[pedagogue]

I wanted to highlight some REALLY helpful information in shutterbug's thread. I am sure you read it thorougly, but just in case...I went through it anyway!

Originally Posted by shutterbug

I think mostly what she needs now is to know that people TRUELY care about her.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

"A Brilliant Maddness," by Patti Duke.

Read like it is water and you are in the desert.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

I think the first and most important task is to educate yourselves and her as much as possible about the illness.

See above.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

You have to try and see things from her perspective and try to see how she is interpreting the messages you are sending her with every confrentation.

This is huge. If you ever wondered how you sound...tape yourself. (Seriously...a dictation tape recorder will give you a stark and real look at yourself) People are taken back when they hear themselves on tape, because there is SO much going on during escalation, it is too much to process at once.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

..she is hurting. Be loving to and with her as best you can.

Yet another hurdle in the world of parenting. You are learning too.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

Bipolars NEED the help of a psychologist ( in addition to the psychiatrist) in order to help her sort out her thoughts and behaviors and to become educated about her disease.

Medication alone is not enough to ensure success. In the case of BP's, therapy is almost ALWAYS necessary. One HUGE part of therapy is the development of coping skills. Your daughter NEEDS to have these skills. It will also offer a sounding board for her. BP is not a diagnosis that does well unsupervised. Please please PLEASE, if you don't listen to anything else I say, please consider therapy for her ASAP.

Substance abuse (typically poly-abuse) is a HUGE factor in BPs, especially when coping skills are lacking. Substance abuse further complicates things, and really can be destructive, especially in a young girl.

Originally Posted by shutterbug

If you love her as much as I suspect you do, then I would also highly suggest therapy for you, as her parent, also.

This is huge. Her diagnosis has as much of an impact on her as it does you.

Best of luck. Please keep us updated. We are here to help. As always, please feel free to send a PM.

-pedagogue