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Bipolar Disorder/I desperately need help for my son
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Question
How can I go about getting help for my son who has been diagnosed with bipolar and refuses to take treatment. I am at my wits end and because he is now an adult I was told that it is all up to him to make the decisions. If he hurt somebody he will be quickly placed in prison, but as his mother I cannot seek help for him. Please somebody, by the grace of god, I need to know how he can be forced to accept help.
Sadly, there really is no way for you to force him to get help for his condition and the symptoms that it can bring when a person with bipolar disorder is not being treated with the appropriate medication(s) as determined by a licensed mental health specialist.
What I am going to suggest to you is probably going to seem harsh, but because of your situation, it should be something you need to consider as a possible option. The only person you can control the actions of, is you, and this is also true for your son and his being the only one who can make the decisions in his own life. What may help, would be to set up a time to talk to your son about what you are willing to do and what you will not be able to do for him as long as he is continuing to not be medicated. An example would be telling him that you cannot continue to financially support him and "solve" anything his poor choices have created as problems for him financially. Often just the possible loss of financial assistance is enough to prompt a change for the better, in your case, beginning medication treatment for bipolar. You should of course make sure that he knows you are willing to be there for him, but that there will have to be changes if he continues to live without the appropriate treatment for his illness, which affects everyone around him despite what he may think. Please let me know if there is anything you want me to clarify or if there are other things you feel need to be factored in.
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Answers by Expert:
Jennifer
Expertise
I am available to answer questions of a general nature about bipolar disorder, provide online resources that address bipolar disorder in a more in-depth manner and sources to serve as a starting point for those looking for substantial information on the illness from a healthcare professional approach. I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist, my background is based in personal experience and extensive reading in my own process of understanding my diagnosis. I can also take questions that deal with the social issues surrounding bipolar disorder such as relationships; coping for family, friends, and the patient; marriage, choosing to start a family and related. Answers to questions of a legal nature will provide general information but anyone with a serious legal problem should consult an attorney licensed to practice in their jurisdiction.
Experience
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type II in 2000; as a SSI beneficiary, have experience and knowledge of the limitations and processes involved with the program; I understand the moods, the feelings, the worries, the doubts, and a lot more that there's not enough room to express - from the personal experiences of being bipolar. I have first-hand experience with the challenges of returning to college following hospitalizations and various combinations of medications that were tried before my doctor and I finally arrived at the most effective medication program for my treatment. My family and I have learned so much about each other in the process of dealing with the highs and lows that followed my diagnosis. I've had relationships with someone who also is bipolar and someone that is not - romantic relationships are no easier on either side! I feel that many of the ideas and beliefs that people have regarding bipolar disorder and those who have the condition promote the continuation of social stigmas associated with mental illness in general, and after learning from others with bipolar disorder, hope to guide others who may be trying to navigate the government health care system,& share information on other possible means of obtaining assistance with the cost of medications and/or mental health services and limited financial assistance programs for meeting basic living expenses for qualified individuals, dealing with problems from or with family & loved ones, co-occurring substance abuse problems, medications and side-effects (and when it feels like nothing will work, or why it's not helping the situation to ask whether or not a patient has taken their 'meds' when they seem hostile or moody to those around them).
Education/Credentials
I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts and will earn my J.D. upon completion of the Spring 2011 term after which I will be preparing to take the multi-state bar exam.
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