Bipolar Disorder/Bi Polar Daughter

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Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 5/27/2010


Question
What is the best approach to speak with a 28 year old daughter who frequently stops taking her medication for two or three days at a time? Our family can almost immediately detect that she has stopped her medication. She has a five year old son. My concern is that he is living a roller coaster life as she chooses to miss doses of her medication.

Answer
Leaf:

The best approach is to come right out and tell her how you feel.  Let her know you can see the difference in her and that it is not good for her son.  Tell her she needs to think of him and that a chaotic living arrangement during his first ten years could cause permanent emotional damage.  Don't address her needs, speak as to how it affects her son.  That is usually the most effective for mothers.

                         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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