Welcome!
Whether you are a parent adjusting to a new diagnosis or a seasoned 'veteran' who has been pursuing stability for your child for quite some time, I hope that you will visit this forum whenever you feel discouraged, hopeless or just tired. And I hope that when good news is a part of your family, you'll take a few minutes to share here so that others can feel encouragement and hope. I thought I'd start out this forum with my own story of hope.
Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my youngest daughter's discharge from a residential treatment center (Meridell). This is our story of hope. When we took our daugther there, it truly felt like the worst day of my life. To leave my 'baby' in a place 2000 miles from home seemed inconscienable. Yet we knew that this was our only hope, her only hope, for getting well. We had tried everything humanly possible, even turned our house into a psych ward, and we were getting nowhere.
The little girl that I brought home a year ago was MY little girl again. She was funny, outgoing, happy, loving - no longer under the grips of rapid mood swings, rage and anger. My story of hope is that now, a year later, my little girl is still well. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, our disappointments, some relapse. But she keeps bouncing back. She's attending school every day, she's vigilant about taking her meds, she gladly sees her therapist each week and she is a joyful part of our family.
A little more than a year ago, I had virtually no hope. I was so exhausted, beaten down emotionally and physically that I couldn't imagine how things could ever get better. For anyone who is there right now, I hope our experience will lift you up even just a little bit.
--
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
What a refresing story to hear! I can not wait until the day I have a story like that to share.
--
Tanya, 29 year old momma, bipolar
Married to Chad, 31
Momma to:
Taylor, 8, Bipolar, ADHD, Separation Anxiety, Conduct Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder,
currently taking abilify 5mg and intuniv 2mg (not stable)
Gavin and Garrett, 5, receive speech and occupational therapy
After the weekend I've had, I needed to hear that there is hope.
Thanks
--
Gerri - Mom of 3 wonderful children...that sometimes needs a little help along the way!
T 6.5,gifted with no dx...working on that
M 8.5, tired of putting up with T, and my musical whiz kid
S 14 dramatic arts next year in HS RAP program, typical teenager, tired of putting up
with T's crap.
Nanci - it's looking at the positive (and God, of course) that gets me through each day. It's wonderful news to hear your daughter is home. When I had to leave my son this past November 2 hours from home in a psychiatric hospital, I returned home and actually felt as if he had died. For hours I couldn't pull it together. I am sure you felt the same if not worse with your daughter being 2000 miles away. Again, I say that it amazes me the courage parents have to do whatever it takes to help their child. Thanks for your uplifting story. --
Heather, mother of:
John: Age 16, r/o bipolar since age 3, official dx 3/11/11. Meds: Adderall XR 30mg, Remeron 15mg, Risperdal .25mg in morning and bedtime (just started on 3/14/11). In public school with IEP and emotional support itinerant.