DD age 16 may be bipolar -does anyone have experience of teens with this?

[MiceAreRatherNice]

She is seeing a psychiatrist later this month and obviously he is the expert but I can't help googling this subject and worrying and wondering.

She does have major mood swings seeming very down sometimes and staying in bed all day, then up all night talking to friends on FaceTime etc.

Stealing things from her sister (including a driving licence), risky behaviour letting a boy into the house while we were all asleep and having sex with him in her room, had cocaine with same boy and a girl, only once or twice I believe.

She suffers from headaches a lot. When she's up, she talks 19 to the dozen and is the life and soul etc. But she also has angry hysterical screaming fits. It has been tearing the family up. Seems very very materialistic, and also lacks empathy in a big way.

Can anyone please tell me this is not normal teen behaviour - i have 2 other teens and they have been demanding but nothing like this one. Can anyone share any experience of bipolar in teens?

yes Champagne - I'm hoping it may be a shortcut to a diagnosis and then transfer to NHS, as ongoing support on a private basis would be too expensive for us.
If the consultant we see privately is a proper doctor etc. then would the NHS still want to rediagnose? Can't they just take a diagnosis from a professional? That would seem like a waste of resources, although that's probably another thread.

Of course Laurie I understand
It's difficult because it's not exactly a normal boarding school she attends for sixth form. It's a vocational school and she is doing an HND leading to a Degree. Normally you wouldn't be doing that until post 18. She's in receipt of student finance for the course, and the way the system is, she is supposed to organise all that for herself. Obviously I do all that for her, under her name. But it does mean that the school can't really even discuss her progress with me, it is supposed to be done with the student not the parent, as they have to be treated like 18 yr olds. I don't think I'm explaining very well. The Head does talk to me because she concedes that after all they are only 16 when in the first year. But I think in order for the course to be validated by student finance it has to meet certain criteria. All the vocational schools which take student finace from the government are like that - some of them are in central London so I guess we are lucky that DD is based where she is (very rural).

Totally get your explanation, I have exactly the same arrangement with my current foster child who's the same age and gets her funding paid into her account. It is too much autonomy for her and she spends a lot of money on crap.

Can you see a Specialist privately, who also works in your local hospital? That would help transfer the diagnosis.
I no longer work in the NHS, but I think you could find the NHS want to take a longer term view before diagnosing something as significant as BiPolar in a teenager.
I'm not saying you're wrong, just that going straight to the Private route for this sort of diagnosis may not help as much as you'd think.
Do the school have any services available?

I know you've explained the difficulties in involving the school. But they should have some kind of pastoral care available? Not to make any diagnosis - but it may help her to open up a bit and point you in the right direction. You've mentioned that the Head seems to take a sen

Aaargh!

The Head seems to take a sensible approach - perhaps they can advise.

Our school have been invaluable in supporting our two kids who need CAMHS. The specual needs teacher has said more helpful things to my DD than most of the specialists.

I do know you need extra help - this isn't to put it all onto the school

Sorry - should say Learning Support teacher rather than Special needs teacher

Champagne I hear what your'e saying - I will see what the psychiatrist says and take it from there I guess.
I hope the school will support whatever diagnosis we get (or maybe we wont get a diagnosis other than "troublesome teen") - yes the pastoral care is given by the Head (it's a very small school)...she is already getting Learning Support to do the academic side of the course and gets on well with that teacher. If she ends up needing loads of support I will have to think about her changing schools for September and being closer to home - although that will involve the pressure of auditions in order to be accepted at another school.

Here is an update - the psychiatrist said DD was particularly sensitive to cocaine and that has caused the ongoing paranoia - he prescribed Fluanxol. So far so good although she says she has felt sick today - don't know if that's a side affect. He said there would be no side affects. Wants to see her again in a month. Fingers crossed.....