Seeking advice please!
Posted , 2 users are following.
My married daughter was diagnose as borderline bipolar last year.
After a turbulent marriage - husband left the marital home one year ago and even though a divorce is imminent this year she still insists on putting a brave face on things.
We as a family have made sure that she knows we are here for her and to listen and help her through the hard times… but and it’s a big BUT… I think she is doing a little (a lot) of play acting in desperation of getting a bit of sympathy and understand from her children.
1 - She goes out of her way to scatter objects all over the floor and says she has been busy. (I know a symptom of bipolar)
2 - When her children have come home after work they have found her on the floor pretending to be a sleep. First few times they were shocked and upset thinking something awful had happened to their mum rushing to check her pulse; where she then suddenly wakes up and acts as though she had just fallen asleep. Followed by a worried phone call from grandchildren asking what they should do.
Now after seeing how she miraculously wake up saying “I must have fallen asleep” they have just started to ignore her and leave her alone until she decides to move herself.
3 - Because this isn’t causing the children to react the ways she is wanting my daughter has taken to switching the washer on at 1-2am or playing music loud just to let her children know that she is awake? When they have come out of their bedrooms and asked for her to try and be a little quieter as they have to be up for work they are then on tenderhooks that she will blow-up and start shouting.
4 - The new thing now is jogging ((at 10.30pm)) - Waking her children up first to let them know she is going out so they want worry! - Which means they cannot sleep until she is home safely. - My daughter hates jogging!
What I want to now is are these symptoms of Bipolar or is my daughter playing a silly game?
0 likes, 3 replies
sue-april47
Posted
When she visits us she doesn't show any signs of causing havoc, she flutters about the house Yes - and sometimes lays on the settee just relaxing and goes to sleep, so... she is either very careful when she comes over or is putting it on when she goes home?
Should I have some straight talking with her and ask what she is trying to prove - the grandchildren know I will be asking questions so they will be ready for any outburst when they see her this evening.
catherine24302 sue-april47
Posted
The thing that I'm a bit unclear about is the age of your grandchildren. On first reading your letter I assumed that they were pretty young, school age. Then you mentioned they come home after work. Does that refer to your daughter's work or theirs?
Please try not to equate every unusual action with Bi Polar. I've never heard of scattering toys on the floor as being a symptom. My guess is that your daughter wants attention and is trying to communicate with her children by performing childish actions that they could understand. Perhaps she is imitating her children.
Hope you are keeping well and best wishes for a Happy 2016.
sue-april47 catherine24302
Posted
My grandchildren are 18 and 23 yrs old and the scattering this time happened to be coal on the carpet next to the hearth. Her excuse was cleaning the hearth around the woodburner. other times she has made a mess of the kitchen with cereal.
My grandchildren are dreading returning home because they don't no whether she will be pretending to be a sleep on the floor, so no friends are ever invited to their home. If they do question her why she is laying on the floor she just says - its my bipolar.
I do believe she is attention seeking, but this is only driving a wedge between them.