[gina5005]

Im writing here concerning my 17 year old daughter, as i am worried about her mental state.
Ever since she hit her teen years she has been going downhill. At first i put it down to teenage growth, but her behaviour has become increasingly concerning.
It all began approximately when she was 13, she became very socially withdrawn and began to have a short temper. Sometimes she would just drift off mid-conversation, we would literally have to scream at her to get her attention. She never spoke to me or her father about how she was feeling, and it got to the stage where by the time she was 15, she developed a serious alcohol addiction, saying that she needed it to "block out the noise in her head". While in her drinking phase, she became very violent. At one point, she tried to stab her little brother with a pair of scissors, she would fly into a blind rage, then realise what she had done. It got to the point where we had to lock our own child in her room for our own safety. This pattern continued for just over a year, untill after an almost fatal overdose of vodka and painkillers(which she said she did because she had a stomach ache), she successfully quit the alchol scenario completely.
I thought the rough period would be over, she had been suffering withdrawel symptoms so we gave her space. After a few months she seemed fine.
But she still continued to display strange behaviour, i asked her if it was because of the alcohol, and she said she has "been this way" before the drinking, and thats why she started in the first place.
As i was helping her clean her room one night, i opened her cupboard door to find it covered with scribbles and writing that made no sense. When i asked her what it was, she flew into a rage.
Her mood fluctuates constantly, and she talks about strange beliefs that conflict with each other, for example she went into precise detail of every possible way for the world to end, which i find worrying in all honesty. She has had various episodes were she has "broke down", scribbling on her walls, ripping up her carpet because it apparently was "the colour of rage", and attacking people for no reason. She recently attacked her Father, she tried to strangle him with a washing line, and she was laughing as she did it, saying she was "just playing along with the game" whatever that means.
And she got kicked out of college for attacking a student, which she cant remember doing.
And she has mentioned or many occasion that she cant leave the house because the woman in the white robe follows her.
She doesnt like being touched, or making eye contact, and is very socially withdrawn. She doesnt eat alot, and she has different periods where she will sleep all day, then be up for the rest of the week.
Could someone please tell me whats going on with my daughter?
We have taken her to doctors and phyciatrists, she was once put on medication for bipolar disorder but she went back by herself saying she didnt need it. Either she doesnt realise that something is very wrong, or she is just ignoring it. Please, help me to help my daughter, as im worried she is getting to the point of self-destruction, or hurting others.

[dawj8]

Hey I am a Christian and read your blog. Maybe try introducing your daughter to the Bible may help, that is where I go first when I am having emotional prolems. First of all God cares deeply about what your family is going through and is there for help,call out to Him.

[jaclynp]

Let me start off by saying that the vignette you presented was quite detailed and very helpful; I strongly suggest you document your daughter's day-to-day activities. What you first should do is visit an MD. You want to rule out any sort of medical condition that is producing these psychological symptoms. Next, you NEED to seek professional help. I understand that your daughter does not want to be touched but, in many countries, the law allows a psych ward to hold a person against their consent for a few days if they are a harm to themselves or others (which your daughter seems to be).

It seems unlikely, given your description, that your daughter suffers from bipolar disorder. It also seems likely that your daughter's drinking was brought on by her psychological symptoms (meaning she does not have a substance-abuse related condition. Unfortunately, it would be unethical of me to make a diagnosis so, I do strongly urge you and your family to seek help. Good luck.