Help! I need answers about my 13 yr old daughter!

I've read about bipolar disorder in children and so far haven't found the answers I'm looking for.  We have an appt with a psychiatrist, but you know how long it takes just to get in to see them! 

My step-daughter suffers from anxiety (like her biological mother) and is exhibiting behaviors that go beyond anxiety disorder.  She suffers from extreme paranoia also.  Her mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a while ago, but she refuses to believe that she is. She is on Prozac, like my step-daugher.  We aren't seeing much of a change at all in the 4 weeks that she's been on the Prozac.  In fact, I feel she might be getting worse in some ways.

She doesn't have extreme highs or lows, however.  Can some kids with bipolar have more mild symptoms? She is really low a couple of days and then has a panic attack.  Then miraculously the next couple of days, she's up and almost bouncy.  I'm so confused!  She's been this way for a long time.  The panic attacks only started 4 weeks ago, however.

Please write back!

Fallon, I am the mother to a S who is BP. YES, there is a broad range of symptoms, and countless levels. My S is on the milder side as well. His shifts are not "extreme", but they are evident. He never goes really high, it is more the depression he tends to, but that has also never hit so bad hospitalization is required..."thoughts" of suiside...yes...but they have only ever been thoughts and he comes to us (again...signal for med adjustment). I describe it more like he would implode, before he would explode. Does that make sense? Anyway, my S is 14 1/2, and he was dx when he was 8. What I have seen in the teenage years is that as the hormones begin shifting and changing in him, the closer we have to watch because it plays havoc on him. All in all he is quite stable, but believe me....we have our moments with him were it is clear something is off.

It is great that you are having her properly evaluated. Just work between now and them to stay calm for her. Be her anchor, remind her that while she is unmedicated, for whatever her condition is, she will see and experience the full symptoms, but help is coming and there will be answers. In the meantime, you and her father are here for her, and she is safe. You can only imagine how scary this must feel inside, but for her to hang tough, it won't be long...help is coming. But also set her expectation clearly that when things are straightened out for her, there may be some trial and error with medication until they get it just right. She needs to learn ALL she can about whatever dx comes, and that when the proper meds are found, her life will be full and happy as long as she stays diligent to the dx. Do a simple comparison to diabetes, it seems understandable for a kid this age. It has been for mine since he knew a few diabetics. It helped to think of himself as no different, just that instead of insulin being the chemical off inside, is was some others, and instead of it affecting his blood sugar, it affected his moods. So, as long as he was on his meds, and watchful of the balance - the controls and choices were with him. When the balance goes off, he can feel that some of the choices to how he feels get taken away, and we speak to the pdoc and get his meds adjusted.

Hope that all helps to know you are not alone, and you are doing the right things for you stepchild. LFW

Chriscars/Fallon -- While I am sympathetic to your postings, it is against forum rules to have multiple sign in names. You need to choose one and stick with it, delete the others. There is a third account as well, is there not?

Rule 7. No use of multiple usernames. Please register and use only one username for the forums. Posting under multiple user accounts will result in administrative action (ie. banning).

Thanks,
serafena

No problem. It's great that all three of you find the site useful. It's just easy to get confused...

All bipolars have different levels of highs and lows. There's bipolar I and bipolar II -- it's a spectrum of highs and lows, certainly your daughter's moods could fit on it. Here's a link:
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/symptoms.shtml

And here's one on bipolar in children and adolescents:
www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&Contentid=17591

serafena

Fallon
When your hubby posted in anxiety about "help for his daughter" he had said she was not "quite"13......
I then suggessted that Brenna and my daughter hook up on email or msn ....yahoo
This was because Cait is a teen (older) but very empathetic and I thought it may help Brenna........

It was made clear way back when that Brenna was not old enough to join HW yet

Cait and Brenna have emailed one another but right now Cait is in Quebec.........
I DO wish you all the best in getting her help and finding the right DX for her...........
You will find a way I am sure and support is here as you can see.......

be well
LYN