How are things going?

Judi - posted on 05/14/2009

Tammy
If you haven't gotten a diagnosis yet, get your child life insurance. No one will insure them with a bipolar tag.
You get a diagnosis by pestering your child's dr. or going to a psychiatrist/psychologist. They will base the diagnosis on your experiences, and your child's.
Right now it is not legal to deny access to schools and such do to disabilities. That could change, but for now it's still okay. If you get a diagnosis, you can get her current school to start her on an IEP (individualized education plan) that will follow her through college. That way she can have special accommodations to help her through school. My son has many accommodations on his IEP.
As far as prejudices go, you may come up on trouble with jobs, but that is usually after they get the job and cannot fulfill their obligations due to a swing. And you will not get life insurance for her.

Judi - posted on 05/14/2009

Starr
Don't throw her out. Ignore those people. Try the book "Back in Control" by Greggory Bodenhammer. Stay patient. She can learn to control some of her behavior, but the right medications are crucial. (See my post in medications)
If she is pregnant, she will need extra help, since many of the medications cannot be taken by pregnant or nursing women. You can apply for state disability since she cannot work. We applied in January for my boy, and haven't heard back yet, but I'm sure they will grant it eventually.
Just a heads up, my pediatrician said that Zoloft can make bipolar kids worse. You might ask about that. My son was on Zoloft when I brought up that I thought he was bipolar to the dr. and that was the first thing changed.
I have a friend with very extreme bipolar. She was an adult when diagnosed, and it took them 14 years to find a good medication balance.
Does she see a specialist for the bipolar? Is she in counseling? Both things help. If she isn't pregnant, an anti-psychotic may help with the rages. If she is, make sure her obgyn knows about the bipolar. I hope I have helped at all.

Starr - posted on 05/04/2009

My daughter was diagnosis 5 yrs ago we knew something was wrong she was always in trouble and can be very violient when she has a episode its like walking on egg shells i never know what kind of mood shes going to be in they have her on saraquel and traizidone and zoloft her body seems to get used to the drugs so im right back where I started my husband died 6 yrs ago so I had to get help I just wonder if it will ever get easier im scared to death shes going to end up in jail she cant get a job because of her mood swings she is 18 people tell me just throw her out well guess what it dosent work that way they just dont understand and i get very frustrated when I hear that and to make matters worse I think she may be preguant so yes I have my hands full ''''

Dora - posted on 04/28/2009

I would love to know more about your ways to make things better.

Tammy - posted on 02/09/2009

How do you go about getting a diagnosis.  Also, once you get the diagnosis arte there any prejudices out there that she will face?  Is it leagal for colleges to not admit students due to "saftey" reasons I know they are really watching children with pysch issues.

Barbara Littlejohn - posted on 02/03/2009

My daughter was recently diagnosed and we will get the final diagnosis from yet the 5th pyschiatrist this Thursday. Her father doesnt want to believe but she does. She has many OCD's and depression and swings like a pendelum. I have bp myself so its easy for me to recognize that she is so going down that path of destruction I have already visited. I am trying to teach her but at the same time its also my job to allow her to discover this as well. She hates it but shes starting to accept it!