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.

deleted_user
As I have mentioned in the last couple of days I am trying to mento a young girl thats in my life that suffers from BP at 13. She says her sisters are major triggers and you know how sibblings can be especially if they dont undrstand. I want to find a way to help her. If I didnt have my husband I would offer to let her live with me. Her mom was thinking about the group home idea when she was last hospitalized but it would have been so far away and neither the daughter or the mom wanted to be away from each other for to long. The daughter has mentioned that she would like to be able to be in a good place and be able to see mom and sisters regularly . I dont think my husband would go for her being at home with me and him. I think her coming over a couple hours a few times a week would be ok but I dont know if its enough.
I dont know how to help her find peace in her own home. And I dont know how to convince the other girls that thier sister cant just fix it or that its not just a way to seek attention. Her mom doesnt understand her need for a safty net feeling. One of the things my young friend has stressed is that she doesnt feel like she can call people when in need of help as the phone situation isnt always stable and its at these times that she is most unstable.
How can I help her build her safty net and feel safe and not alone??? How do I help her family understand her problems or help her get to a safe place so that she doesnt have to suffeer like so many young people do???
I dont know how to help her find peace in her own home. And I dont know how to convince the other girls that thier sister cant just fix it or that its not just a way to seek attention. Her mom doesnt understand her need for a safty net feeling. One of the things my young friend has stressed is that she doesnt feel like she can call people when in need of help as the phone situation isnt always stable and its at these times that she is most unstable.
How can I help her build her safty net and feel safe and not alone??? How do I help her family understand her problems or help her get to a safe place so that she doesnt have to suffeer like so many young people do???
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She stayed the weekend with me and its gone well its been a hard weekend for me as my husband is gone and I cant call him if I need to. Just having that tiny bit of my safty net gone even for a short time is a trigger for me. I havent hid my feelings from her and she is seeing its normal and ok for BPers to have moments... but that we have to find coping skills... I asked her over to help me get througth the weekend... she feels useful even in her state of drowning... I hope it has helped, she even got to see my loosing things and helped me look, and keep me from panicing...
It was bad I ordered pizza then couldnt find the check book to pay (my only way to pay too) it worked out lol the pizza man left the pizza and salads and said to call when I found the check book lol... talk about being embarresed
As for helping my young friend... I do hear you on the being strong enough. I am on the manic side of life so maybe thats why I feel strong enough to tackle the problem or that I can fix it. (Superwoman syndrom) maybe its the mother in me. I do well fixing other peoples problems even when depressed. Im glad my husband is here and wouldnt go for her living with us cause I would do it if he wasnt here. The two families hers and mine live with in a mile of each other so its not like she would be isolated from her family, just not around the triggers of her sibling teasing... She feels like her BP is destroying her relationships with her sisters.
I will try to make sure that I dobnt bite off more then I can chew. For now I have told her she can take a mental health day here at my house once or twice a week for a couple of hours. I told her I maynot be up to entertain her but she could have the peace and quiet that she needs. I take my own personal mental health day where I send my daughter to day care even when I dont work... I think its something we all need.
Maybe for now that will be where I draw my own line.. and just help her by my example.... call her to talk when I just dont want to be alone... obviously not putting to much on her shoulders but showing her that even us BP adults need some one that knows what we are going through.....
I'm glad that you can identify that you are manic and thus could be superwoman-ing... I am not as able to squash my reflex to help others as I should be and it often bites me in the butt. I'm learning though...especially now with my daughter. SHE has to be the focus now for me period.
matt
matt