I have bipolar disorder and I have had a few suicide attempts, but it's been going OK since I've been on lithium. But now, my parents are making me feel like it's my fault that I have bipolar disorder, they're angry with me, and they're going to stop paying for my Lithium. Is there any way that I can get my perscription filled without them knowing?

#1 How old are you?

#2 Can you afford to pay for the medication?

#3 Can you get your family doctor to make an appeal to keep you on the medication? If medication works, it is not a good idea to stop it.

Well, like Sher said, how old are you? If you need help getting medications, ask your therapist. If you can't afford a therapist they have free clinics in every city.

Why wouldn't your parents want you on the drugs if they help?

Are your parents unable to afford the medication?

I am 15 years old, and I don't have a therapist. I'm working on getting a job, but right now I won't be able to afford the medications. My parents can pay for them, they just don't want me on medication, they don't want people finding out about their "psycho daughter" and they think that if I'm on medication I won't ever be able to get a good career when I'm older, so they stopped paying for it. I don't know how to talk to my doctor without my parents knowing about it, because if they knew that I was trying to get my meds then they'll send me away.

I'm sorry you're having so many problems. I wish there was something I could do. I am having trouble understanding why your parents wouldn't want you to take something that helps. You really should be talking to someone though. I know that school is out, but you could probably call one of the clinics in your area or go to the website I'm going to give you to help you get some answers to what you can/should/shouldn't do. I give this website a lot. It helps teens and parents too, but I have found that the kids that go there that have told me about going there find exactly what they are looking for. Please try it out and you can even talk to someone live there, without giving your name.

If I may be so bold as to ask you how you know you have bipolor? Were you diagnosed by a doctor? If your parents took you there, howcome they are not doing what is recommended for you? You can also get a guardian atlitiem (omg I spelled that wrong) but it's a guardian for you that can help you when your parents won't. It won't take you out of your home, but gives you your own attorney (free of charge to you) and helps with these types of things.

Good luck sweetie, and let us know how you are doing. Here's the website.

http://www.girlsandboystown.org

You are not "Psycho"........ mental illness is something no one can control.. any more than they can control getting cancer or other types of illness.

I am so sorry you are having the trouble you are having... take a look at Puppy's website there ...

also, why not ask to have your parents to have your doctor give you a "check up".. then when they are not in the room, you can tell them your problem without them knowing what you are talking about.

If you want my opinion.. your parents are endangering you... preventing you from having medications you clearly need....

Im also sorry you are having such problems. Let me add her that with the drug your on you NEED to be seen on a regular basic by a good doctor or therapist and espically the one who prescribed this drug for your use. They need to be able to evaluate how this is working for you. I hope all goes well for you. I Don't have bi-polar but have ADD and have had for years so I know alot of what you are going thru.

For your information for your parents you are NOT phycho at all and I was on this very drug you are on now when I was younger after I tried to kill myself at 15. I am an R N now it will not effect you from getting a good job.

I, too, am sorry that you are having such a rough time of it but would like to congratulate you for having such a handle on things.
It seems to me that your parents really don't understand about bipolar disorder. They don't seem to understand why a person has it or how NOT taking medication might affect you.
I would suggest you talk to someone (a counselor, a therapist, your doctor) and see what a health professional suggests that you do. I think that you should have the doctor who initially diagnosed you as bipolar talk to your parents and educate them a bit.
Maybe once they understand what is really going on, they will realize why you need the medication you were prescribed for your illness.
As far as your medication affecting your future, that is nonsense. Medical records are confidential and cannot be released without your approval. Your medication is no one's business but your own and employers have no business prying into that personal part of your life. If you had a disability, that might be their business because it might affect how you do your job. If you apply for a government position, they will need to know, but only because they need to know EVERYTHING. In most cases, the fact that you are managing your illness will mean more than that you have an illness.
Yes, there might be some places that will not hire you because you have bipolar disorder (the police, for example, or the CIA), there might be some things you can't do. But the fact is, you have this disorder. Your parents fear that your medication might affect a future career, but what they neglect to realize is that if you do not take your medication at all, you are unlikely to have any sort of future but bleak.
Talk to your doctor. Anything you say is confidential and cannot be disclosed to your parents. That is the law.

Elexina has some very good suggestions for you, in particular, ask your doctor to talk to your parents.
We lost our nephew to suicide, not because his parents wouldn't allow him the medication, but because he wouldn't take it.
I could get into the graphics for you, of what it was like for that family to walk into his room after the shotgun blast to his head, or how over two years later time has not moved on for that family, how every aspect of their lives has changed, and then you could relay that to your parents, but maybe your doctor can make them understand how critical it may be that you continue with your meds, along with regular visits with your doctor so that they can see and touch and hear their daughter for many, many years to come.