I received this wonderful email last night from a long time The Balanced Mind Foundation volunteer.

Hi Nanci,

I wanted to use this email to give you an update on my daughter's progress with BP & OCD, and pay tribute to The Balanced Mind Foundation for being there 24/7. Your resources and experts helped me with resources in addressing school, medical and physician issues, and so much more. As an FRT member, I talked and met so many families and learned so much from all of you, available resources, and  the support you and Lolli provided proved invaluable at crucial times. I also appreciated the chance to vent and begin to deal with my own BP symptoms. I changed psychiatrists about 2 yrs. ago since I really wasn't improving, and now with a somewhat different diagnosis and medication, I've been stable and actually happy for months, so please tell your readers, competent treatment exists and you can find stability for your child or whoever in the family is struggling with BP.
 
If you recall, my daughter started with her BP symptoms and severe anxiety at age 10. She was hospitalized several times, at a special school, under a 504 Plan, experimenting with multiple meds with horrrible side effects until we finally found those that helped control her symptoms. Every day is not perfect, but the majority of the time she is stable, happy, and just like any other 17 yr. old. She enjoys her friends and is a gifted artist. The big news I wanted to share is that she recently graduated from our large high school as the valedictorian with multiple honors, but she's still undecided about what college, but we'll be going up to the Upper Peninsula next week to check out Northern Michigan's art program. I couldn't have kept perspective and remained focused if it weren't for you, your staff and the information you provide.
 
I can offer a few pieces of advice for parents in these predicaments,  educate yourself, read everything you can, join a The Balanced Mind Foundation forum if you think it might help, find a supportive therapist for you if necessary and a psychiatrist who completed his residency in child & adolescent psych and returns phone calls in a timely manner, and listens to your concerns. School and teachers can be a tough issue to deal with, but your child needs an advocate, and you're best at knowing what he/she needs, and don't let school officials intimidate you when it comes to your child's academic needs whether it's special ed or a 504 Plan. You have the right to request a meeting to discuss your concerns. Another aide available in most communities is the DBSA support alliance who hold meetings on depression and BP, and there's also NAMI which is a mental health advocacy group with a flood of good info.
 
Finally, thank-you Nanci, and all the The Balanced Mind Foundation staff for just being there and recognizing the need. Please share this good news with your readers, so they know that a child with BP can go on to success, and find happiness along the way.
 
Lynn
Former FRT Volunteer
Michigan

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Nanci Schiman, MSW
The Balanced Mind Foundation Program Manager
nschiman@thebalancedmind.org
WI Mom to:
S - 17; BP2, Lamictal, Lithobid, Synthroid, Seroquel
A- 15 Zoloft
L - 13; BP NOS, Trileptal, Amantadine, Lithobid, Synthroid, Lexapro, Niacinimide, Klonopin
DH - D, 50