Your earliest memory that something ...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2003
Your earliest memory that something ...
10
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 1:40pm

was wrong.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 2:08pm

HI Susan and welcome!

Avatar for wrgrossman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 2:41pm
well, the first time i attempted suicide i was 9 and i'm pretty sure it took about 2 years to get that bad. i was diagnosed as ADD when i was little, but now my pdoc says it was acctually a juvinile form of bipolar. he said they are often misteaken for eachother in children.

 


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Avatar for kdvaleski
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2004
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 4:04pm

Hi Susan. I first became aware that I had a mental illness when I was 14 and had my first major depressive episode. That was the closest I ever came to actually killing myself. I know now (but had no clue for 18 years) that my first manic episode followed pretty much right on the heels of that depression.

It's unfortunate that your ds is bipolar, but SO good that he has been diagnosed so early! By knowing now, and being able to follow/treat him appropriately from such a young age, he may never have to go through what so many of us did, suffering for so many years because no one (often including ourselves) knew what was wrong.

Welcome to the board, and post anytime!

Kristen

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 4:12pm

Susan,
That is a great question. I've known all my life I wasn't like the other kids. I wasn't dx'd until around 1.5 years ago maybe 2, if that long. I can remember when I was just 10 screaming my head off because I didn't get my way. That may be normal for some kids, but not in my Mom's house. I've heard my entire life "You need to see a shrink". But back then (I'm 36 now) it wasn't covered on insurance and we couldn't afford it so I just struggled. Not my parents fault, they thought I was a rebel, well, I turned into one, and tough love brought me back to reality on several occasions. I was a horrible student, I applied myself but I simply could not recall it if I wasn't totally interested in it. I excelled in English, Journalism and Literature. The other classes, math, health, etc...I barely passed. It made no sense to my Mom, if I could do so well in the other classes then why didn't I get straight A's. I was not interested. I wish I were now that I look back. School is a HUGE fog for me, actually I have a horrible memory, but I do remember some things clearly and I do know that my twin sister and I both had problems. Her with boys and me in school. She hasn't been dx'd yet, but all the signs are there for her to be BP also, she's scared to go to the pdoc.

I wish you all the luck in the world. Hope our posts help you out.
(((((HUGS)))))
Carla

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 11:31am

(((((((Kelli)))))))


Thanks for being so open with me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 11:36am

Early Onset BiPolar is what it is called now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 11:38am

Thanks Kristen.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 11:40am

((((((carla))))))))


Thanks for replying.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 1:47pm

Susan,

My earliest memories that something was wrong is at 10 years old. We moved from Pittsburgh where our whole extended family was to State College PA. I think the stress of that sent me over the edge. I beleive there were problems with depression befor that but that's the first rage I can remember.

Love,

Jamie

Love,

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 2:57pm

this is a good question.