My brother James was/Is??? was a Talented director Professor Actor  He travled the world taught at YALE/SMU  CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE  He was once the DEPT CHAIR there  he was fired.  He had a major car wreck 3 years ago with head injuries.  My family is all back east.  Ilive inOHIO.  We do not know if he has major head trama or if he suffers from Paranoid Schzirphria undiagnisiod.  Me and my sis went out there last mothers day.  To try and help him.  He will probally loose his home,  he has no health insurance and his last film he was in was THE MACHINIST WITH CHRISTIAN BALE

He also lives in LA.    My Mom who actually has terminal Cancer just went to see him a month ago.  Unless he is a harm to himself or others there is nothing the mental health community can do!

I and my family are so depressed and sickened over this.  He actually toured the world checking on theaters for the National endowments for the ARTS in WASHINGTONDC too!  I actually wrote pleaded to LA TIMES EXECUTIVE EDITOR MR. ARCHER never heard back from him!

He directed a play in KOREA for CAL STATE in 2003 with rave reviews.  I am sorry for dumping this on you!

xox

Your daughter is still sweet and probally has a VERY HIGH Iq  most ADD ADD HD kids are super duper smart!

They learn different.  Not like A B C  more like A BZ KL FM  oh look outside  The focus differently there brains process different and they are more talented.

The whole phobia thing I can SO IDENTIFY with your kid.  She feels so OUT of control on the outside so she is bringing internal these real or not so real "fears" to life"  anxiety is the driving force.

Give her small things she can conquer like word searches than compliment her often and really really mean it!

Together decide to re decocrate her room for her new "teenage room!  Let her be apart  of the planning!  The painting,  the window treatments,  pick warm soothing colors like light pink  not like zebra loud  like her perfect place to land.  This can be so fun looking in magazines, budgets, going to Home Depot,  picking out samples,  paying attention to being Positive and her creativeness instead of her "ILLNESS"  makes her again be more and more and more creative!  TRUST ME THIS WORKS MOMMA.....I know you are so so so tierd but you will see the light again in your sweet babygirl's face!

Get a desk in there  organzational boxes  it can be a real fun and big project the both of you can do together!  Maybe have a theme of ANGELS!

Please let me know what you think about this.  Talk this with your daughter and tell me what she thinks!

xox

Hi

Yes, my daughter's dr. also told us that Topamax can cause weight loss as a side effect. She said it's mainly used for seizures or migraines, but that it also helps with mood stabilizing. When my daughter first started the Topamax about 2.5 yrs ago, it did cause her to lose weight but at that time, she only weighed maybe 95 lbs. But after starting the Abilify, the Topamax didn't do anything to keep her from putting on weight. Now that she stopped the Abilify, maybe she will start losing weight from it again, but it's only been a month. I agree the Abilify was dangerous in some ways, but it did work to control her major rages and mood swings. Her rages were so bad and scary that I had called the police a few times for fear for my own life as well as hers when she'd try to kill herself or threaten me. But that stopped when on the Abilify. For that reason, it was good, but for other reasons, I think it damaged her in ways. Her whole personality eventually changed. Before the whole bipolar thing started, she was funny, sweet, caring, and spoke as intelligently as an adult. She was tested as intellectually gifted and was in gifted classes, straight A student. She was also in acting since age 4, worked hundreds of jobs with some very famous people. But it just all changed when the bipolar ways starting setting in around age 12 and they started trying so many different drugs on her. They destroyed who she was. It's all so sad, it really is. She also started with different phobia's, especially flying. She used to love flying. Now she also has to take Zanex to go on a plane. 

I did try some different vitimins on her, but she has trouble swallowing them and won't take them anymore. That's why I was interested in those Alert Chews that were mentioned on here by someone else. Have you tried them? I can't seem to find them.

I pray that my daughter will be "normal" again like your daughter.

Linda

Hi!

I am an adult who takes topomax for migraines.  The offlabel effects is weight loss!  I also back 4 years ago was a person who tested ABLIFY  you know when they do the comercicals "CASE STUDIES"  that drug to me is dangerous!

I only take vitamens pre natal, vitamen d gel weekly, RX iron 3 x a day b 12 2 x a month and topomax and ritalin and my moods and depression etc along with a balance of sleep and great diet have finally gave me a sweet balanced life.

When I travel I get full of anaxity and wil only ask my doc for 2 nerve pills for coming and going and I amm 100 percent clean no drinking smoking no nothing and life is great!

I am not sure if you and your kid have looked into food and vitamens etc but if you get her involved because they also "labeled my daughter too when she was young  we did this toegther and one day she looked at me from age 5-17 and she said Mommy I am sick of taking medication  we did it together and now my sweet HEATHER now almost 20 is off all medication going to college and is engaged!

xox

Write to me anytime Momma!