Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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adolescent bp

deleted_user
deleted_user
My 12 year old daughter was recently diagnosed bp (NOS) after her 3rd hospitalization in 6 months. First dx was major depressive disorder, second dx was MDD with anxiety disorder and borderline traits, and most recent dx is bp (nos), anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder. She was also diagnosed with ADHD when she was 7 1/2.

I'm pretty sure from what I've researched that bp is the most accurate diagnosis. I have seen her very depressed, very happy, and very angry, sometimes all three within the same hour. She has now started having bloody and violent nightmares and I am not sure if this is related as well. Does anyone have any experience with adolescent bp that they can share?
nobody666
nobody666
if you have "mentalhealthadvocate" as a friend or see her online she is a great reasource for adolescent BP
i am just now looking into it with my son
deleted_user
deleted_user
i started with depression and anxiety at 14, and it took quite awhile for pdocs to diagnose me with BP...all i know is, when i was in my teens i have several major depressions and some hypomanic behavior.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The first hospitalization when the dx major depression they put her on Lexapro and Seroquel which worked pretty good for a while. But alas, the insurance company wouldn't cover Lexapro so we tried some others. Thought the Celexa was gonna work but she ended up in the hospital again and that time they took her off of the Seroquel because she had gained a LOT of weight and her cholesterol was through the roof. The good news is the doc was now able to convince the insurance co. that she needed Lexapro. The bad mood is that they released her on anti-depressants without a mood stabilizer. 5 weeks later she was back in the hospital again. They have now put her on Geodon, Lamictal and Klonipin in addition to the Lexapro and things are better but still not right.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Dont stop looking for someone that actually helps and does not give you excuses on why not to treat your child. I have been bipolar since I was 14 and the worst part was when my parents just didnt care. I truly believe that if I had been given some coping techniques or even someone validating what I was feeling, I wouldnt be where I am today. I am not blaming, it just wasnt done back then. Being an attentive parent is good in itself and a good doctor is a plus. Dont give up till you get an answer that works. Good Luck
deleted_user
deleted_user
Most of the time I feel helpless. I don't know what to do or say to help her. She has some coping skills (i.e., journaling, music, basketball, her dog) but the never seem to work at night when she is most depressed. I talk to her for hours it seems but don't feel like I am able to really help her most of the time. It's very frustrating for me, and I'm sure I don't feel a fraction of the frustration that she does.
deleted_user
deleted_user
She says that they are scary not only because they are so graphic but also because she doesn't wake up. The first time it happened she had the nightmare three times in a row until I woke her up for school.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Great! I'd love to hear how it goes. I was reading through some of her discharge materials from her last hospitalization today and the anger management paperwork indicated that repressed anger could also take the form of nightmares. But it could be so many things . . .
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