Does anyone have a parent with bi-polar disorder?

Or mental problems? If you do, how do you deal with it? Do they take medication and what kind? I really need some serious answers please.

Answers:
You need to have a trained professional to help you deal with this. I was raised by a parent with this disorder who would not consistently take her meds, and here I am at 45 years old still trying to undo the damage from my childhood. You need some therapy and good medical advice. You can't help your parent, but you can help yourself! Good luck and God bless you.

I am bi-polar and the only way to control it is with medication. You can only get the medication from a regular Dr or a psychiatrist. With meds one can lead a comfortable and normal life.
Personally, I have Bi-Polar Disorder.. my Mother suffers of depression and I think some type of PTSD (stress disorder), anxiety, I think, actually. My Uncle has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and schizophrenia and my Dad has an anger problem. And all this is just off the top of my head. Mom takes Xanax among other things.. it seems to help. I've learned to deal with it now that I'm older and I get along better with both of my parents.. then again, they got a divorce, and Mom moved out. It's a hard thing to deal with, especially for younger people.. but I think it affects adults just as much. If they're not seeking help and you feel that your parent is out of control, you should definitely talk to them about getting help and looking into different options. (such as meds, but don't push it too much yet if they've never been on them) I wish you all the best! Be strong.
I work within the mental health field with people who have bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Lithium is the most commonly prescribed drug for bipolar, but it also depends on the type of bipolar ( I or II ). People who regularly take their meds and attend therapy can have very "normal" lives. As for the family members of the person with the disorder it is important to learn as much information about the disorder as possible and find a support network of people who can relate to your situation. If your parent is being seen by a therapist then the clinic should have information about family support services in your area.
I'd say you probably need a support group of some kind. My mother was mentally ill for as long as I can remember. My childhood was a nightmare to say the least. When I grew up she got worse, really mean verbally, because she couldn't hit me anymore. I finally had to break the ties for my children's sake, because she was starting to be verbally abusive to them. I'd say with some outside help, and your parent/s admitting they're ill, taking medication you've got a good chance to have a functional, happy relationship. God bless you, and yours.
I'm not the child but the parent with bipolar disorder. I take medication and get counselling. But it's very important for the family to read everything they can about it and to not be afraid to talk about it to the parent. The worst thing for me is when everyone quietly goes about the house like they're afraid if they say something to me, I'll break or something. The family also (and this is very important) need someone with psychological background to talk to. It's a disorder that's hard on the whole family. But your parent needs you, she/he doesn't need to feel isolated. Love can get you through a lot of things. Sometimes if the parent is just having a bad time, take some time off and go spend a few days with a friend or family member but don't give up on the parent. I know from experience I feel a lot of guilt when I have a bad episode and make my family feel bad. Much, Much, Luck to You! There are many great web sites on bipolar disorder.
My mother has depression and is on medication. It usually works, but sometimes she has episodes.the important thing to remember as their child (I know this is hard for me :) ) is that you need to remember to take time off from your busy life and let your mother/father know they are loved and appreciated. Little gestures mean a lot.

I'm not going to share the name of the medication so you don't take it as a recommendation. There are so many factors to decide which medication is right for which person, and there are so many out there. If you feel that your mother/father should be on medication, either talk to them or talk to her doctor. Give him/her specific examples of why you think an anti-depressant could benefit your parent, and you can ask that the doctor speak to them, but ultimately it is your parent's choice.



Best of luck.
Growing up my mom was/ is schizophrenic. The early years were really tough. I spent a lot of time in my room reading or drawing. There were the bad times but also a lot of good times mixed in also. The thing to remember is that your mom cannot help her behavior at times and in her healthy state of mind the last thing she would want to do is hurt you. The early years the meds my mom took really drugged her up and she slept a lot. Now, for several years she has been stable and is a very interesting and funny person that I enjoy spending time with.

To add (just in time for my kids) I have been battling bipolar. I still have not found the right medicine combo, but not giving up on finding it. I have no greater desire than to stabilize and move on. I hate how it not only handicaps me but my whole family. I often feel guilty, even though I can't help it.

In my family we have set up a plan; when I'm having a bad time I tell everyone I need some time and I go to my room and either read or surf the net. Everyone knows I want to be with them but they give me my space. Communication has been the greatest tool and me keeping on my meds.

If you don't know much about bipolar you can find a ton of info. about the illness and the possible medications that can treat it on www.about.com

Best of luck, I know it's a rotten (to say the least) time, but hang in there!
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