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!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Found a New Great Psychiatrist

So thankful that we were led to a GREAT new psychiatrist and nurse practitioner at an office very close to our home.  The first visit yesterday was a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Could not be happier with their attitude, availability, willingness to keep her on her present med mix, and the decor of the office.  Yes, the decor.  The other office was so depressing.  This office was decorated with fun and funky colors and accessories that made the visit seem like you were in someone's living room.  Why that struck me as a big plus, I don't know, except that I am personally very sensitive to color.  I crave beautiful colors and the other office was so drab.  We were also given the scoop on which of the adolescent psychiatry inpatient facilities were the best in this greater Denver area.  So glad to get this information.  We have learned that driving an hour to get the best treatment is worth it.

1 comment:

Susan Payton said...

1406achmWell bless your heart you seem to be having a difficult time. Raising children is difficult at best. My honor student very well adjusted was great for so many years, and then the Gulf War and women who he adored and somehow the heart break is all the same for all of us.
Hang in there you are not alone.
Susan
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