18 has been diagnosed with bipolar

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2004
18 has been diagnosed with bipolar
2
Fri, 10-20-2006 - 9:39am
Our 18 y/o "son" has been diagnosed with bipolar, the dr. told him his mother has one of the worst cases he has ever seen so he's worried how severe it may be with him. He was put on depakote, 3x a day but is very reluctant to take it, he has been drug free for 7 months now. But his mother has a severe addiction to prescription drugs and he is afraid he will be the same way. I can get him to take them but if I'm not there to remind him he "forgets". He is a very private person, only comfortable talking to me and his brother about this. I really wish he would see a counselor but he refuses. I am trying to learn all I can about it but I know I can't give him all the help he needs. Does anybody else have experience with this either personally or professionally that might be able to give me some insight?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Fri, 10-20-2006 - 10:32am

My DH has bipolar disorder II which basically means that his manic phases aren't so severe. This has been a really difficult thing to deal with, mainly because he seems to be drug resistant. You should know that sometimes it takes a lot of testing w/ different drugs, dosages, etc. to find out what really works. I would recommend doing some reading. There are a lot of books on this subject, some for families. There is also a message board on ivillage for Families and Mental Illness which I have found to be very supportive because people know what you are going through.

I think that most psych drs. would agree that counselling is also very important. In fact, my DH just had to change doctors and with the facility that he is going to now, the psych won't continue to treat him unless he also goes to a counsellor. So your son should know there is no "magic pill" that is going to cure him.

Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 10-20-2006 - 10:39am

Many gentle hugs. Learning your child has this diagnosis is very difficult to hear and confusing as well to learn all there is to know.

After years of dealing with my 17dd's ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and related impulse disorders, etc., she was finally diagnosed with BP. It actually makes perfect sense.

I recommend reading, The BiPolar Child. That book offers so much information and resources. It's not written with too much technical jargon, but it will definitely give you in depth information that you may have to further research in order to understand.

Also, go to www.conductdisorders.com. There are hundreds of thousands of parents just like you dealing with the same situation. There are parents who are dealing with much worse. Just read through the different forums, in particular the 'general' forum, and you will get an idea of how some caregivers help thier child accept the diagnosis and get the help they need.

It's important for your son to see a counselor or therapist if he is on any type or level of brain disorder medication. I personally hated my dd's experience with Depakote, but it is one of the first meds most DR's try because it's been around so long and it's been well tested and most side effects go away quickly. My dd's BP is predominantly depressive, not manic so she is usually stabilized with a small dose of anti-depressant. However, if her dose is too high, it commonly causes a manic episode, so finding the right med and right dose is integral to proper treatment.

I recommend that you seek another opinion if you or your son is not happy with treatment at any time. Best of luck.