My niece, goddaughter actually, just left her house in crisis in her car wanting to kill herself. Her mother has called the police but for now she’s not answering her cell and texts. I feel so useless, I want to go out there and look for her but where would I go?
Should I keep texting her? Even her friends on fb have written asking me to do something since I’m so close to her but what???
The police were called and hopefully were given a description of her car. There isn’t much more you can do. When they find her, just be there for her and help to see her through this crisis. I don’t think texting her over and over will accomplish anything.
Stay positive and keep us updated.
I’ve only texted her once, inviting her over or letting me know where she was so I could go meet her, but to no avail. So I’m just pacing and looking at my phone. Hopefully the police will find her before something trgic happens.
Sorry to hear about that. I can’t think of any advice to offer, but I hope things will be resolved soon and that your goddaughter will be okay.
I hope that she was found and is stable. I’ve nothing practical to offer, except a website I remember coming across once: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
My thoughts are with you both.
This might sound bad, but She is wanting attention… So if I were you, I would keep calling and texting her.
Well the police found her and brought her to the hospital where they let her go within 45 minutes. From there she went to meet up with some friends (the ones who do drugs of course) and came back at her house at 3:00 am stoned and happy.
I had been with my friend most of the night, I left at that point, not wanting to intrude. Didn’t speak to either of them this morning.
I should say that the niece is bipolar and refuses to take her medication.
Anyways disaster averted for now. Hopefully she’ll come to reason and take her freakin’ medication.
Don’t hold your breath.
twicks, who grew up with an unmedicated bipolar mother.
Do you know what the cause of her sucidal feelings is?
Does it matter?
Yes, unfortunately. My wife’s father was an alcoholic bipolar.* He was never able to stay on his meds for more than several months.
.
I was married to one. When he was manic, he thought he didn’t need medication, because it would stifle the creative process. (He wasn’t that creative, just crazy.) When he wasn’t manic, it was never going to happen again, so no need for medicine.
Yes, it does, because the cause determines treatment.
If she’s bipolar, she may have cycled into a bout of depression, and it may be severe enough to cause suicidal ideation. Unless she cycles very rapidly between poles, she’ll most likely be in her depressive mode for days or weeks.
Or, if she’s doing drugs, it might have been a bad combination that wrecked her brain chemistry temporarily. Or she might be addicted and her brain’s ability to regulate dopamine is screwed up, which is at the very least long term or might be permanent.
Or, she could be in a situation where the circumstances are driving her towards suicide - lost her job, broke up with her boyfriend, arrested for something, expelled from school, whatever.
Jools, bipolar disorder is very difficult to get a handle on, especially when the sufferer doesn’t want to be medicated or make changes to their lifestyle. There should be some support groups out there for her mom and you, and there are a lot of excellent books on dealing with it when a loved one has it. I would suggest that you and her mother sit down and come up with contingency plans - what do you do if she does this again? What do you do if she’s injured? Gets arrested for possession or doing something while high/manic? None of it is easy, but having a plan beforehand can make it a little more manageable.
As for the reason for suicidal tendencies this time was a guy, of course. She always picks the wrong one. She had just learned that he had cheated on her and felt hurt, used and like trash.
Her mother, her step father and myself tried to talked to her, reason with her and she said we were right but she couldn’t do it, just ignore him. From there it spiraled out of control.
I spoke with her mom yesterday and she told me the about the conversation they had. I should say her mother, my best friend for over 35 years, is a person who faces things without fear, is extremely realist and has some training in psychology. Emily (let’s call her that - the niece) told her that she had collected three boxes of medication plus found sleeping pills. And Emily agreed to hand over the pills. She is also terribly embarrassed and ashamed and refuses to face her sister (to whom she made the statement about killing herself).
I sent Emily a text yesterday saying I loved her and I was there for her whenever she needed after a couple of hours she finally answered me saying thank you, that she was sorry and that she loved me too.
She has calmed down a lot, she seems “empty” for a lack of a better word.
My friend has spoken to a neuropsychatrist who says that bipolar syndrome is very hard to diagnose and that he would like to have a look at Emily, and so far she doesn’t seem closed to the idea.
This was the worst, other than the time 3 years ago where she went after her sister and pushed her through the shower door. That time I took her sister in with me for 2 months.
And she’s such a great kid when she’s not having an episode! It’s really sad 
I’m rather mentally screwed up myself. Medication has helped me. So it can help.
Goodness. There’s the reason why your sister doesn’t want to have a relationship with you. Yuck. Can’t blame her.
Ya think, Einstein?