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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mlb on August 19, 2005, at 7:03:08
I have a 17 year old daughter w/bipolar that has trouble keeping a job, steals, does poorly in school, has trouble keeping a job, and is oppositional defiant. She is on all kinds of medications and is in counseling. Are any of you in the same situation as me and if so how are you dealing with it. I am really concerned for her future and feel helpless. Please help if you can.
Posted by Dinah on August 22, 2005, at 18:04:16
In reply to 17 year old daughter w/bipolar, posted by mlb on August 19, 2005, at 7:03:08
I can only imagine how difficult that is for you. Are you engaged in family therapy with her? Are you happy with the therapy you're getting? A child with difficulties causes ripples that extend far into the family. The family should be receiving the help it needs.
I haven't any personal experience, I'm afraid. I was hoping someone who had been through a similar experience (on either end) would have a response for you.
Unfortunately the parenting board isn't all that active right now. I'm hoping to change that. Welcome to Babble, and hopefully you'll get some more input.
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 23, 2005, at 0:03:46
In reply to Re: 17 year old daughter w/bipolar » mlb, posted by Dinah on August 22, 2005, at 18:04:16
> Unfortunately the parenting board isn't all that active right now. I'm hoping to change that.
Thanks, that would be nice to see! :-)
Bob
Posted by Dinah on August 23, 2005, at 17:34:17
In reply to Re: board isn't all that active, posted by Dr. Bob on August 23, 2005, at 0:03:46
It's a subject near and dear to my heart, Dr. Bob. I was happy when Sabrina convinced you to restart it, and I'd hate to see it fold for lack of activity.
Give us some time, ok? :) And maybe broaden the mission statement?
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 25, 2005, at 9:16:30
In reply to Re: board isn't all that active » Dr. Bob, posted by Dinah on August 23, 2005, at 17:34:17
> Give us some time, ok? :) And maybe broaden the mission statement?
There's no rush. Broaden it how?
Bob
Posted by Dinah on August 25, 2005, at 9:40:01
In reply to 17 year old daughter w/bipolar, posted by mlb on August 19, 2005, at 7:03:08
I moved my reply to Dr. Bob to Admin because your thread shouldn't be hijacked by administrative concerns.
Posted by AuntieMel on August 25, 2005, at 12:15:58
In reply to 17 year old daughter w/bipolar, posted by mlb on August 19, 2005, at 7:03:08
Don't dispair!
My daughter was the same, except for stealing. She wasn't flunking, but her grades were nowhere near what they could be if she'd put in just a wee bit of effort.
I was convinced she was bipolar, but her doctor said she was only depressive. But what a temper! Respect? Forget it.
In my case part of her anger was towards me, for being sick myself and for self medicating with booze. When I gave that up and started working on trying to get better we did do some family counseling, which enabled her to get out some of that anger in a controlled environment.
Not that I'm implying the same reasons apply in your case, I'm agreeing with Dinah that family counseling might be good. It'll help work on the dynamics in play and give you some tools to handle her better.
And - also trust your instincts. My daughter's therapist told her she was too immature to go off to college. My husband and I both thought that going off to college was *exactly* what she needed to do.
The first year was a bit rough. She got roughly the same grades she got in high school, but had to work harder to get them. But we were proud of her for doing the year - her roomie flunked out pretty quick.
By the end of her second year she'd pulled her GPA up above 3.0, and she starts her third year next week.
And, even better, we've gotten really close.
So - don't give up hope.
Posted by starbaby on August 27, 2005, at 11:16:04
In reply to Re: 17 year old daughter w/bipolar » mlb, posted by AuntieMel on August 25, 2005, at 12:15:58
I also have a daughter who is 15, and has BP II, as do I. (Imagine the fun of two people with BP II in the same household, one going through puberty and one peri-menopausal!) We both go to the same therapist. Is it possible your daughter needs to change the meds for her BP? My kiddo is on Trileptal and Abilify which seems to be really helping, expecially since she rapid-cycled at the drop of a hat. It took a while for us to find a combination that worked for her, and this seems to be it.
She is a changed child from what she was almost a year ago. No more totally nasty flare ups and screaming. I'm not saying she's an angel; she is 15 - lol. My Mom told me that 15 was the hardest age for her to go through for all of her seven children, so I'm patiently waiting for her 16th birthday ;-)
*starbaby*
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