things are very different here than they were 3 years ago!
Just wanted to share that 3 years ago my girls were rapid cycling, using drugs of all sorts, ignoring curfews, telling me they hated me, having difficulty in school (to the point where I thought they would not graduate from high school), and hanging out with drug dealers and criminals (who pretended to be nice kids).
I was waiting for the next crisis to hit virtually every day.
Now, my older daughter has just had a baby who is healthy and good-natured, and my dd plans to return to COLLEGE in the fall to continue her undergraduate studies in sociology (with an emphasis in criminal justice).
My younger daughter graduated early from high school and is in a full-time cosmetology program. She is planning to go to college after she is licenced to cut hair. Although she is on probation for having evaded a peace officer, she is finally sober. I couldn't be more thankful.
I do not expect the good times to last indefinately, but my girls are respectful, appreciative and open with me now as they never were before.
We are no longer enemies. In fact, we love each other enormously and that is all I ever really hoped for.
I am happy to elaborate if anyone is interested, but we're all sleep-deprived here with the new baby. Feel free to contact me directly!
Meanwhile, remember to take care of yourself!
--
Joan in IL (joanfisher7@gmail.com)
Co-Moderator of The Balanced Mind Foundation Dual Diagnosis with Becky
Message board & Family Response Team Volunteer
S (18) -- bp NOS, ADD, on Lamictal (200), Seroquel (100), in cosmetology school & works in hair salon;
Z (20) -- bp2, OCD, ADD, on Lamictal (200), Seroquel (25), Zoloft (25), in college, living at home, pet-groomer, new mom!;
Baby M -- born 5/3/2010
K -- Z's bf and M's dad (untreated bp/ADHD)
R -- supportive husband & stepfather;
Nicole -- older sister with bp1 who died in 2001 -- my conscience;
Remy (toy fox terrier), Kiddy (marmalade cat), and Squishy (pug).
Sounds like the world and crisis my daughter has been going thru the last 5 yrs.. i am still going thru it and so is my daughter,she was taking Seroquel Xr 200 and it seem to help but just fo a short while...
What does your daughters take now? what combantion of drugs seems to help them,does she see a therapist?
Please any suggestions would be appreciated! i really don't know how much more either of us can stand...
Hello,
I have a fourteen year old son who was recently diagnosed bipolar. I think I m starting to see what rapid cycling is. Woud you say that a kid who is crying and sorry and remorseful for his choices, like ignoring curfew and staying out all night , then 2 hours later he leaves again without permission. Then he says he wants to do the right thing and stop getting into trouble,does well for a day and then goes back to breaking the rules the next day. Or for example spent 20 days at a dentention center because during a rage he did $3700 worth of damage to my car( which occured because he didn't get his way)During his stay I visited and talked with him. He was remorseful and felt bad and said he was finished getting into trouble that he was tired of it. He was released yestarday then out of the blue,today stole 300.00 from my purse and ran away. I love this kid so much and cannot understand why he behaves this way over and over. Its hard to see a light at the end. Im so afraid that he is going to end up in prison when he is older. I'm glad to hear your kids are doing well. Would you say that the things Im describing sound like symptoms of bipolar? possible mania? It seemed like he got worse after being prescribed an antidepressant. I took him off but he is not any better so Im not sure. Please comment if you can. Thanks