My daughter is BiPolar, now she's quit Uni in her third year, surely there are ways to combat this affliction

Question

at 24 this has only just come to light, previous behaviour and moodiness werre put down to growing up

Can someone assure me my daughter will be ok with treatment and medication ?

Answer 1

Of course there are. If she's been diagnosed then she should be on medication.

Answer 2

Your daughter will be fine with support. She has an illness not an affliction, just like a heart condition or diabetes with the right medication (and she may have to try a few to get the right one for her) she can live a normal life. I have been bipolar for 35 years, I have married, had four children and I attended Uni when I turned 30. I don't tell people about my bipolar anymore because unless they have experienced depression; and I would NOT wish that on my worse enemy, they don't understand what its like to have the unrelenting negative thoughts, suicide planning etc etc etc. I have been treated badly by some people who could only see my illness and not me, I have experienced workplace bullying because of my illness. So I make sure I dont tell anyone now and most people who know me have no idea. Someone who suffers bipolar learns very quickly how to hide it and to the world we appear just as normal as the next person..... :-) whatever normal is. I wish your daughter well, the first step is diagnosis (and you have that,) once you know what you're dealing with the rest is easy to control.

Answer 3

I nearly flunked out of Uni due to bipolar disorder. That was over 20 years ago, and I wasn't diagnosed until I was 41.

First, let me reassure you that there is life after bipolar. There are plenty of meds out there that work - I have been stable now for nearly 18 months, and there is no reason to believe that that will change.

My best suggestion: get a copy of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide - I've put an Amazon link below - it's a fantastic resource. Email me if you want to talk about this

Answer 4

Medication can make a HUGE difference in the treatment
of affective disorders, but in many cases it is not enough.

It's relatively recent that medication has been the first choice
for treatment of affective disorders like depressive, bipolar or
cyclothymia disorder. My opinion is that it's the first choice now
because the results can be so dramatic - but it's not the only
choice and in many cases, medication alone cannot treat these
disorders.

If your daughter is continuing to have issues, I highly recommend
that she consider psychotherapy in addition to the medication.
Psychotherapy is NOT a quick fix, and requires that the patient
be willing to look at a lot of difficult things about their lives and the
way they think/react/feel and be willing to change them. They
MUST be willing to trust their therapist (and this is often the
hardest part of starting therapy) It is a LOT of work... hard work,
but it's very very worth it.

Answer 5

I know exactly what you went through- you sound just like my mother. I was diagnosed with Bipolar at the age of 21--- I started college on a great scholarship, I was in the Honors program, and all of a sudden my grades just fell. I missed weeks of class at a time, we tested me for mononucleosis, meningitis, every medical ailment that doctors could think of.

When I was diagnosed my mom flipped out, my professors treated me rudely when they didn't understand my affliction, I constantly wanted to drop out (was even TOLD by some professors that I didn't belong in school)--- and after medication, therapy, and tons of TLC and tough love from my family, I graduated with honors. It took me 6 years, but I did it.

There are DEFINITELY ways to make the disease work for you, although it seems scary at first. I am writing a book that I hope to get published, entitled "Bipolar Disorder for College Students: Is it possible for me to still graduate?" ---

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to know more about my story or ways that we can help your daughter.
[e-mail]

Answer 6

I too am Bipolar Peter. I was not diagnosed until the age of 36, and was discharged from the Air Force after a 15 year, very successful career. I had been depressed on and off since the age of 15, but never properly diagnosed, so I went on and off antidepressants over and over again. The depressive episode which led to my expulsion from the military and my diagnosis, started in June 2004, while stationed in England, and still has not completely resolved itself. I have taken 3 different jobs in three different states and had to resign from them all because I am mentally incapable of the stress right now. I fight daily with my emotions and want very much to be the person I used to be. I am not trying to be a downer here, I just want to paint a realistic picture, that for some people, though not all..... recovery can be a very slow process. I too am on several different medications, and they can take quite a bit of time to be absorbed into the system and be helpful. Another thing to keep in mind about medication from my own experience, is that selection of drugs can be hit or miss.... It could take several changes before the best combination is found. One last thing, and this one is the toughest for me personally, but extremely important for loved ones to understand, Bipolar does not have a cure. Bipolar can be treated with medication, therapy, proper diet, exercise and sleep, and hopefully lessen the frequency and severity of episodes. My Psychiatrist told me that the longer I remain in a negative state of depression, stress, fear, anxiety, that longer it will take to return to a more normal, emotionally stable state. When the brain starts to work a certain way and follow a specific path, over time that groove becomes deeper and deeper and harder for the brain to get out of. I know how hard it is for loved ones to see their children, spouses, parents, etc. going through this (my 11 year old daughter hasn't lived with me for the past year). My personal advice would be to hear your daughter out, don't judge anything she says or try to minimize her fears. Also, don't pressure her about going back to Uni, I put that pressure on myself and it was the worst thing I could have done. I used to thrive under pressure and went out of my way to find it, when under pressure these days, I describe myself as a soap bubble, aimlessly floating around in the breeze. One tiny touch is all it will take to make me pop. I have rambled enough Peter, my recommendation is that you and your daughter get educated on the subject, get treatment (both therapy and pharmacological), and get support. There are some good websites out there for Bipolar sufferers and their families. There are times when it is really important for the sufferer to know that they aren't alone. Lastly, tell your daughter to remember "she isn't Bipolar - she HAS Bipolar." I still find that one difficult, but I am working on it. Best to you and your family. My thoughts are with you.

Answer 7

Give her time to get her life back on track. There are a lot of mood stabilizers out there - and anti-depressants to help get her back on her feet.

See a good doctor who understands this disease - and knows the medication to treat. Once she is on the right medicine - she'll be back to her normal self.

Finally, be supportive.

Answer 8

Medication therapy works well(been there, done that). It won't turn her into a "zombie". If anything it will stabilize the mood swings. Good luck to your daughter and you.

AWSOME answer Elizabeth C!!!!

Answer 9

there is medicine for that ask your doctor
and be patient but with medication make sure she takes it at same time and do not stop taking it without doc's approval
but ask him what medicine is better.
And tell him you want generic not brand

Answer 10

This might be helpful
http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/