My son went into the local psychiatric hospital when he was in 5th grade for what they called a bi-polar break through. He was being treated for symptoms of depression and ADHD at the time he went in. They took him down off all his meds and then determined that he was bi-polar with ADHD. They put him on Abilify and seraquel and concerta.

He has just finished the 8th grade barely and has really become easily agitated again. He has gained enough weight due to the effects of the meds that he is now overweight and gets teased about that. he struggles contantly with school and organizational skills but when I tried to get the school to set up an IEP for him to get help with a couple of subjects and organization, they said he didn’t show a need.

I just wondered whether we should take him back to be re-evaluated. Is there something other than bi-polar that could be causing symptoms of irritability, mood swings, and lack of concentration and organizational skills. Is the medicine he takes for bi-polar that makes him gain weight more important than the self-esteem he lost when he became overweight. I have seen how cruel the kids can be to him and others that are bigger and his self-confidence was medium to fair before the weight gain. I just don’t know what to do for him and it is very frustrating to see him struggle everyday with the weight and school. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

Dave,
I hope this gets through to you, I’ve always had trouble navigating this forum.

Your headaches may very well be due to seasonal allergies. Different pollens proliferate during different times of the year. I thought about how you mentioned that this chronic problem comes up “every other year”, or at certain times of the year.

Also, a friend told me about a book, called something like “Eat Right for Your Type”, which is about blood type, and seemingly benign types of food, that have a negative reaction to your individual blood type. It was written by a scientist, and has charts showing that different blood types react to stimulus caused by what we eat. My friend also said that our brains also are affected by these same foods. I haven’t gotten the book, or read it myself yet, but it may be worth investigating.

I’m a would be “supporter” of a bipolar person. She has been “homeless” at times in her past, she says it was her choice, but I doubt it, she lies a lot about herself. She inherited a large amount of money about three years ago, and it has changed her, not in a good way; she isn’t taking any medications, and is not under any doctor’s care. It makes her impossible to get along with. She has lost many of her friends, and has paracites supporting her, who steal from her. She insists that she “doesn’t have a boyfriend”, but I have been with her for nearly nine years. She resists everything I say to her, and argues with me over anything I say. She would certainly be homeless without her dwindling bank account, she is unemployable, and has poor judgement about her spending. She is too full of herself to be supportive in any way to me, financially, mentally spiritually. I’m strongly considering getting some help myself, I suspect that I have a co-dependant mentality, based on past ruinous relationships. I barely survive on three or four part time jobs, and the few times she has helped me, it always becomes a weapon later, to beat me with. I’m a “failure” to her, mainly because nobody in my family died, and passed a few hundred thousand dollars on to me. Black and white thinking, projection, “I hate you, don’t leave me” (borderline personality disorder), and ADD all play a part in her makeup. I’ve been at my wit’s end for years about her, and am forced to keep my distance.

It is disgusting our country can’t help the homeless. Rents too high, wages too low.
Landlords expecting security money and credit checks. Near impossible to jump up by onself without family, friends or girlfriend. The men and women I met in shelters don’t have those things–good skills and paying jobs to get re-established. They eventually find a rooming house or they’re out of the Shelter after 3 months, back on the streets until the waiting period, usually 30 days passes. Then will they let back into the converted Army Barracks Shelter. In NJ and some other States you can get Workability Insurance with a 6 month residency , good job and a verified disability. Im lucky bouncing between father’s and GF home for last 2 years in my BPD recovery. I never used drugs or heavy drink. Illness got progressively worse without expensive meds and compassionate supporters that could put up with my moods and erratic acts. I’m 50, college educated and can’t hold down salaried work. I being kicked out of Dads’ again after 1 week. I damaged the lawn. Ridiculous but true.
I remain hopeful striving gradually toward my goals. I can’t be bothered by poor my circumstances. It’s really important to find work, Support Groups and a new circle of friends. Forget about today’s war time SSDI program unless your in a vegitative state, totally unable to hold down a measly paying job-unable to thrive in society.

Marty,

I think the best thing you can do is offer your son hope. Hope is the most important thing when dealing with anyone who has bipolar. We can be on the street, but if we have hope, we can overcome that. Without hope, we can possess the world and it won’t do us any good. People like me, who have depression caused by bipolar tend to lose hope after a while… So the best thing I think you can do is encourage him to keep trying to get better. It is totally possible to stabilize him, but he does need to be medication compliant, and be consistently working with a psych. to stabilize him. I think the best thing you can do is to get David Oliver’s Supporter package and try to use as many of the tools he provides in that package.

I know what you are facing. You are in a double bind situation. On one hand if you do nothing, he will certainly get worse, on the other if you try to help him by making him go to a hospital, he may get mad at you and then get worse as well. But I think if you do nothing, you won’t feel good about yourself for not at least trying something. Bipolar is a serious condition and it takes the life of many people. David Oliver’s supporter package is strategic, well thought out plans for supporting and helping someone with bipolar. I strongly recommend it.

Here is what I think. If it does come down to making him go to a hospital because he is suicidal, they may just help him become stable on medication. If that happens he will more than likely realize that you helped save his life and appreciate it. On the other hand, if the hospital does not stabilize him and he comes out resentful, then it is on them, not on you. But if someone is posing a danger to them self or others, that is when it is time for a hospital to take over and try to help him. You can only do so much, but providing him moral support, and trying to convince him that there is hope is a HUGE help. He would be ready for a relationship if he were stable. Try to help him understand that medication will bring enable him to have nice things like relationships and jobs and save his life at the same time. Bipolar almost took my life on two occasions, and both times I was just very fortunate it didn’t work. But it scared me bad enough to never go off my medication ever again. I will be on medication the rest of my life, but it is so that I will have a life to live.

I hope this helps,
Does anyone else have any input?

Sincerely,
Bob

Thank you

To All,
I have an adult son with Bi-Polar & Manic Depression. My son has tried suicide, tried to kill me, been kicked out of school, sent away to school ( a boys home) & a private school but finally did graduate. He is now homeless (has been by HIS choice) for 3 years now. We live on the east coast so he went to the west coast where he found out he can get a card to obtain street drugs for his bi-polar disorder. The meds they had him on before he left made him over medicated. Since he has been away he has calmed down & comes home some but still can not stay confined long(a week). He is not doing meth but knows people that does. He has taught himself to play music & has even written some songs. His dad & I want him to settle down. When he has his episodes he does not remember what he does. I pray that someday soon he will settle down.