Little Miss Sunshine, Let me tell you my story and see if it makes sense to you. When I was born I was born bipolar disorder. When I was seven or eight the disease began to manifest itself and I was very difficult to live with. I was married in 1966 in Maryland. From the first moment, at the wedding, I wanted to leave at two o'clock in the morning. However, my wife refused. That ignited a smoldering fuse in me and that lasted our entire marriage. For nearly 25 years that we stayed together I screamed and ranted about anything that Carole had done, and even things that she didn't do. At that time we both sought psychological help. I never realized that I was ill. Firsly, they had no idea what bipolar disorder was, nor how to treat the illness. Now they have medications that keep the disorder in check. What bipolar disorder is, and those who have it don't understand why they are the way that they are, and they would give electrical shock therapy to those that they could not control. Thank goodness I didn't have that kind of treatment. So, with all mine and Carole's psychotherapy, not one doctor that we went to ever diagnosed me. There are two sides to bipolar disorder. On the one hand you have high-highs. But on the other side of the coin you have very deep and long lasting depression. It is the depression that leads to as many suicides that we have with undiagnosed bipolar disorder patients. The other day, a friend told me to watch a movie called, "Mr. Jones." Since I am still ill, I cried through the movie. That was me on the screen and living the same life as Mr. Jones was living. Bipolar disorder cost me two wives, a going business, and destroyed many of my relationships. My suggestion is to recommend to your husband that you both go to therapy as quickly as you can. If your husband is as I think he may be, there is hope for him, as there was for me. I hope that I have helped you with your problem by defining it and explaining how to treat it. By the way, bipolar disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. And, the only way to get him right is through the modern medications that they have now. If you wish, send me a private not on this site, and I will send you the first chapter of my new work, "My Roller Coaster Ride." Thank you and I hope that for both your sakes that things will get better. Michael Joel Held
