Seeking Parents of Children/teens with Bipolar Disorder

I can tell you more than you want to know about it. I am a 31 year old SAHM with two children and have been bipolar since I was 15. If you want to email me, I will tell you everything I can.

I don't know your daughter, but at that age all teenagers are bipolar. Please research on the web all about bipolar disorder and see if this matches your daughter. My sister and brother are both bipolar, but were not dignosed until they were in their mid 20's. Today doctors like to mis diagnos mental disorders. At 16 I was put in a mental hospital for bipolar disorder, now in my late 20's I can tell you I do not have it and never did. There are some great drugs like lithium if your daughter is in real need, but at that age it is most likely a teen faze. Please get a second opinion, Lithium is a very powerful drug and placing your child on it is very serious.

M.~
I grew up with a brother that was Bipolar. When I was younger I used to get so mad at my mom because it seemed to me that he got away with EVERYTHING. But, my mother used to say, "I pick my battles." Now, as a mom, I understand A LITTLE what she meant. With my brother, everything had to be his way - all the time or he would go into a major melt-down fit. So, if he wanted ketchup on his ice cream, that's what he got. If he wanted to stay up and finish a TV program, he stayed up. Looking back, they weren't major things at all. His temper was also out of control. My old bedroom at my mother's house still has the butcher knife marks in it from one of the many times he got angry at me. He also is a grand manipulator - "if you do this, I'll do that" kind of thing. Only, the "i'll do" never happens. But, that is the make-up of my brother. Things did get better once he was on medication that worked and, let me tell you, it took a good 5 years just to get the medication at the right levels. He has been in several psychiatric hospitals. My brother also went through a period of anorexia as many people who suffer with Bipolar have a very low self-esteem (he was 15 years old and weighed only 80 pounds). When he was younger he also lost most of his friends - only because they didn't know how to deal with his manic moods. Knowing the kind of Mom you are, I have no doubt in my mind that you will be able to handle this. But, the other children are going to need a lot of support too. Family counseling (your son will also need individual counseling most likely) will help a great deal - at least it did with my family. As a kid I sometimes felt left out because all of my mom's energy was focused on my brother.

However, I can tell you that it is manageable. My brother and I are now closer than we have ever been and I count him as one of my best friends. He still has his moments of mania, but during those periods I leave him alone to deal with his "inner demons."

Another suggestion, give your son an outlet for his feelings. My brother found his in art. He is now a professional oil painter and his paintings are AMAZING!! He says that he, "paints the world the way I want it to be, not the way that it is for me."

My prayers are with you and your family. If you want to talk, email me anytime.

R.

M.,

I am the mother of a bi-polar, adhd, and oppositional defiant son. He is 9. He was diagnosed with bi-polar when he was 4, but we knew something was very wrong from the day he was born. I can't tell you all the things we have gone through with him...let's just say that God was definitely putting me through the refining fires. My son had to be removed from the home for the safety of his younger siblings and now resides at a residential treatment facility. I am still hoping that one day he will be able to manage a "normal" home life and be able to return home. The best peice of advice I can give you is to look for the warning signs of the rages...when you see them, allow him to go outside and work off his anger by working on a project he likes, walking it off, running it off, or even invest in a punching bag. Once the rage passes it is easier to talk to them about what upset them or whatever else they have on their minds. Remember to ALWAYS keep communication open with him and no matter what, ALWAYS ALWAYS tell him you love him and that you will always be there for him. Bi-polars have the most uncanny knack for saying things that cut a parent deeply...well, not just parents...anyone. If you would like to know more or you have specific questions, please feel free to write me and or call me ###-###-####. The more you know about it, the better off you will be!!! Hang in there! I'm sure you will do better than I did. I was also dealing with his bi-polar father through most of his little life, so needless to say I had my hands more than full. I will keep you in my prayers!! God bless!

J. M

Dear M.:

About 4 years ago. my fifteen year old daughter was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. It was one of the hardest times for, not only my daughter, but the entire family.

After many trial and errors with certain medications and even some hospitalizations, I can now say that she is a productive and happy 19 year old. The hardest part was us perhaps being in denial. The question of "is this not how most teenagers act with their raging hormones" constantly went through our minds but the professionals (pyschiatrists and well as physcologists/counselors)will know what they are doing and ask as many questions as you can, become very informed.

There is hope in sight and just getting the diagnosis is the beginning. Good luck and God bless!!

R.

I am a foster/adoptive parent with a Bi-polar 17 yr old. I have 6 kids total. We are in the process of adopting 2 toddlers right now. He has only been in my home for one month and is causing all kinds of havoc. The other kids don't like him because he is so annoying to them. It's so difficult to deal with him because he makes everything a major battle. Especially if he is in trouble, which is pretty much all the time. He is on medications right now but I don't think they work. He is in therapy as well and they are working to get his medications right. My husband and I are having a difficult time understanding and dealing with him but thankfully the therapists and case workers are helping us understand him better and help us out when dealing with him. Some times one thing works then the next time it won't. It's very frustrating for us as parents because we want whats best for him. We'll be praying for you!

I have an x husband that is bipolar,he was diagnosed awhen he was a teenager and his mom put him on medication to help him but after a while he stopped taking them .He told his mom that she was drugging him.But the drug was helping him he wasn't up and down anymore.Now to this day he self medicates his self with drug's just so he can be normal.So if I were you get him on meds now or he will do the same.
God bless you !

Hi M.,

My partner, my son's dad is bi-polar so I have learned quite a bit about it over many years. I have also battled depression myself. I just read this fantastic book by a Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, called "Postpartum Depression for Dummies", it's a really great book, well written with all the right questions and answers. She talks about depression in general, not just post partum. She also treats people with bi-polar disorder. She has found a nutritional system that feeds the brain the nutrients that it needs to feel happy, well, and balanced, giving it all that it needs to produce the right neurotransmitters like serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. The system is all natural and organic. The poducts are even safe for children. I just started it a few weeks ago and it works! I feel really wonderful. My partner saw the difference in me and he began 5 days ago and felt a dramatic difference immediatly. Below is what she says about it in her book. You can call her and talk to her, she is soooooo nice and generous with her time and knowledge. She told me when we spoke that bi-polar people do very well on it and I can see that already.
Best of luck, C.

THE SYSTEM THAT I FOLLOW
I’ve always had a deep interest in nutrition and feeding the body what it naturally needs for optimum functioning (including brain functioning). A health nut since the 60”s, I’ve tried every way of healthful eating out there (a couple that were on the weird side, now that I look back!). I believed in nutrition-not diets. My incessant search for a complete, simple system finally ended a little over two years ago-I found it. Since then, I’ve been using this nutritional system and introducing it to my clients (and all others I care about). It’s complete with high quality organic protein shakes, amino acids such as tryptophan (which raise serotonin), live enzymes, the essential fatty acids (Omega,6, and 9) in the correct ratios, vitamins, antioxidants, and ionic plant minerals. The system,which consists of foods that you eat in addition to whatever healthful food you’re already consuming, has a total body cleansing and detoxing component as well. The results have been quick and dramatic, and I’m thoroughly passionate about it. Some of the problems that I’ve seen either totally disappear or at least decrease significantly with this system are: depression, anxiety, decreased energy, difficulty losing weight, insomnia, sugar cravings, low sex drive, mood disorders, and difficulty concentrating. I’m not mentioning this system by name because I want to make sure you’ll be ordering only what you need and should have, depending on whether you’re pregnant, nursing, or finished with both. If you're interested, feel free to contact me formore information by calling ###-###-####.

Honestly I think it depends on her doctor and time. I was diagnosed with bipolar when i was 15. Bipolar seems to be often misdiagnosed, I am not an expert by any means but from my own research, and having been there, sometimes it's just rebellion being misdiagnosed. I had extreme highs and lows at 15 which is what led my doctor to diagnose me as bipolar. I had lost my father when I was 14 and moved to a new state, then suddenly had a stepfather. I guess what I am trying to say is try not to label her and treat her different, if she indeed has bipolar of course it should be dealt with how the professionals and you two as the parents feel is right, but that doesnt change the fact that she is a teenager, you two are her parents and you guys should enforce your existing rules and not let her slide. Oh and I guess you are wondering what happened with me- I was put on lithium, then depacote, at 16 I refused to take medication, eventually my mom gave up and I moved out, and I grew up.....as for what happened to the bipolar....Well I don't have the high's and lows and havent for some time, besides a wave of depression during postpartum I have been fine.

I don't have a child with bipolar but I grew up with my younger sister and she is bipolar. She would be happy one minute and the next minute she would be screaming her head off or crying for no reason. She is now 24 years old and she has been dealing with alot of problems cause of being bipolar. She got into drugs really bad and was put into rehab and she went through a phase of starving hersself or throwing up after she ate. She is very hard to get along with after a hour or so of being around her and if you ever confront her about anything she will scream and yell at you. She is violent to the point to where you don't really want to get into a fight with her. She is suppose to be on medicine but she won't take it except every once in awhile, She started doing drugs around 9th grade in high school and my parents tried everything to help her. When she was 21 years old she got into my dad's medicine and gave some to her friends and she took some and they pretty much overdosed on his pills. My parents had to send her friends to the hospital and my mother told her that she had to check into rehab. She ended up doing that and it helped her alot. She doesn't do any hardcore drugs now but she does do pot and takes some pills but I don't think that will stop. She would try to fit in with the in crowd so bad that she would do anything to be liked by them. This was very hard on my parents, my sister's bipolar is pretty bad. I don't know how bad your child's is but if you want to talk or ask questions then I will answer them as best as I can.