For Caregivers, About Caregivers, By Caregivers

[helprhonda]

My Daughter, who, while in her manic state, we refer to as Rhonda, has recently been diagnosed with bipolar mania. She is 20. I believe I am ADD, and thought she was too. About three weeks ago, she just totally went off the deep end. She was in Chicago visiting her Father, while I was here in Tennessee, wondering "what the hell kind of drugs has she gotten into?" She was totally off the wall! She was calling me up on the phone, saying crazy stuff, and then hanging up. Finally, I called the local police there in Chicago and asked them to get over there. It took them less than five minutes of talking to her to call an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived, they had her on a stretcher right away. Her dad says that was the best move I ever made. Her drug screen came up negative and she was given some sedatives and later admitted to the psych ward. Anyway, it took a few days of her being on the meds to finally sound like my daughter again. The problem is, she is in denial, and as soon as they put her on the meds, all she can talk about is how fast she can get off them. She has been home for a week now and I think she has only taken them 4 out of the seven days she has been home. I believe she is working her way into another full blown manic episode. She supposedly has an appointment (finally) for the follow up care that she desperately needs. I don't believe that she is a threat to herself, but I am worried that she will embarrass herself at work with her off the wall ramblings. If anyone else is dealing with a bipolar manic, please share your story and any advice. Thanks and God bless
Update....I had to go pick her up at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning because she was in a full blown mania . When she woke up Wednesday at 7:30, the minute she opened her eyes, she started rapid cycling non-stop until her follow up appointment at 1:15 Wednesday afternoon. She is back in the hospital...it seemed like a sort of calm came over her as soon as she got to the hospital. Maybe I was imagining it, but it was like she was relieved to be there to get the help she so desperately needs. Thanks for your support...any suggestions at all would be a great help to me because this is so new to me. please share your stories so I can learn. thanks again

[katherine]

Oh my...I can certainly understand.

I spend Christmas night in the hospital with my closest friend because she went from a manic episode straight into a depressive episode and then got stuck there. She has gotten so good at hiding her symptoms from me that she had me fooled that she was ok. Then about three or four days before Christmas, I finally noticed what was going on. By then, it was too late. I couldn't convince her to go to the doctor or psycologist. Eventually, things got out of hand and on the 25th, she made her second suicide attempt. (I pray you never have to endure that.)

If I sat here and explained everything it would take forever. I've been living with her for five years, but I've been caring for her for nearly ten. I'm only 24 so it's a lot for me to deal with.

What I'm saying is that I can relate. She claims she wants treatment and that she is willing to get better but she continually goes off her meds, abuses them, or starts doing things she knows only makes her condition worse. When you love someone that much, you want what's best for them at any cost. But what do you do when they refuse to do what you know is right? I've had her committed twice and I don't think the doctor's have helped her once. I'm almost at my wits end.

If nothing else, I can understand your frustration and your desire to hlep. I often catch myself mothering her, but who better to care for someone with this illness than a mother? I have nothing but the utmost respect for you for what you must be enduring and am glad that you seem so determined to get her help. It's not easy and you often wonder whether that person appreciates your effort, but in the long run you have to tell yourself that there are better days coming. So I guess my advice here is reach out to your family and let them help you and her. In the long run, I think your daughter will appreciate all you've done for her.