To everyone involved with our lives:

Our daughter has recently been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. I am fairly sure we have told everyone connected with our lives, as well as every government agency, school, social worker, case worker, doctor, therapist, counseller, psychiatrist, nurse, and janitor within 4 counties! If we have not told you yet, I apoligize. We will. It is not something that is easily hidden. It is such an all-pervasive aspect of our lives that I am positive that you will notice a difference, and if you have not already, then you were probably not very close to us to begin with. She has been diagnosed bipolar. Now, as much as we are praying for this disease to go away, or not be a correct diagnosis, at this moment in time this is what the reality of the situation is. She fits enough of the symptoms for this illness that so far 2 psychiatrists and her long-time therapist have confirmed the accuracy of this diagnosis, along with many others familiar with the disease.

For those of you close to us that have not read up recently on early-onset (childhood) bipolar disorder, please do not discount this diagnosis based on the 10 minutes you spent on mood disorders in psych class in college. Adult and childhood bipolar disorder are so dissimilar as to almost be separate diagnosis. Please read up on it if you are interested in helping, or at least back our decisions up if you don't want to learn more.

Incidentally, according to the research, it was not caused by bad parenting, not enough discipline, too much discipline, second-hand smoke, my grandparent's alcoholism, or my saying "I love you" to her while frowning. It is a chemical imbalance in her brain, just like diabetes would be a chemical imbalance in her body. It is not contagious and she cannot "snap out of it" and behave. We are still picking up on the whats and whyfores of the disease, as we learn we will be happy to teach you if you desire. We welcome your positive and constructive criticism, however, we will eventually do what we believe is best for our child, which is what you would want us to do.

One of the hardest things to deal with, other than the incorrect social stigmata of having a child with a mental illness, is coming to terms with it. We will alternately cry, and be angry, and cope, and relapse. Please love us through all of this. We have to adjust our thinking and learn how to cope with each new symptom, each new medication dosage and side effect, each dawning realization of the long-term effects this disease will have on our baby. It is hard to adjust your thinking from "my little girl could be or do anything in the world" to wondering if she will be able to handle adult life on her own, or will have to be "helped" her whole life. It hurts to be the parent because you still see all the potential that was there before, she just can't think around the maze that is her brain to get to her goals anymore. It would be so much easier to have the disease then to watch someone I love suffer with it.

So during this time of transition, please be with us. Please give us the support we need as we need it, and take the time to listen and maybe learn more about this. Think of how you would treat someone that had a kid with diabetes, and see if you are treating my child accordingly, or if you are afraid of mental illness. If you are, that is alright, just let us know so that we don't lean on you. Please keep us in your prayers, whether you agree or disagree with the diagnosis. And thank you for reading this and loving us through all of our trials. We will be stronger and we will get through this, and maybe there is a reason we don't understand lurking in all of this. You are in our prayers also. Thank you.