About our Daughter

I am mother to four wonderful daughters, ages 17, 19, 21, and 23, and wife to the greatest husband on earth. God has given us a special child to raise one who was diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder at the age of seven, though she showed signs of it from the age of fifteen months. She also has ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder (sensory seeking), Dyslexia, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder-NOS, all typical comorbidities for a bipolar child. In spite of the trials, she enjoys lacrosse, running (finished her first marathon in October of 2014!), and reading and writing her own books. I will share with you the many joys and sorrows we have faced and will face in the future with the hope that you may find better understanding about this mental illness caused by both chemical and structural abnormalities in the brain. I desire that you will be encouraged by this blog if you are also dealing with a bipolar child. Thank you for reading and sharing in our journey.

How Did You Know She Was Bipolar So Young?

I wrote a long explanation of how we came to this bipolar diagnosis in a child so young under my post of March 19th of 2009. If your child or a child you know bears similarities, please seek out a good psychiatrist and don't wait for "things to get better." Often they will simply get worse, and the longer a child is unmedicated, the more damage their brain can accrue. Early diagnoses and treatment are key to providing these children with a chance at a successful life later as a teen and an adult.
Never change, start or stop a medication without the approval of your child's physician!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Do You Have "Soft" Bipolar?

If you are ever wondering whether or not your symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability and impulsiveness, seasonal affective disorder, and severe PMS are more than just regular depression, SAD, PMS or ADHD, you need to read this book:  Why am I Still Depressed? Recognizing and Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar II and Soft Bipolar Disorder, by Dr. Jim Phelps.  This is a must read if you have gone from antidepressant to antidepressant and never feel that great anyway.

2 comments:

Reagan said...

My comment has nothing to do with this particular posting. But I must let you know what an answer to prayer finding your blog has been for me. I've spent the last two hours reading it. My son is in the hospital right now, for the first time in his life. The boy I said I would never leave, I left. Over the past six months, his behavior has paralized us, we are prisoners in this house. These last few days have left me feeling cheated. What has happened to my beautiful son? But just like you've written, the writing has been on the wall for years.... years. Thank you for sharing every detail, down to the meds! I needed this today more than you will ever know! God bless you and your amazing family. I'll be back.

Reagan Lowe

Megan said...

Hi Reagan, I am glad you found this blog and I am sos sorry your son is in the hospital, but that is the right place for him right now. You need a break and he needs help. I understand the sorrow over losing the son you once had. I still mourn the loss of what she could have been. Keep in touch!