Comments | bipolarsurvival: Two generations

mplsindygirl in bipolarsurvival

Two generations

Jul 29, 2011 21:53

It's more or less official. My middle son has had a really rough spring - med-resistant, vegetative depressive episode that has gone on since mid-March. Self-injuring, suicidal ideation, hospitalized for 8 days, now in day treatment, and pissed off at me for ruining his summer. The psychiatrist at day treatment is pretty sure he has bipolar and ( Read more... )

interpersonal relationships, family, newly diagnosed, hospitalization, bipolar in children

Comments 3

losttheskyagain July 30 2011, 03:21:55 UTC

Oh wow, my heart goes out to you.

I grew up in a house with my mother and her mother, both of which with mental disorders. My grandmother had undiagnosed depression (or something...) and my mother has diagnosed depression (which I suspect may be bipolar). They had problems while my mother was growing up, some of which she's still dealing with.

When I was just diagnosed with bipolar I was all over the map. I got kicked out of the house during two school breaks because my mum and I's depression periods just so happened to line up and make life a living hell, especially since she doesn't accept the fact she's ill and says it's all my bipolar.

But I'm stable and living at home with her for a few months, and things are all right. She's stable too for the moment, though the holidays seem to be a trigger.

I don't really have any advice, except to remember you can't change people. But if you take care of yourself and your mental health first, everything will come more easily. Good luck! Keep us updated.

mplsindygirl July 30 2011, 15:39:42 UTC

Yes, taking care of myself is generally my first priority. I've got a list of people to call for support. I've been pretty stable for a couple years and that definitely makes a difference in our ability to cope as a family.

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mplsindygirl July 30 2011, 15:37:05 UTC

I am usually able to get out and about with my friends - I really enjoy the local live music scene. But with a kid in crisis, I am sticking very close to home. I'm a single parent, and the kids' dad is living out of state right now. I do have good family and friend support, but it's hard to ask someone to 'babysit' an unstable 15 year old. I know that this is all temporary - that thought is saving me from getting too stir crazy.