I am a divorced mother of three children.  My 21 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 6 (symtoms appeared earlier) and with bipolar (rage) and anxiety at age 12 and has been hospitalized twice for extended periods.  He has been a successfully recovering alcoholic since October 2006. 

My 14 year old daughter was diagnosed with severe bipolar/anxiety at age 5.  I thought my son was difficult, but she is truely a severe case of bipolar.    She currently takes Lithium and Seroquel.  She has been the Guinea pig for almost every other medication under the sun - most of which cause mixed mania and, in the case of Seroquel and those families of meds, it causes her to be a zomby.  She has been hospitalized 3 times since age 5.  This disease has affected her socially, emotionally and intellectually and my heart is broken over it.  So is hers. 

My 12 year old daughter seems to have been spared from the same afflictions but suffers from the fallout of it all. 

My ex-husband (and father of all three children) was diagnosed with bipolar at age 50 but does not maintain steady treatment.  We have been divorced about 9 years.  Life is disfunctional, at best, sometimes and a downright heavy burden for me - all the time - as I am the sole caretaker of the family for all intents and purposes. 

My emotional and social health has been on hold for a very long time and I do not have much support financially, emotionally or otherwise from anyone.  I have a stressful full-time career and many financial challenges.  Now that my bipolar daughter is a teenager, I am growing increasingly weary and am desperately in need of some emotional support to endure this.  I have sought out support groups here in Phoenix over the years but, either due to my time limitations or a lack of solid groups in the area, I have been unable to have consistent support.  Financially, I am burdened with paying for re-hab for my son and fo hospitial bills for both my daughter and son over the past 8 years, otherwise I would have a family therapist.  Unfortunately, it is not covered by our health insurance.

I keep my hope alive through my faith in God, but I really need some people to help me cope and give me some additional hope and support.