I'm Afraid For My Daughter

[franti]

I've just learned in the last week that my 10-year-old daughter has about a 90% chance of being bipolar. She lives with her dad and his fiancé and the fiancé was the one that took her to the psychologist, who in turn referred her to a child psychiatrist. Judging from talking to her for about 45 minutes and then talking with my ex's fiancé about her actions at home, the psychologist came to the conclusion that: 1. She is very depressed and 2. She has a 90% of being bipolar. The latter diagnosis comes from the fact that bipolar disorder runs in my family and since I suffer from BP myself it makes her even more predisposed to it. I'm scared that this is going to label her in school and that she'll have an even worse case than I do. I'm much better now that I am medicated. Which brings me to my next dilemma. I hate to see her being on medication long term at her age. She's just a little peanut, only weighs 69 lbs. What will some of these medications do to her poor little body? My last concern is that maybe she isn't bipolar and maybe she's just depressed because she's been the product of a divorce and she misses her mom. Her dad used my bipolar to sort of turn the kids against me. Things are better between us now and we are all civil, but in the beginning I was a mess. I was hospitalized twice in three months and these are the things the kids remember. I guess all I'm looking for is an ear and some advise from anyone who's been through something similar.

[pope]

Hello there, I’m new to the forums, but not new to most of the scenarios posted on here. I'm really sorry to hear about your break up. My parents broke up not to long ago after 18 years of being together. At first I was rather thrilled because I never really liked my dad. He was abusive to my mother and always ignored me. All he really cared about was his Television and never really paid any attention to his family, but he thought we were ungrateful. But in the process of moving, I started to cry because we had a home together, the 3 of it and then us was gone in a few days. Sometimes when my mom calls my dad I grab things and throw them. I tend to get violent because I'm tired of them playing games with each other. I don't think I’m Bipolar, but something’s get me mad faster then others and my more primal instincts lash out. I believe I’m healthy for the most part. I get the cold maybe once a year no real problems with anything else. I don't believe in taking any sort of medication or drugs. I've been drug free (of any kind) all my life and I feel 100%. But to be honest with you, if I were in you're position I would not put your little girl on medication. She's more than likely hurting from what she saw. I know I’m still hurting for all the troubles and hardship my father put me and my mother through and I’m 17. I should be stronger emotionally, but I’m not. Not everyone is strong we're all different and there better ways and better solutions out there then drugs. Say no to any drugs. The only real responsibility for a doctor is a financial responsibility.
Think about you're little girl's health. Tell her you love her. Be there for her no matter what. Nobody is here for me. I had todo everything alone. I had a job to support my mom and me, I got us a brand new home, I pay the bills and yes I'm 17. Now my grand parents are helping us out (thank the lord) but still my soul feels weighed down and hurt.

[aeunjoo]

I think that all other concerns should be set aside: "will she be labeled in school" and some other things that you said, as her mental health is the MOST important thing, and is the main priority of this situation. i am bipolar myself and i know what it is like being untreated for so many years. if she is in fact bipolar, and she is untreated she may go down the same path that i went down which is failing in school, doing drugs(self-medication), and basically went insane inside my mind. She needs to be treated as fast as possible, and try to teach her that there is nothing wrong with her because she may feel depressed that she is "different' from the other kids.
She is only 10 years old and a discovery like bipolar disorder at a young age, well, I would consider that a miracle because she will get herself medicated and treated and skip the horrible steps that I went through before I was discovered to be bipolar. Just keep this in mind as I said before, her mental health is the most important and biggest priority here. I am not a parent so I can’t relate to your problems but I can give you first hand advice. And you said yourself that you are bipolar so you can even understand what it is like being untreated. Do you really want your daughter to go through that mental anguish and suffering?