I can see it from the other side of the coin. Like Mrs Kempie, my missus has/does suffer from both depression, and psychosis. She grew up in an abusive (physical) family who were basically alchoholics, so suffered from her early teens. She was sectioned when she was 14, and never really got over it all til recently. She was on respiridone too. She was alot better after we met, although not 100%. She then fell pregnant and reduced her meds, although never came completely off them, and gave birth to our daughter five years ago friday gone. Within hours of giving birth, she had relapsed and was a completely different person. It was massively scary for me, obviously with a newborn to think about too, as I'd never seen anything like it. She ended up being sectioned again, but did get better. She changed her meds, and is now on Quetiapine for the psychosis, and venlaflaxine for A/D. She has come a massive way since giving birth, where as before she didn't like even being alone in public as the anxiety took over, she has held down a steady job for a couple of years now, has passed her driving test (although she is probably the worse driver I've ever known!), but she is a completely different person. She is now 13 weeks pregnant with our second, and although we are obviously thinking about it, we are doing everything we can to ensure it doesn't happen again. She is staying on her meds at the normal dosage, as there is absolutely no evidence that it could affect the baby, and she is having a home birth, as she was left in the delivery suite for hours alone afterwards with no contact. (she gave birth a 5am so I'd gone home at 7 for some kip. I came back at 1 and she had seriously deteriorated.)
Anyway, what I'm trying to get accross, without sounding big headed, is that I gave her the stability she needed. I think a steady and (as much as possible) stressless home life is key. Someone who is understanding but not patronising to listen to your problems will go a long way. Speak to your wife/girlfriend, and tell them that she may need to be patient from time to time, and not judge or get angry with you. Women are a strange species and get all hormonal and moody as we well know, but if she can bite her tongue on occasion, we would appreciate them all the more.
