Welcome happy to have you here, this is a great place to come for support and we are happy to help when we can.

We are only getting a small part of the picture and not health professionals(mostly). The things that stand out to me are the manipulation, self harm and attention seeking as well as the comment about agressive "manic moments"

There is a difference between these things being constant without any real breaks or depressive episodes and having full mood change episodes though.

Those moments of agression I probably woulnt label as manic unless it is combined with the other symptoms for a period of time. There are some people who have ultrarapid cycling however so it is possible. I also have general anger issues not related to bipolar in my opinion though.

Medication can definitely be a long process to figure out. Im at just past 2 years of medication and still not there yet.

If I am competely honest I find being in a psych ward comforting. I dont try to get myself hospitalized but once I have come out of the mania a little I can appreciate it. It is a place where I am accepted by others and I dont have to fight my battle on my own. There are people to help me and friends to understand me.

As far as motivating a teenager to work on herself that is very very hard. I know I could have had a much easier time if my mother had cared at all never mind how much you sound like you care. Shes got a lot going for her even if she doesnt know it or necessarily want it right now.

Im not sure if my behavior as a teen was bipolar or borderline or not, it was attention seeking and trying to destroy my pain because I had a lot of it and so little help though. I am fairly certain I have bipolar now though and pdocs all agree on that.

If it is bipolar medication should help even if it takes a while. Therapy can help with both bipolar and borderline so its definitely a good idea. It didn't help me as a teenager but again I didn't have any family support. I'm not sure it's helping me now either I'm fairly resistant to most help but I am trying to do better and I have a husband who has my back now, it makes a big difference. I also just got a much better pdoc(psychiatrist) and love my GP, having people I feel comfortable with and trust is helping a little too. My T(therapist) im still not sure about, I havent really come across one yet that clicks. Really listen to how she is feeling about the help she is getting and see if there is some way you can change things a little to something or someone she responds better to. Thats definitely easier said than done though.

I wish you and your daughter the best and you are on the right track, you are trying. Thats the best thing a mom can do