Let's talk life - My bipolar relative refuses to take his medication

Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson, Contributor

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  My bipolar relative refuses to take his medication

Dear Counsellor,

My relative is refusing to take his medication. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is doing poorly. He gets aggressive sometimes.

- Marie

Dear Marie,

Non-compliance is a dilemma that we face everyday. People have health challenges and are diagnosed with incurable diseases. They must now take treatment that can help to control the symptoms. The treatment may worsen the condition or kill them. People are wary of illnesses and their treatment. Individuals have to make choices that can either control their symptoms or make them worse. Patients who have diabetes, mellitus or hypertension are non-compliant even if they got stroke or renal failure.

It is indeed a dilemma and there is no easy answer. Patient with bipolar disorder do not understand their illness and think that they are doing normal things. People looking on will see the odd behaviour but the person won't see the problem. It is because of this reason that people with mental illness are at a disadvantage. Someone will have to act on the patient's behalf. Many patients with bipolar are blind to their illness, and that is unfortunate.

We try to encourage patients to take their treatment because we hope for a good outcome. Continue to encourage him and pray about the situation. There are options with the treatment of bipolar disorder. There are injections and one-a-day pills. There is a system in place where a mental-health nurse can do home visits and administer the injection under the direction of a psychiatrist. Check with your nearest clinic to find out the location of a mental-health clinic.

At this time your relative needs to be seen at the nearest emergency room with a view for hospitalisation.

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  Disobedient teen causing fear

Dear Counsellor,

I live next door to a family that includes a teenager. This teenager is rude and disobedient. He issues threats to his mother about whom he will kill and then run away. He comes home late at night and his mother seems to have lost control of him. His father is not around and there is no stepfather. I am afraid that he might kill someone, as ever so often you hear of teenagers killing other people. We seem to be under siege with things getting worse.

- Annette

Dear Annette,

Some teenagers seem to have loss control and see no future or purpose to life. They need fathers and father figures and mentors. The problem is not just about the teenagers, but about society. The teenagers are just doing what the adults do with no guilt or remorse. The problem has to be approached from many positions.

Schools seem to be making progress. There is no tolerance for violence and school personnel are working with the students. Parents need counselling and stress management. Most school communities are making efforts to improve the situation.

If the adolescent is out of control, then the mother needs to go to the Family Court or Child Development Agency to get help.