Non-treatment

Hello,
I'm the new gal here.
I have some questions regarding bipolar and manic depression and non-treatment through medication nor counseling therapy.
The situation, my ex-husband, who never informed me he was diagnosed with these years ago, (only came up during divorce counseling), claims he does not need treatment for these illnesses and that his doctor will agree with him.
We have a young child so I am concerned.
He also had a recent hospital stay and out-patient treatment for an Oxycodone addiction as well.
My questions:
Would a doctor actually say that someone diagnosed with these would need NO treatment?
Can the drug problems, pills and he is also a daily marijuana user, cause more problems with the mental illness?
Can someone explain bipolar I & II and manic depression?
Should I be concerned for my child?
Thank you for any advice and answers!

first off you should always be concerned with your child. Thats part of your job as mother and anything not normal aka ur husband being addicted to oxy could have a negative affect on your child. It is probably best to take precautions aka leaving your child alone with your husband if he has been feeling bad lately. As for bipolar 1 and 2, They are both pretty much the same except for Bi polar diagnosed people experience more mania and their mania is very intense aka full blown hallucinations and delusions, bouncing off the walls cant stop talking etc. Bi polar 2 which I have is more depressed episdoes then manic. I am more depressed then in a manic state and when i am in a manic state it isnt nearly as bad as a bipolar manic. I usually am very happy and laugh at everythign and feel like im on top of the world and my thoughts are racing. So there is a difference between the 2

My significiant other isbipolar. I am sorry to hear about your divorce. I know it must hurt on some level. My other half isn't here right and I amnot sure how ot will turn ourn out. It seems that although, he is on Lithium--it needs to increased or changed, he is going through rapid cycling between mania and major depression. He just got frustrated with the mixed emotions and left to go to mother's.. It pains me to see him hrting. If your husband is bipolar, medication along with therapy is the best way to manage the exterme lows and highs. It is true that there are different degree of this disease, but he absolutely should and need medicine. The fact that he is using drugs tells me that he is trying to mask his dx. He is mentally ill and chemically addicted, which sometimes with this disease. He needs to find another doctor. Please PM me if i can help and support you.

Thank you and I hope all works out for you.
The root of my divorce was this illness I believe.
He decided to have an affair after 1.5 years of marriage when I was 7.5 months pregnant.
I think he loves our child, but I get so fearful because he has such bad judgement that is completely unsafe.
I am fighting for full legal and physical custody now because of his lack to find treatment and drug use.
I have opted for him to have 2 overnight visits per week if he gets into treatment, proves no drug use, and stays in the county, and also obtains a locking gun cabinet (he has alot of rifles for hunting, but cannot obtain a handgun because of his illness).
I wish he would do this so he can be the good father that I know he wants to be, but he lets pride, spite, and stupidity get in the way.

Drug use/abuse is a common way for bipolars to self-medicate. I am anti-medication, but also give it a chance every now and then to see if something new has come along that might be successful, but so far have not had good experiences (lots of side effects and little improvement). I think the meds change who you are and I am better off them then on, as crazy as that sounds (well, I still seem to have the same symptoms even when I am on meds), so I can appreciate your husband's attitude, but have no other solutions. I AM surprised that a doctor would agree with this appraoch, though, because most docs are convinced that they help stabilize bipolar patients. If NOTHING ELSE, I would definitely recommend counselling.

The worst part (aside from the affair) is that he did not tell you before you were married that he had this "illness". Obviously, the drug use is an issue, but in most cases I wouldn't think that the bipolar itself should affect his ability to be a good father (when he is in a "good place" and not coping with bipolar symptoms). Some with bipolar have "normal" periods where they feel like themselves and unless his case is very extreme I wouldn't think there would be any threat to the child, but you can probably gauge this yourself. Use your instinct and do whatever is right for you and your child before anything else.

I denied anything was wrong with me for years (even though I was being treated for bipolar the whole time), but I think counselling would help your ex to understand himself and his illness better - that's the first step to dealing with it.