I just received the following comment from Judi. Believe me, I understand her worries and frustrations, as I am sure many of you do as well.<\/p>\n
Hi Julie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0I find it very hard to tell my son that I can\u2019t take the mood swings that go with him. He has been unstable for years. Right now I am the only person he can talk to. If I turn my back on him now I\u2019m sure he will commit suicide. There seems to be no way out for me. He needs to be hospitalized but that will NEVER happen. He told me that if I call 911 he will either kill himself or the person that shows up at his door. LOST<\/p>\n
Judi<\/p>\n
\u00a0Hello Judi,\u00a0 ( I posted your comment on the blog as well- it’s such an important topic.)<\/p>\n
It’s quite a coincidence I received your comment this morning. I recently wrote down a quote I heard from a football coach regarding a player he let go:<\/p>\n
I don’t want to take on the headache that goes with you.<\/em><\/p>\n Then I thought of how I would put it:<\/p>\n I don’t want to take on the mood swing that goes with you.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0**\u00a0 Here is the problem- when it’s a family member who is truly in crisis, the way you describe your son- we can’t say we are done and just move on. We know the consequences. It’s a very heavy, heavy burden. My books don’t address this situation directly- they are for management and tips on how to recognize the signs of bipolar disorder.\u00a0 Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder does address the topic in one chapter. The book will help right now to at least help you understand how to talk with him when he\u2019s in a mood swing. This area is where I do most of my coaching. If you want to talk about your situation and your son- feel free to go to my coaching page-\u00a0 for now, this is the best way I can help and it’s immediate and so helpful to talk to someone.<\/p>\n