Help...

[~justme~]

Not sure where to post this.... My daughter and I both suffer with bipolar. She is 13. She takes meds. Currently abilify 5mg and Zoloft 50mg Xanax .25 as needed... I am struggling recently with her understanding the importance of taking her meds. She is starting to fight me over having to take her meds and saying its her body. Her moods are changing a little more as of yesterday morning she has been in the up and down. Moods swings at there worse today. She is getting ready for exams this week and being very negative. Even with her disorders, she started this school year in the 7th grade and after 9 weeks they moved her to the 8th grade because she was doing so well. I am not sure what to do and with my mood swings I'm not sure how to explain things to her. I know the importance of the meds but don't know how to get her to understand. She has been through so much in her life. We were reunited in may of this year after her father kept her from me for 6 years. She was told alot of hateful things like I don't want her and bever did and for 6 years I was on a search for her and to get her back and since then her father has lost rights to her. While with her father she was molested by 2 different people and was self harming. All of which her father knew nothing about ( lack of paying attention to her) and within her first month with me I found all of this out from her. She was neglected and discouraged for the years she was away from me. I need help!! Please any suggestions....

[Ravens Lady]

Hey Justme,

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter went through so much.

Being young can be difficult when dealing with such heavy burdens and then anxiety or depression in conjunction with that, but I do think that the future can be brighter.

Perhaps you can do your best to encourage her to press on a persevere and invest into her future with education and hobbies and interests.  I think sometimes when tragedy strikes, one of the best ways to heal from that is "outletting" those feelings and tensions into things like art or hobbies.  This may or may not be her personality, but I often see people find hope and healing through expressing themselves through art (whether that be painting, wriring, performing, music.. ect)

And although I know its difficult for you, if you resolve to make the most of your own situation, perhaps she will emulate that herself.   

Also, her past stressful events could be contributing to her mood swings, but I also think having mood swings can be a normal phase for teenagers, so I think its okay to give her a little freedom to work some things out as she grows. (just my own personal opinion)

Does she or has she seen a therapist to work through some of her past experiences? 

[~justme~]

Yes she is in some extensive therapy. Thank u for your reply. I am willing to try anything at this point. Thank u so much.