Bipolar Please tell me about bi-polar?

[Notsowild]

I wrote a thread about my daughter and I having similar traumas and symptoms. I'm sure she had PTS after the accident where mine became a disorder.

Well... She seems to be going through a manic stage right now. She's had an episode years ago too. Anyways she got really angry and threatening with me 2 nights ago. She smashed a picture all over the floor. Then threatened to beat me up and burn the house down. She wanted to call the cops on me. I said I'm the only calm and rational one here.

But as I think about it now I should have involved the police. They could have taken her for assessment at the hospital. Now I'm scared for my 3 granddaughters. She hardly sleeps and is always super hyper.

Is this bi-polar? Can it come and go like that? I've been thinking about taking her to my psychiatrist but that might make her angrier. And she hates the side effects of meds.
Any help or suggestions would be so appreciated.

 

[Friday]

It could be bipolar, PTSD, ADHD, substance abuse, anger management, GAD, PPD or PPpsychosis, a whole bunch of other things... Or nothing at all. Neurotypical people go through bad stretches, too.

So many disorders share symptomology there is no way to diagnose from afar.

In general, through, whether it's a disorder or a bad stretch... The one thing they all have in common is that you can't force someone to get help. They have to want help. They have to want things to be different. Because no matter the disorder (or not) changing yourself is a hard road to walk. The unwilling won't.

 

[Notsowild]

Thanks. I was told if she became violent again to call 911 and they'll take her to the hospital where she would be evaluated for 24 hours. It's a hard thing to do to your child though. But I have to think about my granddaughters.

 

[Notsowild]

Can someone tell me about symptoms of bi-polar? Can they come and go? It's been scary for all of us. At work I'm just stressed out all day.

 

[joeylittle]

That's the best course of action. Because whatever she's going through - you aren't the person best equipped to help her. I'm sure that's hard to accept, but it's true.

Uncharacteristic behavior is a symptom, violent action is a symptom, insomnia is a symptom, and hyper-active expression is a symptom.

The most useful thing you could have in hand would be a list of behavior changes/potential symptoms that you've noted, ideally with dates, for the last 2 months. If you have to give a history on her to anyone in a psych department, both you and they will find that kind of documentation useful.

And don't be afraid to call 911 if it's warranted.

 

[Recovery4Me]

Anyways she got really angry and threatening with me 2 nights ago. She smashed a picture all over the floor. Then threatened to beat me up and burn the house down.

Forgive me please, but this was something that I use to do long ago was to inform in such matters.:hug:

Please consider that you have been violated within the domestic violence wheel in an abusive situation.
What you can change is to read up on-line or call to understand how to implement a safety program within your home to protect yourself and your grandchildren from possible harm should she act out again. You can not 'fix' her, it is as Joey offered.

National 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-363-9010 in Canada
http://kimberlychapman.com/abuse/canada_abuse.html

 

[joeylittle]

Can someone tell me about symptoms of bi-polar? Can they come and go?

Yes, they can appear to come and go. There are five types of bi-polar, and they all have different symptom criteria; while they are all related, it's not necessarily what you might think when you think "manic depressive".

I'd really advise you to not try and diagnose her. First, it's hard to do, and second, you might actually end up missing other important bits of information because they don't conform to your suspicion that she might be on the bi-polar spectrum. It would be amazing if she could have a moment of clarity and see that she could use some help - and you can try and suggest she get some help - but otherwise, there's not a lot you can do (in my opinion) except for track symptoms and wait.

This site has a good overview on this disorder: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

 

[Cherry_Bluebell]

1st of all, the number one thing here is she's violent. I suggest you get professional outside help for this from a domestic violence charity and the police. Then I would advise you to try to get her the help, because with domestic violence - it will only get worst and as a victim (you are a victim by the way) you can fall into the trap of trying to save your daughter. Only she can change herself and accept help and I don't believe you could do that and you need professional outside help

 

[StarChild]

Anyways she got really angry and threatening with me 2 nights ago. She smashed a picture all over the floor. Then threatened to beat me up and burn the house down.

While this sounds drastic / concerning, is it possible for you, to tell us, what happened before she got really angry. In other words, what led to this escalation?

 

[Notsowild]

Well... She has a new bf which she didn't need right now ( long story ). I had just come back from a very triggering therapy session. She knew I was quite distraught. I stayed in my room for hours. When I came out I saw she had given her new bed to the bf and was sleeping on the floor. She says"oh he doesn't have a good bed and its none if my business". She's known this guy a month . I was mad but calm and rational. She just flew into a rage