Bipolar Disorder

There's a member in our family who suffers from Bipolar disorder or known to some as being manic-depressive. In a nutshell.....it means that you are either an extreme high (happy, energetic, etc) or an extreme low (depressed, tired, possibly even suicidal) and generally these highs and lows are over a period of time (weeks, months, to years) not one minute you're happy and the next minute you're sad....well not for this family members diagnosis as there are different types and levels of bipolar.

So.....this family member has been on a "low" for a quite a while. He claims 2-3 years, I wouldn't say that long but very close to a year or more. Then last week, I think it was, he just switched...he's now on a high. And boy did it make for an interesting night for Kristen & I. Kristen & this family member were going hunting in the morning, so he decided to spend last night at our house.

I got home from work, and he immediately just started talking to me as soon as I stepped in the door. Just remember as I tell you this story the voice level is always at loud or yelling....

So he's going on and on and on....barely taking a breath. I'm listening and making conversation as I finishing up making dinner. Then we eat dinner and I'm washing dishes and he starts. Kristen let's go clean your garage, and then we'll work on the basement, then we'll move that drywall,......Kristen's like, let me take a minute to finish supper and then we'll start. Nope that answer wasn't good enough. He's like well I'm starting without you....

Meaning "I" get dragged into it, cause he goes Christa, can you wash this bucket for me, and can you get me some garbage bags, oh and can you fill bucket back up with water and cleaner? I get home at 6pm from work, 7pm I had cooked dinner, ate, washed dishes, and did who knows how many chores for "TFM" (The family member)....then I got ready for volleyball and was out the door by 7:30 and I was exhausted.

I get home at 11pm and all is at peace :)

Until 2am.....I here "TFM" up to the washroom. And me being a light sleeper I hear just about everything. Then Kristen get's up at 3:30 to go to the washroom. The noise begins.....

I hear "TFM" up the rest of the night....he's walking around the house, first he can't find the remote for the tv in his room, then he can't watch a DVD because he can't figure out how to get the player to work, then at 4:39am I hear a REALLY loud voice yell...

KRISTEN! WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR BREAKFAST??

Frightened the living daylights out of us, not to mention our poor cat is under the bed hissing and growling cause she's not adjusting to the sudden loudness at all.

Kristen grumbles a bit and goes...now how am I supposed to get back to sleep? But somehow he managed. But not I...I listen to him in the kitchen and I wonder...should I get up and make him breakfast, or show him where the frying pan is. Or turn a movie on for him (I realize now I should have done just that)....

THEN....I hear noises...clunking noises.....humming.....talking...more clunking noises....

It's 5am and he's cleaning the basement!!....picking up wood peices that are left around from Kristen's construction, and who knows what else. Finally at 5:39am....He yell's

KRISTEN, YOU NEED TO GET UP IF YOU'RE GOING HUNTING!! And this time there's knocking on the door with more of the cat growling & hissing under the bed. Kristen yells back, I'm getting up in 10min. It only takes me 10 min to get ready... (this is also true)

I start laughing, and tell Kristen. You need to be patient with him, he can't help it. So Kristen gets up and goes to washroom. I'm left in bed with a pillow over my head and "TFM" comes to the door and starts talking to me...yes with the pillow over my head and still in bed. So I chat with him til Kristen comes out of the washroom. Who comes and closes the door for me....

Then I hear the front door shut....and then I hear a loud BEEP, BEEP, BEEP....Kristen's car alarm.....

I hear Kristen grumble again, and storm through the house.....then both of them come in the house and they're arguing with each other. I hear Kristen going...."bad enough you had us up all night, now the neighbours too!!!" By this time, I'm up and I'm totally cracking up laughing....really what else can I do? I'm going on no sleep and "TFM" really can't help it.

And yes, all of the above is funny, but really how must he feel? I know how bad I feel when I can't get a good nights rest, but add on the enormous amount of energy that you just don't know what to do with? You literally cannot sit still.....but he did tell me this morning while my head was under my pillow...

"I hope I don't come down off of this cause I really don't want to go on that low again"...and really who can blame him? Despite everyone's lack of sleep, this is the happiest I've seen him in quite a while...and on another note...I don't think he's spending the night tonight so me, Kristen and poor 'ol Maggie can get some Zzzz's