Bipolar can be overwhelming. Learning about it. Being diagnosed with it.
My son was diagnosed at 14 yrs old. My son and I went through 4 doctors before ‘understanding’ what bi-polar is.
Symptoms my son had:
His Highs -
Very energetic
could not sit down for any length of time
his opinion had to be heard - he tried to listen, but his mind was racing to challenge an opinion different from yours. But his logic 99% of the time made perfect sense.
when he was an angel - everyone loved him
he was an aggressive, excellent soccer player
did his homework - excellent grades
in 8th grade he had 12th grade math skills
His Lows -
he self-medicated drugs/booze mainly painkillers (he is still fighting with the addiction today)
self- distructive he would cut himself (he still has scars)
Nothing mattered but him - he would walk into a store and if someone was walking out he would say they were staring at him. He would walk over and get in a confrontation with them. If they did not walk away usually a fight began, police called, etc...
He would break glass and stab himself with it
There are different stages of bi-polar. My son was stage 3. I was literally in fear of my families life. A friend of mine kept my younger son for a couple of months because I was afraid my son would go over the edge one night and kill all of us.
FIRST - have more than one opinion. Consult several doctors.
SECOND - Talking with a professional helped my son once we found one that 'clicked' with him - get him to find someone that really knows the meaning of bipolar - we can give you our experiences all day long, but our experience can only give you ideas - your son needs to find out exactly what he is dealing with.
THIRD - if he begins taking meds, if they don't suit him change them. The doc told me that my son needed to be on them for 90 days to really determine if they will work - if your son begins taking meds and the side effects are worse than the symptoms take him back for a change of prescription. You know how your body works - you know for example, when you have eaten something that you may not need to eat again - the same with pills, you know how it makes your body feel - give him a pocket calendar tell him to put a smiley face on the good days and a sad face on the bad days.
Crumpet said At the moment for the purposes of research I'm giving all the meds a try - they change them every month which is exasperating, but eventually I think I will just stop taking medication.
If she can handle the highs/lows without meds - this may be what works for her. Please don't let her example, my example, everyone else's example set the tone for you. Research. Just as you did with the 'truth'.
If i were still a JW - I would still be waiting on Jehovah to 'cure' my son. I would have more than likely lost him by now. To death or jail or a mental institute.
My son is 19, it is very hard to get him to do anything - much less give doc's a chance - he is still fighting with self-medicating.
Finally he has (again) found a doc he feels comfortable with - I hope this time he finds his answer..... we can help them, encourage them, listen to them, and never give up on them but we can not make them get help.
I have been on a rollercoaster with him for over 5 years. He can handle the highs and lows - he says - problem is what about the rest of us? What about us that watch him everyday, those of us that wonder what we can say today - will "how did work go today?" send him on a tantrum? send him into depression? Put a smile on his face as he elaborately tells of his days adventure? If we are still 'afraid' of him, if we are still dreading the moment he walks in the door, if we hold our breath until we know the kind of mood he is in - is he in the right frame of mind to decide if he needs or doesn't need his med's.
He feels he doesn't need meds. If he ask me I will ask him to get back on them. He may be able to handle the highs and lows - but with him being stage 3 - after 5 years i don't know how much more i can handle. When he is in a High he is GREAT; when he is in a Low it hurts all of us.
Research. ASK. Research. 2nd and/or 3rd opinions. Research.
And always give him a hug and tell him you love him.
