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In reply to the discussion: Any suggestion on dealing with a bi polar sibling? [View all]chervilant
(8,267 posts)She has since denied that diagnosis. She has steadily worsened in her personal and familial relationships. Now, her daughter is likely bipolar, with the same symptoms and coping strategies. Her daughter is also in denial.
A friend suggested two books by Kay Redfield Jamison, head of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins and bipolar. I recommend "An Unquiet Mind." The other "The Fire Within," is also good, but was more difficult for me to read.
Bipolar is a challenging disease. My niece is with me at present, having a respite from her mother. My niece is rude and obnoxious, and treats me like I'm dumb as a box of rocks. She is defensive about her disorder, and doesn't want to do anything but sleep and watch movies (she owns more than six hundred, and considers herself a movie "expert" . She "suffers" from a laundry-list of physiological disorders (lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, SIBO, a rare urinary disease, and bursitis), but her biggest presenting problem is her bipolar disorder.
I have to keep reminding myself that my niece experiences everything through the filter of her bipolar disorder. It's a difficult and challenging disease.
I wish we could form a support group. Hope this helps.