Hi, soooo blue,
I'm so sorry you have to go through this, I never know who I'm sorrier for, us or our families. I think it would defo have to be the family members. You can take what Nickie (kittycat) said about her dad and apply the same to me, I was his punching bag, and along with verbal and emotional abuse, he regularly beat me until I had welts with a leather strap. Sometimes I never knew WHAT I had done and was afraid of his coming home at night, fearing another beating for whatever reason. He still won't get treatment, but self medicates.
Anyhoo, my sob story over. about your hubby: He is depressed, which happens to all of us in the fall. Sometimes we get "mixed" states in which there is slight to full mania WITH depression at the same time (can you imagine), that's the absolute worst. But, he probably wont due to the lith. When is the last time he had his level checked????? It changes from time to time, esp with seasons, so get it checked, it may need an adjustment. He does need some kind of antidepressant, I recommend Lamictal, it is a stabilizer that keeps us from going low, and the lith can too, it just boosts it. Lamictal with Wellbutrin is the ultimate mix for BP depression, since our depression is much different than regular depression or clinical depression, it comes with massive fatigue, way worse than other people, can make us totally nonfunctional if bad enough. Please have him see his doc, this CAN be helped, I don't know of ANY BPs that take only one med. There are more than two facets of this disease and teh fact that it changes SOOOOOO often requires multiple meds. They have to be added when the needs arise, just like now with your husband. His mania may be controlled (if therapeutic level of lith), but depression has set in due to the season. (shorter days, lack of adequate sunlight IS the culprit). The light therapy is almost identical to sunlight and DOES work. Kittycat is right about overhead or flourescent lighting, instant bad mood; they only hurt. Just lamps wont help. I suggest putting Reveal bulbs in all lamps, and they have something called Vitalights for flourescent lighting which makes a big difference, but doesn't work like light therapy. Just helps, sometimes a lot. I can totally tell the difference with Reveal bulbs. That is why many of us prefer the dark in rooms we can still see just fine, but no "bad" lighting to darken the mood. We are SOOOO sensitive in all 5 senses, people wouldn't believe or understand that.
As far as talking to his doc, I believe it won't do much good, he won't be able to talk to you because it is illegal and medically unethical for him to, and if he brings up the fact he has talked to you or even listened, it will cause anger in your husband. Respect his privacy and just keep driving home the fact that he is damaging his children, that will probably do it after a bit of time.
I hope this helps, if I can answer anymore, just ask.
Shannon1