Can u loose custody of ur kids because of bipolar disorder?
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You need to discuss this with your attorney. Seriously. No one here can tell you. You'll need to get copies of your medical records and medication records to give to the attorney so they can tell you what will happen.
Best wishes.
Depending on the severity of the individual case, frequency of mood swings, and how you treat your children in these swings (or in general). Has it happened? Yes. Are there THOUSANDS of functioning adults with bi-polar disorder who still have their kids and beat the snot out of sniviling ex-spounses in court who were chicken shits, reaching for ANYTHING to grasp onto to ruin a happy people? Heck YEAH! Go get em, Tiger!
I think BMac is right. I don't THINK you can loose custody because of bipolar, but you could loose custody if you did something dangerous during a manic or depressive episode. Talk to an attorney right away.
Yes it is true
As long as you are under the direct care of a psychiatrist and following your treatment plan exactly than the answer is NO. If you are able to function well while on your meds and understand your disease and the medication your taking than you will be fine. Just learn everything you can about the disease and yourself. Understand the adverse effects you may experience from the meds and the absolute necessity of the meds and continuing them. When you know all this and can explain this to a judge or anyone else inquiring to prove that you have your illness in check and are capable of caring for your children, you will be just fine. If the children are not suffering any ill effects from your disorder during your highs or lows than there shouldn't be any concern for their well being. I wouldn't worry about it.
There was a lady on the Dr. Phil show who had bipolar and would treat her sons so badly. She would beat them constantly, and her kds still didn't get taken away. Just make sure you get a lawyer, and tell them you have never laid a finger on them, and everything will be alright. Good luck!
If your kids are being taken care of properly, what's his problem? He's uneducated about the disease as well as his aunt. They are assuming that you fit the stereo-type of some crazed out of control woman. See your therapist, and mention this. Get your therapist to vouch for you. As long as the illness is under control and you are willingly accepting treatment..I really dont' think he has a case. There are different forms of Bipolar, some are more severe than others. He would have to prove you are an endangerment to yourself as well as your kids. Without that proof there's really nothing he can do..unless other factors such as you being financially unstable. Talk to a skilled attorney to help you..but personally I really know he has nothing to go on. He and his aunt have been watching too many movies, and are trying to label you.
You do need to get a very good attorney.
There are important pieces of information that will play a part in the custody decision.
It isn't a good idea to disrupt the child's life by switching custody. You have the edge on this. If you've had custody for one month, that isn't much of an edge. If you've had custody for 9 out of 10 years, then that is a big edge.
Also of importance in some courts is that your son has a day to day relationship with his 3 year old sibling who it seems does not share the same father and therefore is not part of the custody battle and would remain with you.
In my state, providing I have not done anything of a social services nature, I can retain custody. It may be that his attorney has told him this because the attorney needs to increase his income and is playing your husband. Or he told your husband to tell you this in order that he could settle for joint or for more visitation.
You should consult an attorney and then tell your ex that he is being played for a fool, that there is no chance of custody switching and that his lawyer is probably just trying to earn a living off of him.
You should keep notes for your attorney of anything your son says in regard to this suit and anything that your son does if he is aware of the lawsuit. In other words your ex could tell your son of the suit, your son could say he doesn't want to move, he likes his neighborhood friends and the activities you have enrolled him in and he now wets the bed at night because he is nervous.
Although it costs money, your attorney should delay the case. At some point, your son has a say as to where he lives and he is approaching that point. Your attorney could try to say that this boy wishes to remain with his mother upon the age at which he can have a say and that moving him for three years and then moving him back would be disruptive.
Your goal is to maintain your sanity through this stressful time period. You want to present yourself as very normal except for this genetic problem which you handle in a very responsible manner.
Many parent have the same diagnosis, and a few have lost costody of their children. This diagnosis means you will needed therapy and medication. Both are take time to work effectivly. Just the diagnosis will have no effect on your custody. Chosing not taking medication, not following through with therapy, allowing the disorder to control you will. I have two friends both diagnosised in their late twenties. Both married with children. One, has done beautifully with meds, therapy and is happier and healtier than ever. The other has taken meds off and on, has refused therapy and although she has not lost full costody of her children she in now divorced, and her exhusband has conserveratorship and she has visitation. The kids cry the night before she gets them and it takes them a few days to return to normal after each visit. It breaks my heart to see them suffer this way. The oldest is now nine and the youngest six. A few weeks ago she had them for a week, we went to the beach together, they stayed with me the entire weekend. She took numerous naps during the day, prepared no meals, and had few conversations, often asking the same question over and over again. It was so sad, she was once a loving, affectionate, gifted mom.
Please except that this disorder is only a small part of who you are. Take the medication and be honest with your practioner about how it is working or not working for you. I wish you all the best.
Hi Lady Bug:
I cannot say one way or the other if you will loose custody of your children. I can although let you know that I have recently gone thru a divorce and my ex husband used the diagnosis of Bipolar disorder against me and I did loose physical custody but we have joint custody.
Is the reason I lost custody od my children due to my Bipolar Disorder? I honestly do not know, but I feel as though it had great impact on the judges decision.
Take care of yourself thru all of this.
Be safe and be well
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