It's Really Difficult Being A Manic Teen = [

[Teashop]

I have sever mood swings. None of my friends are aware that I have bi-polar. I found when I was 15 years old and I am about to turn 18 on December 27th. I am taking Lithium and it works for maybe a few days, and even with my taking it regularly, it stops working and I feel very depressed, self contious, and lonely. What do I do? I don't even like being alive anymore.

[Crystlas]

Hello there.  The first thing about you post that disturbed me is his ADHD diagnosis.  Majority, if not all children with bipolar disorder get diagnosed ADD or ADHD first.  How the doctors/psychiatrists discover that the child is bipolar is because they do not respond to ADD/ADHD medications and do respond to bipolar medications.  Most GOOD psychiatrists get a clue from there and properly diagnose the child.   The symptoms you describe are bipolar.  I know.  First of all I am a social worker.  Second of all I am a crazy research buff and want to continue my studies in the field of mental health when I go back to school for my LPC.  Also, my fiance is ADD and I am bipolar.  Therefore, I have a bit of knowledge to share with you and would like to help you with your son.  As far as your son minipulating the psychiatrists and the counselors, you can intervene.  He is a minor.  I would suggest you keep a journal or log for his behavior.  Every day, make observations about how he is behaving and write it down.  You said he goes from hyper (mania) to dark and sad (depression) in a short period of time?  That is a rapid cycler.  I have that too, along with mixed state, which is where I feel both mania and depression at the same time.  Anyhow, I would also recommend that you get your child into a mental hospital ASAP.  He needs 24 hour care and he needs to be evaluated.  I went this past January myself and finally got my proper diagnosis and the correct medications.  Before that I did not have a very good psychiatrist and the wrong medications she put me on caused suicidal ideations and I tried to take my own life.  Learn from my experience.  I now have a great psychiatric nurse practitioner that handles my type of BP (Bipolar I, rapid cycling, mixed state) which happens to be the hardest to treat.  However, due to the wonderful hospital I went to, I got the evaluation I needed and the right meds.  Now, fianally, I am living a more stable life!  It is wonderful.  Don't you want the same for your son?  You do not want a doctor that does not correctly diagnose him to give him the wrong medications and cause him to become suicidal.  The suicide rate among teenagers with mood disorders is extremely high.  Do you want to lose your son to suicide?  He is cutting on himself and making death threats, that is a clue right there.  PLEASE get your son into a hospital ASAP.  Another individual on this forum recommended I speak with you regarding the fact that you wish to wait until school is out.  That might be too late and you do not want to leave him in there over the summer.  He needs a week or a week and a half of close observation.  I was taken off all the **** that my doc pumped me full of, except my Lithium because it works so well for me.  Now I am on two, yes only two meds and it is great.  The hospital doctor put me on Wellbutrin for my depression and Lithium for my mania.  So far, so good.  I hope that my personal experience helps you to decided what is best for your son, hospitilization.  Don't you want him to get the help he needs so he can be on the right medications and enjoy his summer?  Here are some websites to read about bipolar disorder.  Good luck.

www.nami.org

www.bipolarhelpcenter.com

www.moodswing.org

[JillthePill77]

I've just read about  and I'd agree with DLA.  I think the easiest way to help (and it truly is help) your son get placement into a mental hospital is to call 911 right away when something drastic happens.  They make it much easier depending on your finances.
Keep me posted and let me know if I can help. When I was at my worst I used to wish that someone would help me find a mental hospital; and I had great docs.

Jill

[DLA]

Your son needs to be in a mental hospital where they can evaluate him 24hrs a day.  Would think with the death threats the drs would order it.  In there they can dx him and get him on meds that will stabilize his condition.  Mental hospitals are not like ppl always think they are.  Check one out and see if you aren't impressed by the way the patients are handled there.  It's completely different than just 10-20 years ago.  Different frame of mind all the way around.

None of us on here can dx him, but he does sounds very bp.  

Am praying for you, him, and the family.  Know this has to be horrific to see your child go through, absolutely heart breaking for both of you.  You are a terrific mom!  Hang in there and we'll be here any time you need us.

Dac

[marsha_ann]

My son will be 13 this weekend.  I've been struggling with his behaviors since he was 4. After the 'terrible twos', each year just got worse. Back when he was 6, I was told he was ADHD, ODD, & IED.  (I never believed the ADHD diagnosis)  Six years later, a psychologist siad that he was not ADHD nor ADD.  Now after going through puberty, my son's behaviors are getting worse.  He did cut his arm once (that I know of) about a month ago (he confided in my mother, but I'm not suppose to know).  We've been to several doctors & counselors.  He's good at manipulating & telling them what they want to hear (to make me sound like a crazy mom).  But he does lose his temper sometimes, and they see how he can be. He's on probation right now (18 mths), and has another year to go. He's in court ordered Anger Management, but it's not helping.  He's had 9 referrals at school since Sept 07, and only has one more chance. If he gets into trouble one more time, he will be expelled.  Just last week, we found out that he made a death threat on my brother-in-law's family.  He threatened to murder the whole family.  That upset everyone (but him), even the couselors.  I fear that his verbal aggression might become physical again (he was physical when he was 4-7 yrs old).  I also have a 3 yr old, and we fear for his safety.  

My son has major mood swings, cries for no reason sometimes, is always angry (around me), yells a lot, is very defiant, doesnt have many friends (most kids at school think he's weird or a freak), & his grades have dropped.  At times, he is hyper ... but it's the annoying giddy/silly way.  He got like that when he was suspended for 3 days, and I couldnt figure out why he was hyper instead of upset/sad (like most kids would be if they were suspended & grounded).  When he's like that, he talks a lot & fast (changing subjects quickly).  
He also has trouble falling asleep at night.  I make him go to bed at 9pm (on school nights), but he'll lay there until midnight or after before falling asleep sometimes.  
He also likes to dress in the Gothic style (we wont allow it to get real bad since I buy his clothes).  He has cut a thumb hole in all of his long sleeve shirts, to make it look similar to fingerless gloves.  He wears a lot of black & other darker colors to school, but will wear lighter things on the weekends at home.  He wants people to know he's a Christian too...so I've bought him cross necklaces & religious shirts.  But he questions the Bible (because 'man' wrote it).  He's very confused about religious things.  One night when he was really upset, he said that 'heaven isnt much better than hell'.  I think he's just scared to spend eternity anywhere.  

Does any of this sound familiar ??  I'm trying to find a doctor right now who'll tell me if he's bipolar or not (we think he is).  His current doctor is 'beating around the bush', and wants to try other meds (which arent working).  So, I'm trying to set an appt with another doctor (but they havent returned my call yet).  

Stressed out mom,
Marsha

[TeriKB]

I am the mom of a 13 year old teen that we just got diagnosed with bipolar II. That is bipolar with a lot of the same behaviors and feelings you are expressing. I am so lucky he did talk to me. I saw depression in him 6 months before and we started dealing with it-- but it didnt get better. We had talked about cutting and he was so adament that he wouldnt do that-- I didnt check and he had started to for a brief time and like the above post-- the hoodies covered it. I thought the cat scratched him. anyway-- he was saying all the same things you are-- the moods the happy then not- very impulsive actions. I hate to think what could have  happened to him if we had not caught it. His actions and mood swings would have horrible for him to deal with being 8th grade. So honey- you gotta talk to your mom or dad or aunt or close teacher. Something. You are right- there is something going on and a doctor can figure it out and help you. keep coming back here if you dont get help. Teri

[ChelsMom]

Im so glad you found this website! That means you are looking for help, that means you are looking for answers, that means you want to live, you have hope, that's AWESOME!
I wish being your age was all fun and games, easy, I really do. My daughter, Chelsea, is only a little older than you. She was cutting herself for about a year and I didnt even know it. If I had known, I could have started getting her help a whole year sooner. She always wore the hoodies with the sleeves down, so I didnt see her arms. She is very good at hiding things, she says she doesnt want to make me sad or mad. I would do ANYTHING for her. I think you need to give your parents the chance to be the kind of parents you need them to be, the kind you hope they might be. IF they arent, at least you tried, and dont give up. There are TONS of people out there that only want to believe that their kids are just acting like "Normal teens". Life is hard, and is bad at times, but feeling suicidal even for a little while doesnt really count as the Normal. That only means that you probably do need alittle help, for real. My daughter is trying to hold on, she wants to be happy, normal, learn to drive, have a life....It can be so hard. I had mental troubles when I was you girls age, and I actually still do. I can only try to make the right decisions and let people help when I need help. Dont quit looking for answers. You may have a chemical imbalance in your brain, billions of people do. You could need some medication, dont think its the end of the world if someone says "Your mental". Our brains are REALLY complicated, and they have SO MUCH WORK TO DO!!!! It isnt that unusual for a brain to need alittle help to get the job done. Every school has a counselor, and they have to know about these things or they dont get the job! Go talk to one! They dont bite:) Write again, and remember, one day at a time-it actually does work!
Bless your heart for writing.