Depression Understood Forums

Hello. Let me introduce myself. I am a mom of a beautiful girl with bipolar who has two beautiful children. I am desperately looking for ways I can help her manage the vicious cycle of this illness.

Welcome to the forums Grandma!

Hello Grandma:

I am 74 years old and I only have one daughter and since she is in her 48th. year and no children, it looks like I won't be a grandfather. I live up here in Canada where hockey seems to be King. A long time ago, we had a player on our team in Toronto whose name was Norm Ullman. He used to tell his younger team mates not to get too high or too low emotionally.

I know that is good advice but finding out how to do it is something else. There is a saying that goes something like this. If you act in a certain way eventually you will become that way. Suggest this advice to your grand daughter and see if it does any good. Hats off to you for having the courage to come in here and ask for help.

Thank you. It's actually my daughter who has the bipolar. She is trying to overcome the ups and downs but inevitably the keep happening. So far it doesn't appear that drug therapy is working. As a parent. It is hard to watch and not be able to fix it. It's also hard to watch the grand kids grow up in that environment. I feel worried and somewhat helpless.

Grandma wrote:Thank you. It's actually my daughter who has the bipolar.

From Myself

Please accept my apology. I meant to say your daughter, not your grand daughter.

From Grandma

She is trying to overcome the ups and downs but inevitably the keep happening. So far it doesn't appear that drug therapy is working. As a parent. It is hard to watch and not be able to fix it. It's also hard to watch the grand kids grow up in that environment. I feel worried and somewhat helpless.

Your above comments are right on the money.

I hope I am not being too technical here, but your daughter has achievements on her mind that she wants to be successful at. Whether she is telling you or others about these achievements I can only guess. However, when she thinks that she is on her way to being successful at these achievements she is "up" and when it all falls apart and it all looks hopeless, she is "down."

Do your best to find out what those achievements are and if possible help her to become successful at them. Or let her know that the achievements are beyond her reach at the present time and she will either have to be patient or, increase her knowledge about the achievements in question to give her a better chance to succeed in the future.

I hope the above advice will give you a chance to help your darling daughter and by example, --- her children also.

Hi Grandma, strong hugs to you. Yes, as a parent we feel so much pain and emotion when it is our child. I understand your feelings of sadness and also anxiety over how to help best.
I would suggest educating yourself as much as possible on the subject. Sometimes information can give you new ideas as to how to cope and help someone else. The unknown is so terrifying.

This site is a great place to share your feelings and receive the support you need. You might wish to check out our chat room as well. Chat is another resource here that allows the individual an opportunity to express his/her concerns and receive some instant feedback.

Take care, and thinking of you