Can a Bipolar Manic Episode Be Brought on by Alcohol and Only Last During the Time Drinking?

Question by geek: Can a bipolar manic episode be brought on by alcohol and only last during the time drinking?
[rewrite]My husband is a non medicated bipolar pt. He has had issues with my daughter and last nite apparently took the cake. He was drinking, and fixated on one thing i said as i was walking out the door. When I returned he was crying so i left him alone. He came to me talking about how the world was going to end and that the shooting in virginia was just one of the starting things. And that he was just speaking for the shooter becasue noone would listen. Then he got angry. (might have had something to do with me pouring his bottle of alcohol down the sink ) He never laid a hand on me but he definately powered over me for intimidation. He wouldn’t let me leave to another room. He was looking for the bank card and i refused to give it to him, but i did go take half the money out of the bank as he is not on our account. He finally passed out. The kids are all ok. the daughter that was the focus is not home and is moving out. She is very disrespectful to me and him and he seems to think i can fix it. we have tried just about everything except boot camp and we don’t have the money for that. So i don’t know. Just some ideas. I don’t know if hes going to remember that he is moving out today since he was pretty drunk or what. any suggestions. If its part of his mental illness I don’t feel i should throw him to the curb if he wakes up and feels totally bad….help
he was diagnosed before we got back together. I day pt because i am a nurse so it is hard to go different pattern. He has told me he uses the alcohol when he is depressed but it starts with depression and turns to anger among other things.
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Best answer:
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Answer by AllicsirpK
The first thing I thought of when I read your question is where you say he is a “non-medicated bipolar pt”. By using the word ‘pt’, makes me think he is under professional care for his bi-polar disorder. By saying “non-medicated” makes me think he is not under professional care…..so I say that to say it is so very common for people suffering with bi-polar disorder to use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.

Not to sound brash but drunk is drunk (personal experience). Maybe he uses alcohol as self-medication and maybe he has a drinking problem. It is extremely common to be ‘dual diagnosed’ meaning a mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse. They both have to be treated and there are an amazing array of treatment options.

I keep wondering who diagnosed his bi-polar disorder and were you involved with him when he was diagnosed? If he is under medical care, I urge you to call his therapist/doctor and let them know about his drinking. Alcoholism is a progressive disease and all the love in the world is not going to help him, he needs treatment (if he is an alcoholic).

The alcoholic always feels bad and guilty when they find out the mess they made drunk. So, yes, he will wake and when he finds out will feel terrible. The families and loved ones of alcoholics become part of the illness in the form of enabling (out of love, you try to help by fixing the fallout of the alcoholic).

I would recommend you talking to a professional mental health provider about your husband and what they recommend as the best approach for getting him some relief. The pattern will continue and I am 100% confident saying that, if a person with dual diagnosis is left without professional assistance.

My thoughts are with you.

Answer by Christopher
Allicsir said it all and is right! Being bipolar myself medication is key in your treatment! And drugs and alcohol can be a problem with bipolar patience. I know!

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