Is this a manic phase?

Consumer 0


Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 1


PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:46 pm Post subject: How Long can a manic phase last? Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post
My husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 11 years ago after a breakdown. He has been on Depakote 500 mg twice daily since then and has never had it adjusted. Last summer he was without it for a couple weeks, and then later a whole month, due to insurance problems.

We recentlymoved to a town 57 miles away for his job. I am not working yet and am completely dependent on his money. We just signed a 12 month lease on this house.

He started having an affair right after we moved. He says he is a new person and has all this new found clarity, and is fully aware of all the consequences of his action. But in reality, he is burning all his bridges with my family, with me, with everyone who knows him, and his ex wife has told me that if he leaves me and takes up with this girl, she will sue for sole custody of his daughter and he will have a hard time seeing her.
He hung up on me when I told him that. He seems blissfully unaware of all the pain he is causing because he is so happy to finally be himself.

Does this sound normal? Is this a manic thing? Its been going on now for more than a month..he is planning to move out so he can spend more time with that girl , so he can "decide what he really wants".

He says he loves me and wants to work this out...but then he runs to her.

Help , anyone?

sounds like it might be. Is he spending money like it grows on trees? Has he been sleeping his normal amount?

Thanks for the reply. Turned out he was hypomanic and boy was that fun! NOT. We got the meds fixed and things are better, but still dealing with all the fallout.

I am really sorry for your situation and that of his child.

It seems stupid to excuse his behaviour because of his illness but it seems like that is exactly the problem.

When manic, I have also been know to wander (not from my husband of 1 year though). Lack of sexual inhibition is a know sign of mania.

You should make him get a physical, sexual health check because he was probably not safe - another known problem.

Good luck!

Thanks, just me, for the response. I think the whole issue is basically based in some old emotional crap he has been carrying around for a looooong time, and was exacerbated by the hypomanic phase. He swears they never had intercourse, and I do believe him (knowing him as I do, I am sure that if he had he would have definitely left me, and maybe even have caused himself another breakdown...he has very strong inhibitions against actually being physically unfaithful). The attraction was mostly "romantic" and idealized....but it was close enough for me. He knows that if he ever wanders like that again, I will be gone.