Hello,
I usually post on CN, since we're raising 2 special needs children. They are biologically the children of our oldest son and his ex GF, who is diagnosed bipolar. My DH is diagnosed BP and only really stable on Depacote, for the last decade, although he's always been high functioning.
I'm stressed out and exhausted much of the time, needless to say, possibly, functionally OCD, or at least co-dependant, but that works with this somewhat dysfunctional family of ours. I think all families are interdependant anyway.
Our 24 yo daughter was was born bi-polar, in retrospect, but seriously "flashed over" at puberty. Her high risk behaviors, impulsivity and rages have taken a toll. I wish she had been diagnosed even younger than 16. She tried Depacote, Topamax and other add ons, but couldn't, or wouldn't, tolerate the side effects. She is currently stable on Abilify. It's a relatively new med for BP, so I thought I would share.
I also have concerns about our 4 yr old, because of her similar lability and poor impulse control, as well as her biological mother's Dx. I'm curious about how young bipolar gets diagnosed in other children.
Heather