My brother has type 1 clinical bipolar, he's hospitalized, and he stopped speaking. Why?

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My brother has clinical bipolar type 1, and he is in a major depressive episode with some level of psychosis happening. He has been hospitalized for a bit over a month now, because he had stopped eating for a life threatening amount of time, like 12 days. Anyways, it was extremely difficult to get him help because he was able to say he had no intent to harm himself or others, but finally we got help. He has refused medical treatment thus far. When he got there.. he had stopped speaking entirely and it was evident that he was in total psychosis. Then suddenly he began to speak again one day, and he cycled back to almost a lucid state of mind. Now, he went back to not eating, and he stopped speaking all together. Not just to me, but to everyone. Im just wondering what might be the cause or if there is a specific explanation as to why? A dilution? He physically can't, like catatonia? It's just so heartbreaking that he struggles with this, and I don't know what he's experiencing, but I can only imagine, and it really breaks my heart that I can't help him or take away his pain and confusion. This is not easy.

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2 Replies

  • Posted

    Ask the clinical team all these questions!

    I wish you're brother has ...Better Says Ahead!

  • Posted

    Right? I have tried, but legally there is only so much information his doctors are allowed to divulge to me. They do their best to try to "say without saying", but direct answers just don't exist. He still is not eating or talking. His blood work shows that his kidneys and liver are still at non-threatening levels which is good to know, but there's only so many days a person can go without eating and I'm just so worried for him. On the plus side... He was just transferred back to a MN care facility where the laws are different, and he will be given medical treatment against his will by a court ruling it so. Today he was just committed to 6 months in patient treatment. It's heart wrenching, but it probably saved his life, so I have to look at it that way. Just been challenging. Thank you so much for your reply, and your kind support. I appreciate it so much!

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