no doctor, no meds
 

After an achohol-fueled incident thireeen months ago, my 19 year old daughter cut her wrists, was hospitalized and diagnosed as bipolar. She was recently dropped by her doctor (!?!?!) for not taking her meds. Soooo now we have no doctor and no meds and thing are going downhill. Has anybody gotten a grip on this on their own. She is 19 and I can't make her get help. Any suggestions?

Apparently, psychiatrists do this, although I have not been aware of it personally. Such a shame. You will be able to find anther psychiatrist when the time is right.

If she is a danger to herself or others, you can call the police. They will usually take her to an ER where she will be evaluated. This sounds drastic, but if she is in such a situation, she will need drastic intervention.

I'm sorry that you are going through this.

Google NAMI -- National Alliance on Mental Illness. They have information for family members. Also they have groups that meet in towns all over the country. It helps to be with other parents and see how they are coping.

Sometimes people need to go through a few rounds of this behavior you describe before they get themselves on a plan. Sometimes they need to learn by going through it more than once. I hope your daughter reaches out to you for help.

Is she living with you? Is she working or going to school?
Some parents make certain conditions related to supporting the child. I AM not saying this is a good idea and I am not sure that it ever would have worked for me. I'm saying that I have head of people who say if you want -----------, you have to see a doctor and stay on the plan that you and your treatment team come up with.



M.

Mari,
you are so right...thanks!
bizi

Mari's advice covers all the bases. If you see she is a danger to herself you will just have to have her committed. She has tied your hands to anything else. I feel so badly for her and your family.
I have generalized anxiety disorder so my advice is skewed. I would try to have her committed now. I don't even know if you could do that. It would just consume me. My spiritual beliefs prevented me and prevent me from killing myself when i am deeply depressed. Bipolar II has the highest rate of suicide of all the mental illnesses.
What else can I say
Bobby