Bipolar Disorder - My son is 13. He is bipolar. He avoids depressive thoughts and responsibilities?

2 May 2011

Hey annie,

Do you have your son in behavioral therapy? The medication is going to help but changing behaviors that have become habits must be addressed cognitively. You mentioned that you can not get help, why not? Learning to redirect innappropriate behavior is a must. Letting these behaviors go will only make his life more miserable. He is crying out for help, like you mentioned, and needs someone unbiased to talk to. If he already is in therapy, then may be you need to try a different therapist if they are not making progress.

I feel for you, raising a teenager is difficult, let alone one with a mental illness.
I can only encourage you to keep trying. Never indicate that you are frustrated. Your unconditional love is paramount but not enabling his inappropriate behavior is the key.

Best wishes,

Laurie

2 May 2011

Laurie is absolutely right!!! Now is the time to start working towards a goal of improving on setting limits, what is and isn't acceptable, teaching him what he has can be lived with and he can overcome, He dosen't have to be this way, things will get better for you, the therapist here incorporates family into a cousin of mine who has a problem similar to his, it is to where certain times it is just for my cousin and then they bring the family into the picture, she has made changes that I can hardly believe, they have even been able to reduce her medications, She looks responsibilities as something that she needs to achieve and she has used therapy as a tool that has been positive for everyone that interacts with her. Please keep us posted, you will find that this will be well worth the investment!

3 May 2011

1 Feb 2013

Hopefully you had a neuropsychological test. Don't over medicate him for one thing. Try mayoclinic.com great Web site I've used it for my son with bipolar. Any questions feel free to ask. It his hard with them, stick it out! My son is now 22, takes no meds and is doing great. Learn about his disability then educate him. They have to understand it to help themselves. Good luck, keep in touch I'm at metashootie.netzero.net.