Parents of Bipolar Children Support Group

Sometimes the daily swings I have to process are too much. My sweet 16 year old daughter can be her loving self, then she can say such terrible things, then be back to "what's the big deal" to "why do you hate me?"

She was diagnosed at 13 after her first hospitalization. The longest one was for six months. She's been hospitalized 4 times now, and the various hospitalizations are starting to run together now. Her newest therapist is surprised that her diagnosis came so early. So often a label is feared, I'm told.

She's currently on lithium with zyprexa. I think we may have staved off yet another hospitalization with a very caring (new to us) doctor who saw her 3 times in 10 days and kept tweaking the meds upward. I hope this sticks. I was hopeful until some of the things she said today.

I may be starting to learn that some of the hurtful things she says are precursors to another manic episode. But it's so hard to deal with my reactions. I often react poorly, with too much emotion. Maybe someday I'll see these things as symptoms and be able to help her better.

All I know for sure it that I hate this illness!

I understand what you mean. I don't like this illness either. My daughter was diagnosed in January of this year and has been hospitalized another 2 times since then.

It is great that you seem to have found a supportive and caring doctor. They are hard to find, some people have been looking for a relationship like that with a doctor for years.

We've gone through a few doctors. This latest change was necessary after her discharge from the long-term hospital. She transitioned to a school that provided a doctor and therapist as part of the schooling, and now is transitioned back to her high school. We first went to a doctor that acted like we were wasting her time. That and her pink hair didn't lend to her credibility. She kept going down the path that my daughter was a liar and a druggie, so reacted accordingly. This new doctor took her on after urging from her therapist. He normally doesn't see teens, only adults, so we are greatful. My daughter is a little wierded out by seeing other adults in the waiting room, but she is sticking with it for now.

Well sticking with it is the first part to getting better. People see me and my daughter and think strange things all the time. I am tattooed with facial piercings and my daughter has had pink, blue, green and peach hair and has lip piercings as well.

So sorry you're having a rough time. My BPII daughter left my home in November four days after turning 18 and not done with high school. Now the Boyfriend and his parents she is living with have her in denial. The problem was that we were too controlling..so say she, the bf and the parents. We had a wonderful doctor as well and I just wanted to let you know that journaling her behavior every day and then being able to report that to the doctor REALLY helped the doctor to be able to fine-tune the medicine. But, it also helped me to begin to see the patterns in her cycling (and, sometimes how they related to her monthly cycle as well). That allowed me to be more patient at times when I was able to recognize the cycle, and sometimes, to be able to assist her in looking at her behavior in relation to whether she was cycling. We had her on a pretty good mix of meds before she left except that we were still not able to get the impulsivity and compulsive behaviors under control. We were still working on that when she left....go figure...impulsivity.. The journaling will help you as well as her. Good luck to you.

Thanks. I find writing things down therapeutic, but haven't done a formal journal about her. When we went through the worst of her mania last year, and we FINALLY got her hospitalized after several attempts and a less than aggressive therapist, the doctor in the hospital suggested that I give her an outline. I compiled everything from emails between teachers and the school social worker and school discipline actions, her grades, and police involvement. I found the process very relieving. I was able to put it on paper - and give it a rest, so to speak. Now I can bring it up when needed - give to new therapists, etc - and not have to drag up all those awful memories. They can read it to help understand past behaviors and our fears, but it can sort of stay in the past.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll start a journal.