Hi everyone,
My first time posting here - i’m really struggling and would value any advice or support so, so much, sorry in advance for the length. I know it doesn’t involve a diagnosis of bipolar but I understand experiences may be similar and I’m so keen to hear from people who have a better understanding than those around me currently, as it’s so hard.
My boyfriend had an episode of stress induced psychosis as a teenager (before I met him - we have been together 5 years and are both now in our late twenties). He was treated with antipsychotics and has been well ever since.
Recently he’s had a lot going on (job promotion, big interviews, house move, family stress), and over the past month i noticed subtle changes: talking faster, jumping between topics, sleeping less at first, then becoming more irritable and out of character. On occasion he said some odd/disconnected things, seemed more suspicious, talked to himself, and struggled to follow conversations at times. Friends and family have independently noticed similar things. I’ve obviously seen him stressed during our time together but this felt very different.
His friend and I persuaded him to go to hospital a couple weeks ago and from there he was referred to the crisis team and prescribed meds. The team say he is experiencing prodromal signs (? Hypomania as part of this) and want to prevent a relapse. He took the meds for a few days but is no longer taking it due to how sleepy and groggy it makes him feel. He has contact with the crisis team every two days but I do not attend the appointments with him (he does not want me involved as found the process of going to hospital very traumatic and has impacted his trust with me as he almost got sectioned when he initially refused any treatment or support).
He doesn’t think anything is wrong beyond “normal stress” and is telling the team that he is taking the medication. I have emailed the team on occasion, without him knowing, to provide general updates on how he appears (I have not said explicitly he isn’t taking the meds as I know this would lead to a severe relationship breakdown and trust would be completely gone, he would be distressed etc - as he isn’t a risk to himself or others I feel this is the current right decision but obviously it’s so difficult to know what the right thing to do is).
At home in a calm environment he seems to be getting better, but in busy/social settings he becomes more restless and off again.
I’m worried things could escalate, especially with big stressors coming up, but I don’t want to push him away or make things worse by pressuring him about medication or to avoid certain environments. It’s so frustrating that he isn’t aware of how things have been, and he continues to make plans to do these stimulating activities and environments because he obviously doesn’t see anything as being wrong so why would he avoid these situations.
I’m really hoping after the interviews and house move things will go back to normal…
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How can I best support him while he has little insight and is reluctant to take meds? I’ve read that omega 3 may help in preventing psychosis relapse so I have been trying to encourage him to eat more fish…
Just really struggling. I just want my boyfriend back, sometimes it feels like I don’t recognise him. And then I get so upset which I know doesn’t help him either :(