Any One Have a Teen Diagnosed with Manic Depression.

My son is now twenty two. He was hospitalized twice.Eighteen, then last year. He was suicidal and I dragged him the first time, second he wanted to go. He has had quite a battle but is doing well now. As I said before, they drag and kick and fight you but there is help. Contact NAMI (I don't have a website right now-but try to look it up). My son was a smiling happy baby. He was a despondant angry fighting teenager. I spent years sweating and anxious. I am happy to say he IS ALIVE, he is taking meds and he is living life. No one's life is perfect. But the person who has this condition sees life in a negative vain almost all the time. There are high and low mood swings. It is not your fault. It is not her fault. It is not someone's fault. It is a chemical imbalance. So please let her/him see the bright side of the world, meds and therapy can clean up that dark sadness that climbs out from within.

What you are calling Manic Depression is actually Bipolar Disorder and there are a few different types. I have type 2, which presents as hypomanic behavior (risk-taking and elated moods) in response to stress, and deep debilitating depressive episodes that can look like sadness but also seem to be severe anger and irritability. Type 1 is the one most people know about, mania and mood swings but not necessarily depressions as deep as Bipolar Type 2. Both are at risk for suicide if left untreated. Thinking with a Bipolar brain is so different than a neurotypical one, we often feel at the mercy of it and what it decides to "be" on a certain day. There are other types, you can look them up here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder which is a good place to start to understand this brain disorder.

I can't stress enough how much the proper medication can help. However, there are many different drug combinations and I hope he has a good psychiatrist to oversee what will inevitably be a series of trials with different meds and combinations.

If she has any weapons in her home, please tell her to get rid of them NOW!

What I know from my own experience with depression is, our bodies need nutrition to be in balance, physically and mentally.

It may sound simple, but it does come down to giving the body and mind what it needs to function normal and optimal.

He probably is on anti-depressants and his body needs that immediately. What I suggest is he gets on whole food supplements (not store bought brand as they don't help, ie CVS, Wal Mart, Costco, etc). Specifically, a multi vitamin (at least 1 twice daily) and B Complex (2 caplets-3 times daily) and soy protein (non-GMO).

All of this will not interfere with his medication. This is a basic program, but it is a great start.

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Just so you know, it's not called manic depression any more. It's called Bi-Polar Disorder. There are two types... one and two or I and II. There are support groups that your friend needs to ask the hospital about for parents of children with Bi-Polar Disorder, and they can give her resources to help her out as well for ongoing help. She should also consider some counseling for herself so that she can learn how to cope.

Going to be a long road. Have to keep and eye on him.
Medication has helped keep my son stable. It did take long time for
us to find the right medication for him. Then it is getting g him to take
them every day. My son dose forget every now and then but has been
getting better. It is also importune that your friends son be honest with
the doctor and let him/her know how the meds make him feel ie tired
jitter, sick and so on. It has been a very long road for my son. I hope this helps some.