Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

Pediatric bi-polar is a hard thing to wrap your mind around .I constantly question the diagnoses.It`s a hard thing to come to terms with because there nothing to positively confirm it . So,I`m constantly in conflict with my decision of having her on medication . I wonder at times if the meads are making her this way because she`s been miss- diagnosed .Then I  think about her behavior before the meds and quickly realize that shes not "normal".I`m so confused about it . 

I have an 8yr old daughter who was diagnosed with bi-polar.She has been difficult since birth......constantly crying,never satisfied,hated car rides,she would cry from the time she was strapped in till destination point.She did`nt sleep much either.As she got older,around 2-3yrs,she threw violent temper tantrums every time she was  told no about anything.Her behavior at times got to be ,at the least ,questionable.To this day not much has changed.The meads control her violent tantrums but her emotions are constantly teetering on the edge of complete melt down.I can see the struggle in her eyes when I tell her something that I want her to do .She is defiant in the far extreme .I could go on and on about my daughters behavior.What I have mentioned only scratches the surface .My husband and I are determined to help her learn to control her emotions.She has a consequence for everything that she does and a reward for her positive effort.Though,so far,it doesn't`t seem to be getting through hopefully some day it will. 

I wished my sister would of been willing to watch today's show, she absolutely refused.  Especially when I told her what the subject was about, she was having nothing to do with it.  Our entire family believe's that my sister is Bi-polar, she screams all the time, at her kids, at me, at her husband, in-laws, parents it doesn't matter who you are.  When I saw the lady on today show, I would of bet any amount of money it was my sister to the tee.  My sister says horrible things to everyone, then in the next sentence she is as nice as can be, and half the time doesn't remember saying the horrible things she had said previously. 

I wish I knew how to get her to seek help, she truly believes that there is nothing wrong with her, except a lot of stress, we all think otherwise.  Any suggestions??? 

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with bypolar after spending some time in the Fort Kent hospital for trying a suicide attempt. I was alwys diagnosed as severe depression and them they said bypolar. I really am confused about what is really wrong with me .I stopped going to the Dr I was seeing because I am not working any more and have no insurance . I take medication for anxiety attacks and depression. I am so confused about this. I know my sickness has hurt alot of people around me including myself. Sometimes I feel like giving up. I may never know what is truly wrong with me.After watching the show today on bypolar, I was even more confused. I too had a severe head injury when I was 3 years old in a bad car accident with my family, and had an abnormal MRI but they never found out why. What is truly wrong with me and what do I do about all the mood swings and depression.  

Heres some hope my Friend 

I went to Lesley College (Sister teaching School to Harvard) ......didnt finish lol but I went.......later I learned an AA in Political Science but was told by a Judge I was crazy to think I could be a lawyer (nice guy) because I was to emotional. Theres a book I encourage you to read 

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
Kay Redfield Jamison  

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0679763309&itm=4 

an excellent book of hope written by a college prophessor 

Namaste (my soul greets your soul) 

I'm sorry but I disagree with you.  If you will look at the diagnostics for borderline personality disorder you will find that they have (1) abandonment issues, very fearful of that (2) self-mutilation, or some call it cutters or cutting. 

I have the type Cathy has but have never, ever thought about cutting myself or self-mutilation.  I don't have any abandonment issues whatsoever.  My type is called dysphoric mania.  I have type 2 Bipolar with mild hypomania.  Cathy is unmedicated, but her mania of not sleeping for about 10 nights in a row is indicative of this disorder.  It is the manic stage.  I don't have a problem with not sleeping or didn't even when not medicated, however I had problems with racing thoughts and it took a long time to get to sleep.  I was easily distracted, easily irritated, agitated, and like the tazmanian devil...no joke.  It wasn't who I am in my core being as I am a person who loves and loves deeply.  It's like something sets the person off and they don't really know the impact of what they are saying at the time.  They become delusional and sometimes paranoid thinking things are going on behind their backs, when they aren't.  It's a very hard disorder to live with, and to manage.  But it is harder for the families. I've been stable for several years, but it took several different medicine combinations before I found the right one that worked.  My best wishes for Cathy to find some medical help and a med. combo. that works for her.   

Yes, the raging, screaming, and being hateful is part of bipolar disorder, the dysphoric type of mania, not the euphoric type.  I have the dysphoric type but am stable with a good med. combination.   

Borderline personality disorder is also very similar but most of those who have it also have abandonment issue and self-mutilate according to the diagnostics or the information found in the DSM IV.