Does anyone have any recommendations on where my partner and I could have a small wedding ceremony in early Sept. It will just be the two of us, our dog, and the officiant. We are looking for a nice outdoor space in Philly that is quiet and lowkey.
My father (65) has bipolar disorder and has for as long as I (37f) can remember. When I was a child, there was a several year period where he was having episodes and experiencing instability in general. He was in and out of hospitals and rehab programs (he also has substance use disorder). Over time, I’ve forgotten (or maybe suppressed?) a lot of the details but I do remember being scared for him, and sometimes scared of him, as a child. Eventually, he became more stable and seemed to be that way for the better part of 20ish years. However, the last three years have been a nightmare. He has been experiencing manic/depressive episodes every few months and has once again been in and out of hospitals and rehab programs. The pattern is usually that he will go ‘missing’ for a few days and then I’ll eventually get a call from the hospital saying that he has checked himself in. Once he gets his meds adjusted, he pops back up like nothing ever happened. On top of that, he is a compulsive liar. This has resulted in a lot of stress for me. I am an only child and my parents are divorced so I’m kind of on my own when it comes to dealing with him. Recently, after a period of being missing for several days, he called me crying and said that he was going to commit suicide. To be honest, I was more angry than I was concerned. Who does that to their child?! On top of that, he still hasn’t apologized (or even acknowledged) how that phone call wasn’t okay. I love my dad and we do have a close relationship, but the reason we have been able to have this relationship is because I’ve let a lot of things slide and have never really talked about the things he’s put me through. Sometimes the lack of acknowledgment of the things I’ve dealt with make me feel a little gaslit, like maybe I’m overreacting and things haven’t really been that crazy? But when I really do pause and think, I know that the things I’ve experienced because of my father are not typical. I’m at the point now where I want to cut contact for the time being, but I have always been a ‘good daughter’ and I feel guilty for feeling like I no longer have the capacity for this kind of chaotic relationship. I understand that he cannot help having a mental illness and that makes me feel even more guilty. But I’m also at the point where I have to protect my own mental health and all of this back and forth has taken a toll on my mood. If you’re the child of a bipolar parent, how have you managed the relationship?
My father (65) has bipolar disorder and has for as long as I (37f) can remember. When I was a child, there was a several year period where he was having episodes and experiencing instability in general. He was in and out of hospitals and rehab programs (he also has substance use disorder). Over time, I’ve forgotten (or maybe suppressed?) a lot of the details but I do remember being scared for him, and sometimes scared of him, as a child. Eventually, he became more stable and seemed to be that way for the better part of 20ish years. However, the last three years have been a nightmare. He has been experiencing manic/depressive episodes every few months and has once again been in and out of hospitals and rehab programs. The pattern is usually that he will go ‘missing’ for a few days and then I’ll eventually get a call from the hospital saying that he has checked himself in. Once he gets his meds adjusted, he pops back up like nothing ever happened. On top of that, he is a compulsive liar. This has resulted in a lot of stress for me. I am an only child and my parents are divorced so I’m kind of on my own when it comes to dealing with him. Recently, after a period of being missing for several days, he called me crying and said that he was going to commit suicide. To be honest, I was more angry than I was concerned. Who does that to their child?! On top of that, he still hasn’t apologized (or even acknowledged) how that phone call wasn’t okay. I love my dad and we do have a close relationship, but the reason we have been able to have this relationship is because I’ve let a lot of things slide and have never really talked about the things he’s put me through. I’m at the point now where I want to cut contact for the time being, but I have always been a ‘good daughter’ and I feel guilty for feeling like I no longer have the capacity for this kind of chaotic relationship. I understand that he cannot help having a mental illness and that makes me feel even more guilty. But I’m also at the point where I have to protect my own mental health and all of this back and forth has taken a toll on my mood. Can anyone else relate? If you’re the child of a bipolar parent, how have you managed the relationship? If you’re a bipolar parent, how have you managed your illness in relation to your children?