Bipolar Disorder/custody in bipolar

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Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 1/18/2008


Question
My wife has not been diagnosed and would refuse to even go to a doctor if asked.How hard is it to win custody if the mother has been primary care giver to our 3 year old in a divorce. She is a yeller and I know she talks bad about me when i am not around.She does love our child but I do too

Answer
Hi James:

While this is a legal question rather than a mental health one, I can tell you that the only way custody would be taken from a mother is if there was proof she was unfit.  Mental health diagnosis are not legal reasons to lose custody.
                       Joyce A. Anthony

Bipolar Disorder

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Joyce A. Anthony

Expertise

I can answer questions dealing with bipolar disorder in a parent, yourself or your child. I can give suggestions and insight into what can be expected of many medications for bipolar disorder. My most extensive knowledge is in children with bipolar disorder. Here I can give advice on dealing with daily events, schools, medication and professionals.

Experience

I am the daughter of a bipolar/schizophrenic parent, am bipolar myself and am raising a bipolar child. I have a background in Psychology from Gannon University, have run several parenting classes for those parenting bipolar children and have had extensive experience with medications, the school system, homeschooling a special needs child, dealing with counselors, doctors and other professionals in the mental health field. I write for a bipolar website, with the focus on educating the child with bipolar disorder on his/her illness.

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