You are here:
- Home
- Health/Fitness
- Mental Health
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder 2 fallow up
Bipolar Disorder/Bipolar Disorder 2 fallow up
Advertisement
Question
QUESTION: Hi im 12 and i have done ALOT!!! Of research on all types of bipolar disorder (i couldnt sleep for 4 days straight so thats what i did lol) and im 100% sure i have Bipolar Disorder 2 so i told my mom and she denighed it all ik there is no test to tell me if i do or dont have it but i do know i meed to see a therapist so they can rule things out and help me get diagnosed but who can i do that if my mom said no? I rlly need help! Plz! Thxs for ur time :)
ANSWER: Before I can properly advise you, I'll need a little more information; where do you live (state and country is all that's needed don't worry about the city).
So what if it turns out that you're not bipolar after all? Would it be such an awful thing to find out from a mental health professional that you aren't bipolar or experiencing symptoms of another disorder? I think it's important for even young people of your age to actively seek information about whatever subject they find intriguing or even slightly interesting, provided that they start their search from resources that are of an appropriate level and will help form a foundation for future learning by building from the basement and move up from there. I hope that what I'm saying will encourage you to discover that there's more knowledge to obtain beyond just that from books and classes in school, and so many more subjects out there just waiting for your generation to take an interest in them - and perhaps even find your future career path among them.
In any case, once I get the info mentioned in the beginning, I'll do my best to provide a proper answer for you!
Jennifer
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: i live in New York in the usa
ANSWER: Alright, here are a few links that may be helpful to you. The first is an explanation of the applicable law in your state;
MINORS AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE
http://www.nyclu.org/files/publications/nyclu_pub_minors_mental_health.pdf,
And a website with learning resources and other items of interest;
Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
http://www.bpkids.org/learn/resources#state,
Finally, a publication you may wish to print or request a hard copy in the mail that you can share with your mom or dad (or both of them);
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent’s Guide
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-tee
Hopefully this will at least give you a place to start from, please let me know if I can answer anything else or if you need me to clarify any portion. I would also like you to keep me updated about how you're doing and about your progress with this situation!
Jennifer
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi i talked to my mom and she said the first step is to get me into a theripist so we r gunna do that in i think its 9 days away just to keep u updated like u asked
Thank you so much for letting me know - I hope that you and your mom will continue to approach things in a positive manner and communicate with each other honestly and openly. Let me know how things go with seeing a therapist, and of course I'm here to answer questions about anything else that might come up in the future if needed!
Related Articles
- Understand Me, Hold Me, Forgive Me - How Family Members Can Help People With Bipolar Disorder
- Family Members - Helping Your Bipolar Loved One
- Treat Your Bipolar Loved One with Respect - Helping a Family Member with Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder - Get Help Coping with Bipolar Disorder - Find Support for BP
- Teen Advice - Article
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.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.