Parents of Bipolar Children Support Group

I am new to online support groups,happy to be with other parents of a child with bipolar disorder. My son is 10, he was diagnosed at 3. I knew something was going on with him when he was a baby. Also,I had a brain tumor removed from right frontal lobe when he was 4, I have epilepsy and this complicates everything. My son is already 5'6" 180 lbs and has started puberty.OMG. We are lucky to have a very good doc, he has been on resperdal for 6 years and intunive for 1 year. Some days are better than others. Look forward to meeting everyone.

Welcome! You will fine lots of support here. But I have to warn you about someone posting inflammatory remarks lately. This person gets banned repeatedly but just signs up with a new name and starts in again.

So if you read anything negative it is probably this person stirring things up again.

Hi and welcome I was glad when I found this site recently and it helps ME so much

Hello! I am returning as things with my almost 36 year old daughter have gotten pretty bad again because of all kinds of stress. It is a marvelous group, and I know that everyone here (except for the troll that Lilipets mentioned) will welcome you! We "get it" and are always here to listen.

I am so saddened, and tired. I have a 40 yr old daughter with BPD. She is starting meds, FINALLY. But, there is so very much I want to say. And I did, last night. I sat and messaged for 30+ mins. I ended with saying this was but a small portion of what I felt the need to say, and what may help you. When I pushed send, my computer crashed. I spent much time trying to recall msg, but gave up after 20-30 min. I don't have the mental energy to try again, not now. So, know that I tried to share some of my daugters pain, as well as mine. I think that we are probably closer inm time and age than some others, & I wanted to talk to you. I will, again, when I can. For now, please know that I am sending the msg thoughts to you with my heart, and I hope to hear from you. I, too, am new to the site. Am finding it helps so much. Things have been improving, until yesterday, which was a horrible disaster. My "child" fell, long and hard. I prayed and cried most of the day, in privacy. Enough for now. God Bless you and your daughter. I will hope & pray for you. Nancy

Oh my... I see I typed in her age wrong. My daughter will be 26, not 36. But that doesn't mean that I don't understand what you're feeling or wanting to say. It's different when you have an adult child going through bipolar disorder, and it doesn't make you any less your daughter's mother either. In some ways, it's more difficult because they are technically and legally adults and "should" be taking care of themselves, but they can't. So friends and family don't understand the hurt, the worry, and the fatigue that you are experiencing. But we do, and I'm so glad that you have found us!

Please write again when you can -- please know that there are several others in here who also have older children who may have some words of support for you as well. And I am sending prayers and friendship to you... *hug*

Hi,

Just wanted to add my message. My daughter is now 47 years old and was diagnosed abut 25 years ago. After many many hospitalizations and ups and downs she has been quite stable for ten years. Of all things my grandson who is now 19 years old was diagnosed at 16 years old before his symptoms were totally unmanageable. I feel I have been through everything possible. However, they both live with me and my husband in a fairly large home. Things go up and down, but usually its only a day thing and we start fresh the next day Some times I think my family is like the movie *Little Miss Sunshine*. Some how we are holding it together and find times of joy.

My grandson, since he readily accepted his diagnosis and is very med compliant having seen his mother through eight hospitalizations, has never been hospitalized or in any trouble. He graduated from a local public high school for teens who were in a profession or ill and was given contracts meeting with a teacher twice a week. He graduated with the highest honors in his class and some scholarships. However, he has had a serious pot problem on and off we have had to deal with.I have yelled and argued for hours with him about this and finally gave it to a higher power.

He also has had to go very slowly with college and recently suffered from a very severe gastrointestinal problem requiring several horrible tests and looking at possible surgery. I am grateful that it is not an incurable problem. We were worried for weeks until the biopsies came in. This was very difficult to say the least with the BP on top of it and having to be completely home bound in severe stomach duress. There was much depression, but no mania at all. The new stomach meds are working fairly well now. At first I felt very angry at the unfairness of this on top of the BP, but again finally gave this to a higher power. I have better learned to take each day as it comes. This group has been my salvation at times. It is a place I have vented when things become unbearable and found the strength to go forward.

I guess most of all I want to give you hope. For years, with my daughter it felt hopeless, but it did turn around entirely with the right meds. With my grandson I do not really know the future, but hold hope in my heart. I am sending the very best of wishes to you!