Outside Looking In...

Oh...Trippin...thank you for that SOOOO much.

Suga...I have no way of contacting them. These are doc appointments made in part for her application for social security benefits. One is an internist, the other a psych, so I'm hoping the psych does his/her job. It's clearly stated on the app that she has been diagnosed bipolar, she's not on meds and hasn't been for months, so this doc should be able to see the signs. I can only hope and pray for this.

Although she was suicidal in the morning, by later afternoon, she was back to what is normal for her. I was able to get some resources to her for counseling centers, etc. I'm hoping she makes calls. I told her yesterday when she showed up that I cannot and will not help her until she begins to advocate for herself. I'm afraid the next confrontation may involve the police.

I have no problem having her committed and doing whatever is necessary to keep her in a psych hospital for as long as it takes. She may hate me for it, but that's a chance I'm more than willing to take.

I went into chat yesterday and spoke with a few people...that helped immensely, especially talking to those with bipolar. Standing firm on this type of necessity is really a struggle.

(((karen)))

(((karen))) im so sorry you are battling with this! I hope and pray that she seeks help soon. And I also pray that I will be the mother you are when facing a challenge like this!

The mother I want to default to would just tolerate it, allow her to go on her merrily way, jobless or not, accountable or not, treated/medicated or not...

Then...I'd fall apart myself. Don't think that's the way it should be though.

So, I fight through the frustration, the pain, and keep myself from falling off the edge sometimes.

Once I get my youngest off to college next year, I'll be in a better place to cope with oldest...if she's around til then...

I was always against meds. I just thought I liked to drink and was depressed, then just felt overly confident. Well, that lasted until I was about 30 when I was diagnosed.
I was horrified at the thought of having to take meds every day, I mean, I was always healthy. I didn't want to be sick. In my mind, it could be cured, I just had to try really hard.
I was so disappointed when I found out that isn't the case.
I never had anyone in my life, before my diag, that even mentioned bipolar. It was always, why are you so depressed, you have so much going for you.
I had gotten money from a settlement and instead of buying a car, I splurged on DVD players, Video games, a big TV, etc. I didn't know that all that spending was a problem. *sigh*
I never had anyone there to help me and I think the fact that you have been there for her says a lot, but at some point you just have to let her know that her behavior is not OK and she needs help.
You can't MAKE her go, but you can help by just making your boundaries very clear. Eventually, I think she will go.
Good luck.

My heart goes out to you.
You care so much for your daughter and other loved ones.
Unfortunately there is no way to stop people from making mistakes and bad decisions.
The other thing to consider is that the symptoms of BP and the side effects of the medications often combine to make the patient even more reluctant to seek help and be compliant in medications... (I have stoped meds more times than I can count...)
I hope that the appointments go well and your daughter begins her road to recovery.