Any advice for SPOUSES of people afflicted with Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, ADHD, behavior or actions?

My wife has many of the typical characteristics of the diseases I mentioned in the question. Mostly, I'd say she matches those of ADHD. Her doctors have prescribed an endless series of bad diagnosis and arbitrary prescriptions--mostly VERY high price and addictive medications. Particularly suspect are EFFEXOR and NEURONTIN.

What rights or challenges to the "industry" are available for those of us that are innocent.....but very much become victims ourselves because we have to deal with the consequences of the actions of loved ones?

Help your wife find a GOOD psychiatrist for this. Bipolar was the diagnosis for my ex-husband not long after our marriage broke up. Now, almost 10 years later, the psychiatrist he's now going to found that he isn't bipolar, but actually severely depressed with some paranoia mixed in, among other issues. When asked about the changed diagnosis, she told him that it's very easy to diagnose someone as bipolar, but when you dig into the actual problems, you may find that it's not. Good luck with this one. It's a very difficult thing for you and her to deal with. I agree with the person who advises that you get counseling too. It will help you to deal with what's going on with your wife and will help you be able to understand and assist her.

You need to become educated about your wife's condition. Schizophrenia & bipolar are very different from ADHD. Neither Effexor (an antidepressant) nor Neurontin (a neuroleptic) are the least bit addictive or habit-forming. If you learn more about your wife's diagnosis, what the diagnosis means, how it can affect her behavior, and what medications are used to treat the diagnosis, you will be in a much better position to cope with the impacts on your marriage and to support your wife. With your wife's consent, ask to accompany her to one of her appointments so that you can ask her doctor to explain things to you. Get on the Internet and educate yourself. Go to a meeting of your local NAMI chapter (Google it).

Secondly, no one is doing anything TO you. If you and your wife are not happy with her treatment, she can seek out another doctor. Be your own advocates in her care. But if your wife is ill, you can't see yourself as the victim of her illness or your relationship will never survive. Either you educate yourself about her condition, help her obtain the best possible treatment, and be there for her. . . or go your own way. She can't help the way she is. She needs her loved ones to be supportive. That said, I never said it was going to be easy. There are support groups for families of mental health patients that can be immensely helpful & you can access these through NAMI, as well. Good luck to you.

i had effexor once, if im not mistaken, it isn't an addictive medicaton. read the side effects, it is listed in there as "may be habbit forming"... has to be on medications that are adictive.

if you are talkinig about financially, check out the $4 perscription programs at HyVee or WalMart... there are a lot of mental health drugs on there. just ask the doc to pick from their list of meds if possible (mostly generic versions of drugs)


all you can do is be there for her and try to find a program that works. i highly recommend counseling and medication used in conjunction.

I am very surprised that her Doctor hasn't scheduled a visit for you. They usually do, because they should be interested in how the spouse is coping with the problems. You might want to take her to a different Doctor. Especially if she isn't getting better. A second opinion never hurts. It sounds like you might be a tad bit bitter about your situation. And I think that is perfectly understandable. But once your wife gets her meds figured out, and maybe you develop a relationship with her Doctor and work as a team, you will feel better.

My wife is bypolar with a few other issues. She takes Lexapro and Zanex. These medications and some understanding truely help. Unfortunately, laws vary from state to state and make it difficult to breed any true resolution. Your marrital committment and true desire with prevale if you so choose. Good luck and god bless.

There is lot more that medical science doesn't know about the human brain than what it does know.

All you can really do is keep looking for the best medical care you can afford. The trial and error approach to find what will work for your wife is common and is not malpractice.

Try something cheap like lithium (unless she has kidney problems). It is the cadillac of bipolar medications.