bipolar child-a friend

[Guest guest]

I know many of you have kids with bipolar disorder, so I'm posting this in hopes

that someone can offer some hope to my friend and her child. Her daughter is 7

and has extremely violent rages. They have had her on different medications,

Abilify, Lithium and something for sleep. Finally, over a week ago, after we've

taken her twice before to be admitted, but was not, she was hospitalized. I took

her there with her mom, to offer support and help, dad had to work. Very sad,

very scary. But, she seemed to stabillize, changed her meds and she was home a

few days later. It was more of a crisis center, than long term. She was

technically Baker Acted. Now, a week later, they are back to square one. It

began with OCD like symptoms, anxiety etc.. and has progressed again the the

violent rages. The drs. say that she is a very extreme case and my friend is

losing hope. She is continuing to see drs. but no one seems to be able to offer

anything else? Any suggestions? This can't be their life! While on the phone,

her daughter tried to stab my friend, choke her and repeatedly hit and threw

things. It is just so awful. I hang up and just cry. Mostly out of

helplessness. She calls me for hours a day, sometimes, just to get through the

day. I would love any suggestions, messages of hope or anything to help them. I

suggested that she call one of the many authors of books about bipolar kids and

just beg them for help. They have spent so much money, they don't have a

savings anymore, I'm sure. Help? Hope? Anything? Thank you.

J

mom to Ben-OCD