I've been married to a man with bipolar disorder for 5 yrs. He has never been willing to see a Dr and take his meds. He has paranoia issues, particularly when he's manic or very depressed. He thinks everyone is out to get him, and distrusts Dr's and police officers (anyone who he thinks has "power" over him).  I have a special needs son with autism and I have been his sole caregiver since his birth. My husband has threatened not to let me leave the house with my son, even though my husband isn't rational and very sick. My spouse has been in bed for the past 2 months, only getting up to eat. He doesn't care that we can hardly afford the bills, and each time I ask him to go see a Dr he tells me to "leave him alone". He calls me horrible names, says I don't care, and says he'll never see a Dr or marriage counselor since he thinks they'll tell us to get a divorce.

When manic, he talks incessantly and become highly irritable. He'll criticize everything I do, and basically find that he isn't pleased with anything. To him, everyone is incompetent and stupid. He has yelled at me, and told me that I'm supposed to listen to him and do what he says. He says that noone can tell him what to do, and my job is to do whatever he wants. Basically, he's an abusive jerk (not sure if it's the bipolar or just him) but I can't seem to find the strength to leave. Each time I think about it, I freeze with fear. I have the feeling he'd become horribly violent.  I need some legal advice of course, since the only place I can go with my son is in another state (where my mother and sister live). I hate giving up, but I don't think my husband will ever be motivated to take care of his illness. He continuously tells me he doesn't care about himself. Well, then it's not possible to for him to care about his family.

I think I'm ready to move on since my husband absolutely WILL NOT see a Dr or take meds. I told him it's the only way we can have a decent marriage, and he always responds with "don't you threaten me" or "you can't take my son anywhere, it's illegal".  Has anyone been in this situation or one that is similar? I'm very frightened. I don't want my son to grow up and act like him one day.