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!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Seeing Real Change

I must say I do see real change in Caroline since coming back from the RTC. She is much more mature acting, much more quick to calm down if upset, and just much more pleasant to be around. I am grateful. She is stressing me out far less than my younger two right now, who need major discipline. Can you say basic training?
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3 comments:

Accidental Expert said...

I am so happy for you. I long for the day we are able to say this...not yet unfortunately.

Jean
http:accidentalexpert.blogspot.com

P.S. I nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger award on my blog. Hope that's OK.

September 14, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Megan said...

One day hopefully you will be able to say this, though I feel that Caroline will be back to a mess at some point from what I have read of other people's experiences after an RTC stay. It lasts for a while (a year even?) and then their chemistry changes or something happens and they need intervention again.

September 14, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Megan said...

Oh, and yes that's fine about the nomination. What other recognition do I ever get?! Gone are the days of pointing to past accomplishments, now I am pretty much just a blogging mom who never gets the laundry done or the house decluttered.

September 14, 2009 at 9:45 PM

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