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Bipolar Disorder/27 year old son just diagnosed with bi-polar

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Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 8/12/2008


Question
How in the world can we help him when he 27.  We are having a very difficult time.  It scares us as much as it scares him.  He doesn't want us to "butt in" but we feel there are times we have to intervene for his safety

Answer
Hi Ellen:

Unfortunately, considering your son's age, there is not a whole lot of options available to you in the way of helping.  The best thing you can do is be there as moral support, be willing to listen and let him know he isn't alone.  If safety does become an issue, your only option, other than getting him to seek help on his own, is to try and get him into a hospital involuntarily.  This will require showing he is a danger to himself or others and will end up in a three-day stay.  This is often all it takes to get through a crises.

                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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