Bipolar Mysteries and Born Schizophrenic

[C.Ann]

Sometimes, no matter how devoted a family is or how knowledgeable they are institutionalization can sometimes be the only option. I know you mean well but unless you've lived with a full blown mentally ill full grown adult who is running around in a insomnia induced psychotic state while everyone in the house is vulnerable and sleeping you can't imagine the dangers present. It would be nice to think that love alone would give families all they need to handle these illnesses, but it isn't, it's not true with mental illness and it's not true with physical illness. Just like the ill are limited by their own bodies, so are the caregivers. The love of a parent has no limit, but a parent's capacity to offer appropriate care can be, in severe cases, limited.

A teenager is still a child in an adult body. I don't want to veer into a talk about adults but the line is very close. My 12 year old DS is already taller than I am and could easily overpower me, but he is still plainly a child. My point was not intended to stir things up. If you had seen the Discovery Health shows you would have seen the anguish these parents live with over the knowledge that children do grow to be adult size. The thought of a family member reading though this who was forced to make such a decision is what prompted my post, not my desire to put anyone out and not to go off topic. Rather my point was to bring in some gentility to what could be a painful idea to read.

Yes - I saw that show - and I agree with the things you have posted above..

It's sad for everyone..

 

[kirstenb1]

Thought i'd jump in here. My 10 year old daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, ptsd, reactive attatchment disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, and OCD, and anxiety disorder, and disassociative identity disorder. My daughter has been thru alot in her 10 years, she was abandoned by her birth mother when dad was overseas serving in the army, she was 2 years old at the time. Her birth mom also has schizophrenia, and bipolar.

She has been hospitalized 2 times so far, because the voices are telling her to make "shanks" homemade weapons, and to kill her family with them. I have to do daily bedroom checks, under her mattress, in her desk, etc,to make sure there is nothing in there. I have to have door alarms on her bedroom door so I know when she comes out of her room in the middle of the night.

She has her ups and downs, and is on many many meds.

I'm very sorry. With so many co-morbid dx's it must be very hard to find the right meds/dosages. You must feel like you live on "high alert" 24/7.

 

[Mommy2three]

I'm very sorry. With so many co-morbid dx's it must be very hard to find the right meds/dosages. You must feel like you live on "high alert" 24/7.

Yes, it seems like its a never ending journey trying to find the right medications. She can be on a medication for a while that seems to work, and then it stops working, so then we have to find other medications. Her doctor just today added a medication to help her sleep, as she hasnt been getting much sleep lately. She is on 2 antipsychotic meds right now to try to help control the "voices" that she hears, as well as mood medications, and meds for ADHD. She is 10 and was diagnosed with adhd, bipolar, schizophrenia, reactive attatchment disorder, opposotional defiance disorder, OCD, anxiety disorder, and ptsd all at the early age of 6 years old.

And on top of her, my 8 year old son is autistic, and is a daily challenge.
And then there is my 4 year old daughter, who is a challenge, but in a different way..she has been tested for ADHD, but it is not that, she has very superior intellegiance, is what the psychologist said, with an IQ of 150, and she tests at a 12 year child.

 

[minkydog]

Sometimes, no matter how devoted a family is or how knowledgeable they are institutionalization can sometimes be the only option. I know you mean well but unless you've lived with a full blown mentally ill full grown adult who is running around in a insomnia induced psychotic state while everyone in the house is vulnerable and sleeping you can't imagine the dangers present. It would be nice to think that love alone would give families all they need to handle these illnesses, but it isn't, it's not true with mental illness and it's not true with physical illness. Just like the ill are limited by their own bodies, so are the caregivers. The love of a parent has no limit, but a parent's capacity to offer appropriate care can be, in severe cases, limited.

I just wanted to say this was a great response! Thank you for your understanding. This is obviously a subject you have given much thought and attention to.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I see your point.

I am just thankful people open their homes to the mentally ill. I can't even imagine that.

My cousin is in a group home for almost a yr now. He is about almost 40 and finally has gotten help this late in life. Without that person who takes in the mentally ill he would be on the streets or much worse. He has never been helped by meds but then again his family ignored his illness. Although I would consider him "severe" as he started with symptoms as a middle schooler.

My MIL is schizophrenic and is doing OK. She is slipping as of recently. She has been on Zyprexa since it came out, which is a very long time. I knew this day would come when her med begins to fail her. Or it could be all the stress of her kids getting to her. Financially there are worries and she worries.

She was able to have a huge chunk of successful yrs with family on that med. I am grateful for the people that made it.

My mom was on Zyprexa for a long time too. She had a lot of episodes with it. I totally understand that the stress gets them sometimes. We got to the point that we wouldnt tell her anything that we knew would make her upset. I'm hoping that the medication shes on now (don't know the name)lets her have a lot of successful years, because shes lost alot. I guess my point is that it takes so long for them to find a med that works for them.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I saw Born Schizophrenic and was absolutely glued to the TV. I applaud the parents for sharing their story so frankly. I appreciated their realistic attitude, that there is no miracle cure here, and Jani has a lifelong struggle and will never be normal. They weren't sugar-coating anything about how difficult Jani is, and how they feared her being violent against the younger brother.

If the parents ever write a book, I would love to read it.