42 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Kristen,

Serafena gave you some good information to check into. Perhaps you can get your husband to look at it too and see if he finds any similarities with himself. This would be a good way to talk about it with each other and see if he would consider going to a doctor to talk about it.

Good Luck.

kirstenhere, have you ever seen a therapist during all of these stressful times? if not, i suggest trying it. if your husband is not willing to read about any mental health concerns with you, a therapist of your own can really help you approach the situation and work with you on what to do next. if anything, they can help you make sense of your role in the past 10 years and how to move on from here. good luck!

I would say that some sort of mental issue is going on, depression even, maybe. But check out those sites with the lists of symptoms and see if he fits those. Without a professional opinion, that's probably as close as you're going to come to knowing whether he was bipolar or not. But his behavior is clearly erratic and moody, so I'd guess something is probably up.

serafena

I'll be thinking of you too. You must be so worried. Hope everything goes okay.

LIke eeveryone else has stated, not being doctors, we cant say yes this bipolar, but in opinion, sounds very close. He needs help ASAP.  I hope he gets the help he needs...... ........