my adult daughter has bi polar she is 30 years old?

Question

my daughter has been arrested for her second dui. she was stoped both times. no one was involved other than her. she has
been on prozac. but not sure if she takes it ? she is in a rehab program. out paition only and just started it. not sure how to help her. I know that she is a wonderful person when she is not depressed. Her dad and I are just beside our selves. we have gotten a good lawyer. but how do i let him know how serious her problem is. or is this even inportant for her defience?

Answer 1

Has she ever put her on "Lithium"? Lithium is the standard medication for Bi Polar disorder, not "prozac". http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a681039.html

She is 30 years old and she "knows" that she needs to take the medication that her psychiatrist prescribes to her. Also she should see her Psychologist on a regular basis. Bi Polar disorder is very treatable. I am 100% sure that she knows she shouldn't be drinking alcohol at all. Also everyone knows drinking and driving is against the law. This last DUI may be a blessing because then she should get the help she needs. Maybe coming from the court system it will make her see her doctors like she should. I hope you and she reads this information it may help: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html

Here is another link which may help:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a681039.html

You all have may prayers. Living with Bi Polar disorder is a nightmare for the one who has it, as well as their loved ones when they don't take their medications. She really needs to take her meds. To be honest I don't think her disorder will get her DUI suspended.

Answer 2

The best form of defense is written records of the illness. Has your daughter been hospitalized during a psychiatric crisis? If not, does she have regualr visits with a psychiatrist and therapist? The records of her visits, or even testimony by the psychiatrist will help. Personally, I don't think being bi-polar should get a person "off-the-hook" for driving drunk. Drinking is inconsistent with proper treatment for bi-polar. If your daughter is drinking, that is a pretty strong indicator that she is not taking the Prozac. She is most likely self-medicating with the alcohol in place of psychotropic medications.

Maybe it would help her to join group therapy, if she woud be open to that. It doesn't sound like she is willing to accept that she has a mental illness, and until she does, she will be unable to cope. Maybe facing the consequences of her behavior while going untreated for her disorder will be the wake-up call she needs. Certainly she could have avoided the DUI had she been trying to take care of herself.

My heart goes out to your family and rest assured, your daughter will one day come to appreciate the concern and care you have shown in support of her. I know that my own ability to cope with bi-polar disorder has been helped by my family and friends. They have been supportive enough to tell it to me straight and to be supportive without enabling me to be irresponsible about it.

Answer 3

As a lawyer, he will best know how to represent this case. Bi-polar is a serious disorder (I know someone who has it) so I'm sure you won't have to convince him. The judge (I'm sure) will not drop her case entirely since the law is pretty harsh on DUI, because of the horrible consequences that can happen. Also, this being her second offence, does not look well. Good luck. I know you are doing the best you can.

Answer 4

My fiance was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. He was prescribed a medicine and it helped mellow him out. He has since stopped because he says that I help him with his ups and downs. Now if your daughter is drinking, maybe she's an alcoholic. Let the lawyer know about her disorder but I doubt that it would help her case. There are a lot of people out there that have bi-polar and don't get into trouble like this. Good Luck.

Answer 5

I'm sorry that I don't have any advice for you, I'm pretty much in the same boat with a bipolar 18-yr. old son who's had 3 minor accidents within 6 months. We had to take the car away from him, he's been very fortunate so far in that his accidents didn't hurt anyone but he's too much of a liability to be allowed to drive. I know that he's taking his meds - he's on 4 different ones - but I suspect that he's also taking something that he's not supposed to. Good luck to you, we're gonna need it!

Answer 6

Since your daughter is drinking and has bipolar, I suggest you send her to a psychiatrist and put her on the drug topamax. Its a mood stabilizer and is sometimes prescribes by doctors to alcoholics. I'm on topamax for chronic pain and it's really hard to drink beer on this drug, It just taste flat and gross, especially in the first few months. It may be something worth considering since DUIs are expensive and dangerous.

BTW, if she's bipolar and on prozac without being on a mood stabizer, the prozac could be making her manic.

Answer 7

GO ask this in the legal section and you may get some good advice from a lawyer or something . Good luck and hugs !

Answer 8

Ah Hun im so very sorry. initially you may stay stable on your daughter. no rely how undesirable of psychological issues she has,she continues to be your little lady. Take her out for some One on One time. you ought to enable her be attentive to you will continually be there for her and love her unconditionally. it rather is recommended to oversee her extra whilst she is twiddling with different infants in case you think of she heavily could desire to harm yet another baby. i might actually have a One on One together with her psychiatrist and notice approximately different issues you're able to do to help her via it as properly merely medicine(If she is on any). i might actually have a One on One with your Husband(in the experience that your married). My 6 3 hundred and sixty 5 days asister has psychological & emotional subject concerns(Attachment issues,construction relationship subject concerns because of the sexual abuse she indured in the previous we took her in). She additionally has severe evening Terrors. the main suitable suggestion i supplies you you is to stay useful. We gave my sister a crammed Duck and each time she gets scared she hugs it. it could sound stupid yet i think of getting your daughter a crammed Animal/Toy might help her whilst she hears the voices and notice's frightening issues the main needed situation is to love her no rely what! -James

Answer 9

I might be important in her defense but regardless if she has bi-polar or not she should pay the consequences for drinking and driving. Good Luck!

Answer 10

get a court ordered psychiatric eval. your lawyer can push for it