Hi, my name is Michelle and I have a 22 year old son that I believe has bipolar. How do I go about seeking help for him?? Through his family doctor or how do I get him evaluated to find out?? Let me tell you a few things about him and maybe from what I tell you, you can give me an idea to what you think.

My son has always had some degree of depression since childhood which I didn't realize since I was a young mother at the time and I figured that he would grow out of it. He never really had any friends, rather place by himself, was very moody, unhappy, jealous over his sister, made up stories and lied a lot. He was diagnosed in school with a learning disability in reading/writing at the age of 10. As he got older he said he hated who he was and wished that he wasn't born. By the time he was a teenager I went to his family doctor who put him on Prozac and asked that he sees a counselor, but it didn't work because Steven wouldn't talk and would say that we had the problems not him. When he was 18 he moved out on his own and quit grade 12, and then started with destructive behavior on himself such as cutting his arms with sharp objects and he broke his hand twice with rages that required surgery. He stops in time to seek medical care but tells them it was an accident or that he did it for attention ....again he wouldn't seek professional help. He has always blamed me for everything and thinks everyone hates him.

He has three sons all under the age of 3 , which he says he planned because he wanted to have something to call his own. His relationships with woman are terrible, he causes major fights and is verbally and physically abusive toward woman. He is now in jail on domestic dispute charges against the mother of 2 of his children. She ended the relationship just recently and he can't move on without her and went over to start a fight and then it heightened to the level of abuse and he kept her in confinement. He still thinks there is nothing wrong with him behind bars, but when he is in the state of craziness he says repeatedly, "what is wrong with me".

He can't keep a job for more then 3 or 4 months because he wonders constantly what everyone is doing without him and doesn't like to be told what to do. He has had at least 9 jobs within 3 years all which he has been fired from. He has severe sleep problems because he says he can't stop thinking of things, his weight is very low now but at times he can be heavy. He doesn't eat sometimes for a day or two. Complains of headaches and muscle pain constantly, sore back, always looks for attention and talks very fast at times or even mumbles/slurs his words. We can tell him something at times and he will only remember certain parts and gets thing mixed up and then gets mad at us and thinks we are the liars.

He has fines, credit bureau is looking for him and the list goes on. He also doesn't like any of his girlfriends to talk to anyone but him and must know at all times what they are doing, tries to control their life and money and run around and do what he wants without any questioning on his part.

I could go on forever, but this is the main things. I've asked to see if I could have him committed but I get mixed messages and hope you can shed some light my way.

Thanks, Michelle.

Dear Michelle, there is no question that your son has many and severe problems. His behavior can be interpreted in many ways. It is hard to discern whether your son has a personality disorder or bipolar disorder or both. The more the symptoms are experienced as his problem and experienced as within him, the more likely his condition is a mood disorder. The more he blames others for his problems and will not acknowledge his role.

In the problems that plague him, the more likely he has a personality disorder. The primary differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder is borderline personality disorder. Probably the best course for your son is to be evaluated by a forensic Psychiatrist that may apply personality testing and diagnostic interviews, which may include you, to make a diagnosis that will guide treatment.The sooner that occurs, the better.