Very Frustrated with my Bipolar cousin right now
and I feel guilty about it.
This cousin is in a manic state right now but is refusing to get help. She had a really bad episode, the ambulance and police had to be called and she was hospitalized but she lied to the hospital staff and said she was okay. She obviously was convincing cause they let her go, after a few days, even though she threw something at the officer who took her in and had to go in a straight jacket. All of us who know her, know she is not alright. She's very hyper not make sense, babbling etc.
She went to see her psychiatrist and he told her brother(who has her Hippa right), who then talked to my sister, that she is not right. Her psychiatrist said he disagrees with the hospital's conclusion that she is not in a manic state, that he believes she absoultely is, but she is refusing to take her meds and he can't force her.
The brother is also Bipolar. He takes his meds, goes to the counselor, and doctor etc. She has another brother who isn't bipolar but he's frustrated and angry about the situation and not really helping. He's mad at her because she didn't put him on her Hippa.
I suffer from chronic recurrent mild to severe depression and moderate/severe anxiety with OCD tendencies myself so I understand mental illness to some extent. I realize bipolar is different. Its just I don't understand not wanting to get help or not wanting to take your meds. When ever I hit bottom or even have felt like I was at risk for hitting bottom I call for help and I do what my counselors and doctors ask of me. I take my meds. If they gave me side effects I called and told them, and they have always helped me find one that didn't.
The thing is my cousin is putting a lot of strain on her brother and the rest of her immediate family, and the extended family, and her friends. I am afraid she is going to hurt herself or drive her brother into an episode.
I know it's wrong to hold any of this against her but part of me is saying she's just being stubborn by refusing to get help, and she is only hurting herself and everyone around her by refusing to take her meds.
Right now I don't want to talk to her. I hate myself for it, but I don't. I am just afraid I am going to let the frustration I feel with her show, and that isn't going to be good for either of us.
My sister has been talking to her and helping out where she can and so is another cousin. All though the other cousin is in denial and saying oh she is just fine. Nothing wrong at all, she's just really really happy, and energetic right now that's all.
On the purely selfish side, I have worked hard to get myself stable and keep myself stable, and am afraid that talking to her is just going to get set me wobbling again. Its already started me obessing on some of the family issues again. The Bipolar came from her father's side, however, her mother's side, (my late Aunt) through which I am related defined the word neurotic and have had their own mental health issues. Both our mothers were critical and negative a lot and often directed it at their kids. Her mother was often worse. But our mothers are both gone now, may they rest in peace, we have to let it go now.
From what my sister said the things my Aunt said to my cousin in the past is part of what triggered my cousin's current attack because she is dwelling on it right now.
Sorry to go on but I have no one to talk to about this because I don't want to put pressure on my family from my end.
I think I am going to just call my counselor and see if she can fit me in earlier than two weeks from now.
= new reply since forum marked as read
It is good to get some perspective on this. I have to remind myself this isn't her fault any more than my depression is mine. One of her eldest brother's (the one who isn't bipolar) ex wives(he has 2) tried to intervene, since her son has it. She figured since she has experience she'd try to convince her ex sister in law to coperate with the doctors, the way she successfuly did with her son. Now the ill cousin is not talking to her anymore.
