Quote:
Originally Posted by xpress4
I'm a single mom of 15 year old and 12 year old girls. The 15 year old has been to counselors seems like her whole life. We have never had the money to take her to a psychiatrist for a formal diagnosis, but the counselors have always said she was bipolar.
The level of her condition has gotten much worse with age and her symptoms are more and more clearly defined as time goes by. There's no doubt in my mind that she has an illness. Our daily life is a nightmare and the quality of the 12 year olds life has suffered for years because of the focus on the 'hurricane' in the home. I don't know how much longer any of us can cope. I am so worried about her future, the decisions she's about to make and I am equally worried what all of this is doing to her sister.
I don't have healthcare with my job and don't make enough to pay for expensive therapy and medication. I make too much to get assistance from ACCESS or the like and I feel truly alone in this. Can anyone suggest a path of action, resources, absolutely anything. I am absolutely desperate to get help.
Many thanks for your time.
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Where is the father? He should be providing health care.
Take one of your kids old notebooks and start journaling.
Write down a brief daily report; track her period.
I'm almost going to guess that she really is not bipolar.
Look up Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
Look up Premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD
Does she have one or 2 good weeks per month? My guess is this is hormonal.
I normally do not post about my children but I have a teen as well that we're still not sure if she's bipolar. I'm glad he doesn't want to just diagnose her even after all these years because I feel that bipolar is getting to be a convenience diagnosis. I don't mean any disrespect to the many people that actually suffer; but it's my opinion that many people, teachers included want to give a label; and bipolar is easy.. My ex-SIL was the same way as my girl, unfortunately she passed away fairly young (40), I do not think she was ever diagnosed. If I had her around still, I think a diagnosis would be easier.
My child has been difficult since day 1. I've thought maybe her sugar, tracked when she ate, what she ate. Had her tested. Honestly, I don't have a lot of good memories; seems like she's always in a bad mood. Screaming.
As she's getting older, I'm tracking her periods, her moods seem to be centered around that but it's not true PMS according to the Dr. So he put her on something for PMDD, currently taking Lexipro, Deplin & Adderall - she says she is feeling better.
See if you can find some blogs by parents of bipolar children.
It has helped me because my daughter is controllable where these children are not.
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