Hi! My name is Susan and I live in Birmingham, England. I thought I would write after reading the article on the website.

I was diagnosed Manic Depressive at the age of 21yrs old after numerous hospital admissions with depression and anorexia nervosa. It was on the admission at around 21yrs that the psychiatrist who I was under looked at my history and my reason for admission in this episode and said he thought I had Manic depression, this was the first time I had experienced a full blown manic attack. I was placed on Lithium which in time seemed to control my symptoms enough to lead a fairly normal life again.

After many years of more admissions due to my coming off meds, against advice, i then became quite unstable after trying Prozac to help with the depression. Unfortunately for me, it sent me into a manic episode during which I became pregnant and had to come off medication altogether. It wasn't an easy time, but with the help of my doctors and family I managed to cope fairly well until about 7 months when I became severely depressed again. Thankfully the danger to my baby was not too much and I was able to go back on some antidepressants that helped me cope. I had a beautiful baby girl, rebecca who is now 14yrs old.

I think that althought things are better in some ways about how people react when you tell them you have this illness, much still needs to be done. I never realised but I feel I was exhibiting symptoms when I was a young teen about 13-14yrs and how important it is that if the illness is spotted early, it can save a lot of heartache for the patient and their families. More needs to be done to make parents, teachers and all those who work with children and young people aware that children and teens can suffer Bipolar Disorder and the sooner diagnosed the better for all concerned.

My daughter, Rebecca is seeing a psychiatrist at the moment for stress and depression and has already I feel showing signs of hypomania. As you can imagine I am very concerned because I do not want her to have to become either very ill and need admission or to end up in trouble. I want if possible to save her if she is bipolar from the unpredictability of this illness especially at her tender age. Wish me well in trying to get her the help she needs.