Topic : Bipolar Disorder

I have an 8 year old boy with bipolar and ADHD and I am just wondering if anyone has any advice on anything that has helped to keep their child out of trouble at school. I don't have any problems controlling my child's behavior at home but he is constantly in trouble at school. Punishments at home will deter/stop him from whatever he is doing but at school he is defiant and doesn't seem to have respect for his teacher's. Keaton does what Keaton wants to do. What is a good punishment at home that will be effective while he's in school? Maybe I just don't know enough about bipolar yet. this is my first message board on his disorder and I feel like I know more than his "counselor's".

I have a 14 year old with Bipolar and the best thing you can do for your child is to request an IEP evaluation, in writing, and the school must by law test him.  

What helped me was the use of a student advocate...  I googled student advocate and my state and found one who helped me for NO fee. 

  

They know all the laws and can help determine what your child needs to help him get through a school day.  

  

I have more info but want to see if you know anything about this before I "babble" on. 

Tammy 

I recently broke up with someone with Bipolar 1 . He does take his meds but is in and out of mainia. He only sees his Doc about twice ayear and the med nurse every three months. He has delusions about me and other women. (I'm a hetrosesexual woman) but he doesn't believe that. I don't know where this is coming from. But when we were living together he timed everything I did incuding being in the bathroom. I had to move out. We still saw each other but I didn't tell him where I live because of his rages. I love this man with all my heart and want him to get the help he needs and also to stop believing these things about me. He thinks that before I would go to visit him I stoped and had sex with a woman. That's not true. I live an hour away from him. After working 9 hours on a Psych unit and driving and hour in traffic the last thing I wanted was sex. I want to write to his doctor but I don't know if I should. the holidays are here and his family thinks nothing of him having a few (4-5) glasses of wine and that makes things worse. Any advice? I have written to the Dr. Phil show and asked if they would do a show about this. I would love to tell my story about this and try to get the help he and I both desperatly need.

       

  

       Hello, I'm a 28 year old female, that started taking Effeexor 2 yrs ago due to severe depression and post partum depression after having my second child .  I have put on at least 50 pds and as my dosage gets increased, so does my weight.  I have tried numerous diets, excercise, even prescription diet pills with no success!  I may lose 5-10 pds at the most then it will always return.  Does anyone else have this prob and are there any solutions other than surgery, not knowing if that would either work.  I would rather be fat than depressed and moody....but ultimately I would love to be thin and happy, any suggestions? 

Hi, 

Have you tried asking your doctor for a different medication? There are so many out there. And for the depression have you sought out a good therapist and group therapy? I have been going through depression on and off for a long time. There were times when it was severe. But never took meds. I have had a good therapist and at times gone to group therapy. Also asked my friends and family to try to bare with me and work with me. But to be honest I think a few pounds is better than depression. And the beauty does come from the inside. We all can't be what we see on t.v. and in movies and magazines. That's not real. Also so many of them are so young. Stay away from the diet pills please!!! They are dangerous and may not mix well with your meds. Look, Stress can do alott and so can depression. Talk with some one. There are wonderful therapist out there. Even maybe someone in your church. But look at the good things in your life. Sometimes that's really hard but there must be something that can make you happy even if it's for a short period of time. Believe me you can with the right help get through this. Look more on why you may be depressed than on that extra weight. We often get to stressed out about a few extra pounds. If you have a good doc they will understand and help you through with out diet pilss. 

i'm new here and don't know what exactly to do but i have had bipolar for nearly 20 yrs now and i want to stop my lithobid b/c i just can't concentrate. i can barely read a magazine article. i have the attention span of a gnat and i don't know what i want to do

  my name is lisa.. I watched the show that dr phil did on schizophernia.. My sister is that.  For me i have bipolar 1, major depression, ptsd, and other mental health problems.. I have suffered all my life and have finally come to terms that i need help with this.  I go to a program four days a week and learn about me and my mental health. My therapist thinks that iam also adhd.  I am scared to death and would like to chat with people that have the same things that i have.  Iam also a recovering addict and alcoholic.. 

thats my story 

  

lisa 

I feel for each and everyone of you have bipolar disorder or a loved one who has it.  If I can be of any help to anyone by sharing my experience I'd be willing.  Just a background on me, I've had bipolar since I was nine years old (at least that's when the symptoms started with major depression).  I've heard that there is a bipolar gene that scientists have located. So, I believe that I was born having bipolar disorder.  As a child, I had raging mood swings.  I didn't know how to control my moods.  I only went to therapy when I was nine back in 1979 because they didn't have the diagnostic tools they have now or the right medication.  I spent many years sufferring up until my 20's when I was finally put on antidepressants because I had had such severe depression and suicide attempts, but the medication did not seem to work and I kept getting depressed.  I also didn't want to be labelled as "weak" or different from everyone else because I couldn't toughen it out on my own.   

I also self-medicated with alcohol which I feel that alot of people with mental illness do so that they can either bring themselves back down from a manic episode.  But, because I only reported the depressing times and not the times I was doing well, I wasn't accurately diagnosed until I was 30 yrs. old as having bipolar disorder when I had gone into a full-blown manic episode with psychosis, delusions and hallucinations. 

  

Now, I am on the "right" kind of medication.  I don't drink or do drugs, I go to therapy every week.  If I'm doing really bad, I go into a day program and "work"on myself.  I have surrendered and realized this isn't something I can control on my own, and it's not my fault I have mental illness and it doesn't make me "less" than other people.  I wouldn't wish this illness on my worst enemy.  I'm fairly stable now, although I had to go on disability.  I did gain 50# because of the medication, but I made a decision, I'd rather be "fat" and mentally well, instead of skinny and "mentally ill".  There is hope out there for people who have this illness.  It may take some trial and errors with the medication and it may have to be fine tuned, but think of it as having an illness like diabetes and your insulin needs to be regulated from time to time.   

I've also learned alot of coping skills and have plans in place, such as family members being aware of signs that I might be getting ill again, and they can decide to have me put in the hospital.  I am not my illness.  I have a wonderful husband, who was also diagnosed bipolar, so I know the other end of it too.  I guess I just want to say that If I have survived 35 years, then there is hope. This is coming form a woman who has attempted suicide more than I can count and one who was so pessimistic and depressed.  Life can be good.  There are resources out there and help.  It's a battle we all must endure, but never ever give up hope................ Best Wishes...........  

 Hello all! I am new here so please fogive me if I post this incorrectly.
In 2000, my husband(now ex of 3 1/2 years) had forced me to close my business(very successful) and was being very abusive(pointing guns at me, shooting my tires out etc.) He eventually kicked me out of our home keeping me from our two children.That same week, my best friend and my stepmother died. I was so depressed over everything that I checked myself into a hospital for day in which the doctor said I was Bipolar 2/mixed. I was placed on lithium and zoloft. Two weeks later I had a hysterectomy in which I was placed on HRT(premarin). I felt so out of it and numb. I couldnt tell if i was even real! This all led to my husband leaving me and getting custody of our two children. One month later, after the finalization of the divorce/custody decision, I decided the medication wasnt worth it. It was clouding my judgement tremendously. So I stopped all meds except for my HRT in which I simply changed to delestrin(sp)shots. I felt 100% better. Now after 3 1/2 years, I have still had no deep depression episodes, and no manic episodes. I do not cry for no reason, I do not go on spending sprees, I am not overly proud of myself, not am I down on myself.
I dont even get to visit my children due to the father(ex) not letting me lately, and I still manage to cope(quite well I might add). I dont think I was ever bipolar. I havent shown any of the symptoms other than depression back then, in which I truly think was justified.I have been remarried to great man this time for 3 years now. He thinks I was misdiagnosed too. Can anyone tell me how I can get my diagnosis changed? I would'nt worry so much about the label, but right now I am facing problems with custody battle and lawyer is saying it doesnt look good that I havent been on my meds in 3 1/2 years. Can anyone tell me what to do at this point? Any advice is welcome...Thanks.

Thanks, 

I have read your poem you posted for me.I read it quit often.Thanks so much......