Josh continues to be OK off of his medicine. I would say that he's not quite as good as he was while on it, but he's doing OK.
He's completely supporting himself, is maintaining a relationship with his girlfriend and the two of them got a kitten that he keeps at his apartment. He's been amazingly responsible and manages to keep his collective shit together.
I feel truly blessed.
But spring looms right up ahead there, and I'm concerned for him. Nothing would make me happier than to see him sail right through March and April, but history tells me that the likelihood of that happening is slim.
And if he does cycle, I have no idea how far down he'll allow himself to get before he reaches out for help.
I do know one thing. I've learned so much over the last couple of years and I know that this is HIS journey and that HE gets to make the decisions about his life.
I also know from past experience that he has a breaking point; a point that he reaches where he feels he can't go on in that state any longer and he asks for help.
He has shifted back into denial about having bipolar, but he's a very intelligent young man. I think if he were faced again with hypomania, he'd recognize it for what it was.
I continue to be heartbroken by the comments and emails I receive from other parents who are struggling through life with a bipolar child. It's a difficult path to walk and 'the system' does such a poor job of educating and supporting both the patient and their loved ones.
