Hi, I am brand new here and so thought I'd introduce myself. I have a 9 year old with a pre diagnosis of Bipolar disorder which I have myself, seeing as she is my first child out of three I am not sure what I can do to raise her properly without making her hate me. Here recently she has been very defiant and stays in trouble quite a bit. She is taking meds which are still being worked on. She has been since she was four years old, I know to some that may sound young but her fits were so violent she broke her nose and that is when action had to be taken. Her grades are dropping and she just now got to a 1st grade reading level, she is in 3rd grade. Trin is aware of the reasons why she takes meds and is willing to take them. I was kept in that dark about my Bipolar until my mother finally told me at the age of 18 that I was not crazy I just had Bipolar. So it is important to me that my daughter is not kept in the dark. I am here to learn new ways to discipline my daughter and help her grow into a respectful citizen. Experienced parents please feel free to message me and ask questions as well as give pointers.

Welcome to NT!

You sure have come to the right place! This is a very compassionate and supportive atmosphere and I'm certain you'll get genuine caring feedback.
I see you've already found the Bipolar forum. You'll be welcomed with open arms.

It's great to have you here and I wish the very best for you and your daughter.

Rae

Thank you very much Rae I'm still learning the ropes but hope to meet new friends and get new ideas.

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Seems you have found a good number of forums to assist you. Gift her a great big for me.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Welcome to NT. You came to the right place.

The people here are great. Very friendly, caring, and supportive.

I'm sorry your mom waited so long to inform you of your disease.

Please give your daughter a hug from me, and also consider yourself hugged.

Hi,

I think you are doing everything you can for you and your daughter. I know the road is not an easy on to be on.

Many here do understand exactly what you're going through.

Take your time nd look around the many forums. Lots of info here...

Welcome! At the outset you are endeavoring to be so proactive it is a blessing to read and will surely work to the good for your little one.

I am one who was and still is held in the dark by parents and a system which perpetuates denial regarding that which burdened me from early on. Medicine had this idea I would be traumatized to know truth since it had no inkling of the notion truth sets free. My parents were assuredly locked into the denial and secrecy cabinet for to this day, even with Dad now deep into Alzheimers and unable to respond my mother holds me off with "why would you do this to me?" euphemisms...... I love my mother and hate the behavior, for to have answers would fill in the puzzle my doctors have fleshed out for me, and it is not fun. Thank you for living the life of the concerned healthful parent.

My wife and I have a son who will likely always be with us or with one of his siblings as he suffers from Schizoaffective Disorder and other alphabet soup varieties of issues. When his situation first became evident, the destructive behavior he wrought upon our family was horrific, yet through faith and helpful compassionate docs we were ULTIMATELY able to work out that medicinal cocktail which was necessary to help him recapture some of the sweet, fun loving, compassionate individual he had lived prior to the manifestation of his issues on the surface where we could see them.

Now, he is back into college classes, carefully structured and limited so as not to trigger episodic problems for him, AND he is enjoying himself! He who seemed lost to us is, in part, returning from the fog and this is a very welcome blessing! We still know and appreciate he will require care throughout life, yet, he is able to functionally be among us and live joy.

He has been kept in the know of his condition from the start, as his unbridled participation was key to gaining the strides which have been made in his care. It has not always been pretty, for he has suffered a great deal, not wanting this, not wanting this, not wanting this....... he, in seizure would enunciate "miserable, miserable, miserable" over and over again for hours until the prescribed sedative we had to administer would kick in.

Gratefully, we seem to be moving beyond some of the worst, and this young man, who is brilliant in many things, including art, is blossoming one careful petal at a time anew.

I pray for you and your daughter and family all will assuredly be well as you work through this, I truly do,
May peace surround you,
Mark56