The occasional stranger

I’ve waited so long for this week to arrive - the week when I could begin saying "next week, we start our Family-to-Family classes."  You see, next week, my husband, kids and myself will begin a 12 week course through NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) to learn how to embrace the occasional stranger that visits our house and learn coping techniques.  This stranger is bipolar disorder.

Anyone who has ever had contact with someone with bipolar disorder knows what a struggle it can be to engage in the simplest of conversation.  A person with bipolar disorder isn’t any less a person and certainly aren’t less deserving of love - but what they are, I’m not quite sure.

My husband, whom I love and adore more than anything has been battling a problem without a name for several years.  It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that we learned this problem has a name.  And it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that we learned of family support and classes that teach entire families ways to live more harmoniously with a bipolar consumer.

Everyone in or around the blogosphere is familiar with the name Heather B. Armstrong or more lovingly called Dooce — but few dig deep enough in her links to uncover the man behind the blogging powerhouse.  Thankfully I’m nosey enough that I did dig deep enough.  It was through Mr. Heather that I discovered the support options to begin with and where I learned to embrace the person and talk about this aspect of our own family dynamics.

I’ll be sharing some of my personal experiences over the next 12 weeks as we engage in the NAMI Family to Family class.  If you are in love with or married to a person with bipolar, I’d love to hear from you.

It’s funny, the other day we were having a conversation about being anxious to see what these classes can provide our family.  My husband, trying to be Mr. Funny man had to be set straight.  He ‘thought’ these classes would help us learn how to deal with him and allow him to stay exactly as he is.  He says we’re the one’s with the problem.

Yeah right!

Wish us luck.

    February 28, 2008 | Filed Under Blended Family, Marriage 

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