Dear Anne
My 19 year old son has been sectioned in a mental hospital. He is being treated for what they now believe is bipolar. I am really scared for him and the rest of the family. We are all feeling pretty scared. Do you know of anyone who has a child with this illness whom I can contact? I could really do with some help. Many thanks. Sue
Dear Sue
I'm sorry for you and your family, but especially for your son. It's particularly difficult for him to deal with partly because something new and difficult is happening to him, partly because he feels out of control in an environment he hasn't chosen, and partly because his mind isn't working the way it used to. But bipolar disorder isn't that uncommon. It affects around 1% of the population. Most people with bipolar do learn to deal well with it and go on to lead pretty normal and fulfilling lives. The website at www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/bipolarmanicdepression/bipolardisorder.aspx has some great, easy to understand information which will go a long way to easing your anxieties. You and your family could talk about this.
T
he Bipolar Organisation could be a good way of getting in contact with other families who have had experience of this condition. You can telephone them on 08456 340 540 or email them via mdf@mdf.org.uk. You could also contact MIND (www.mind.org.uk). Local branches of MIND may have others with bipolar disorder who could be good company for your son when he comes back home.
For what it's worth, when I was working at MIND I met two charming young women. They'd got to know one another at a local bipolar support group. Both had good jobs, friends and the usual interests of girls their age. As young women do, one had a steady boyfriend and one was between boyfriends. They were both great company and to look at them you'd never know they had any problems beyond the usual teen/twentysomething preoccupations. They said it had taken them some time to balance the medication and learn to manage their condition but they were doing a darned fine job of living normal lives. Please bear in mind that a diagnosis only covers one aspect of a person, and that the severity of a condition can vary considerably. Your son is still your son, still your other children's brother, with all the good memories and love that ever existed. Once he's sorted, you'll have that lovely young man back again.
I hope this helps, Sue. Good luck to all of you.
