I myself went 5 days without sleep. The lack of sleep did not "make" go crazy. I became unstable because of hormones, change of life, and the simple fact that the wall I had put up to hold in all the emotion raging inside me was no longer able to withstand the load I had placed upon it. I am grateful that I was not married at the time. I was able to focus on myself and I recovered fairly quickly. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 25 and it was time to start over, just like that. The experience of being in Straight Incorporated, St. Petersburg did not "cause" any of my symptoms. What it DID do was to enable me to learn a myriad of unhealthy ways to hide and further suffer from this hidden and highly misunderstood ailment. My parents were more than exemptlary in carrying on the stigma of the disease and making me feel that it was something that I must have done to cause this to happen and that most of it was my fault, therefore, my problem, but they would be there for me once I had finally "snapped out of it."
I highly suggest you try to keep Straight out of it for now. Your husband needs to know that you love him and that you want him to get well. Remind him of his good qualities often, encourage him at all times. Turn a deaf ear to his negative outbursts, and above all keep it simple and sweet and do'nt give into the blame game. There is no one to blame.............this stuff happens. After my initial bout, I was back to work in a Stamping Plant making car parts in just 10 days. I know I was one of the lucky ones.
_________________
In the line of fire, you know what to say
They gave us no choices, just one shade of grey
Back at that hellhole, behind Tyrone Mall
We walked in darkness, kept hitting the walls
I took the time to feel for the door
I had been treated, but what the hell for?
[ This Message was edited by: 85 Day Jerk on 2003-02-05 18:43 ]
