My stepson has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  He is 20 years old and my wife and I are attending support groups sponsored by NAMI.  One is in Medina and the other is family to family in Bedford, Ohio.  We are in a desperate situation with his condition and unable to get him to seek medical help. He has not worked for over a year and has been in a manic state for, I think 2 months.  He has tried to commit suicide 4 years ago and I feel can be a danger to himself or others.  He is living on our property but not in the house although he has access.  I am unable to talk with him without an eruption.  My wife thinks that we should wait till he is in depression when he is more likely to accept help.  Her fear is that if we push the issue he will leave and she will have no control at all.  I feel that the disease is controlling  us and to some extent he may be using it, I just don't know. How critical  is it to ge immediat help, or should we wait till he accepts treatment?