OT.....Teenage Bi Polar disorder

I know this is off topic.  Does anyone know of any support groups in the Long Beach area for parents of bi polar children.  My 15 year old daughter had another "melt down" last night, and will probably be hospitalized tonight.  I am at my wits end and not sure what I am going to do next


Linda

Linda,
Have you tried Long Beach Child and Family Center?  I have some fellow therapist in the Long Beach area and will ask around about a parent group.  Sorry to hear about your daughter.  Is she under the care of a psychiatrist? Therapist? 

Lola

Hi Lynda,
I do not know of any, but I just wanted to say hang in there and I will be praying for you.

Linda, So sorry to hear this, I know personally how hard it is, our next door neighbor (she is 20) Is severely Bi-Polar and so is my niece, that did live with us for a short time.. It is so hard on the families. I hope you find something in your area. I am sure there has to be something. Call you local county mental health services they might be of help.

HUGS
JOY

Linda,
If she might go into the hospital, can you not ask the doctors there... or if you have insurance call and see where you can go  so some one can  talk to her... And what about the doctor who said she was bi-polar.  I remember when my daughters were 15 oh yuck..... Hope today does go better.

Cate 48

Morning,

I know it has to be hard.  I am bi-polar and have been my entire life.  I am very open about it, and have never been shy about sharing what it is like.  I can so relate to what she is going through and there are days that I give thanks to my dad for seeing me through it all as a teenager.  It takes alot of patience on your part.  Know that she is not in control of what is going on, it's a chemical balance that makes her react.  Being a teenager is hard enough, but being a teenager with bi-polar disorder is worse.  Now a days there are medications that can help her, I went through it without meds, until 85.  If I don't take my Prozac, well. some other woman shows up that no one likes very much, not even me.

Please feel free to PM me anytime and I will be glad to give you more insight.  I really hope that you find what you are looking for out there.  I don't know anything down there in LB

Giving you a big ol hug, Diane

Hi Diane,

Just wanted to give you *hugs* I'm also bipolar, diagnosed in 2005 three weeks before my wedding. I was wondering if you knew of any groups in the IE for support? I go to Kaiser, but I have a certain amount of visits per year and was looking for something more personable and not so... well, clinical...

With Kaiser you can have all the visits you need if you are diagnosed with Bipolar. You see a psychiatrist and a counselor. With my counselor it is far from clinical. So dont be afraid to have a first visit and see what they say about your insurance. I can go monthly to my counselor and to my psychiatrist as they see necessary.

Thanks Nikki, I also have Kaiser. I am looking to change counselors, some are better than others, I'm sure. They think I need to see a counselor more than once a month so they are looking at putting me into something called the "Intensive Outpatient Program".

Thanks for the info, **big hugs**

Dear Linda,

I am so sorry to hear that your daughter is having such a tough time right now.  It has to be so hard for you both.  Sending you good thoughts and prayers. 

~Naomi