"Chat" CONSERVATIVE PARENTS (AND CONCERNED PARTIES)OF PARENTS OF "AT RISK" CHILDREN

05/22/2003 | cherry_bomb88

[cherry_bomb88]

This is a new thread dedicated to conservative parents of children/teens "at risk".

I noticed in my FReeping that there are a lot of other conservative parents like me dealing with children or teens that are socially "at risk". Yes, there are other web sites out there dedicated to this, however they tend to be liberally/socialistically slanted. They have a whinning "poor pitful me" attitude. As conservatives, from talking with many of you, we take a different attitude and require our children to have that same attitude.

I FReep Mailed Jim Robinson to get his "blessing" on this thread. If you are die-hard anti-medication or don't believe these issues we face are real, please move along and don't come in here to chastize us or blame us or condem us. We have enough to deal with on a daily basis.

The purpose of this thread is for conservative parents (and other concerned parties such as friends,relatives, caregivers, educators, etc.) to have a place to come and share resources, information, ideas, and vent frustrations about the daily life we live with these children. It is also to encourage each other, not coddle. I have found that conservatives have a "we will overcome" attitude in dealing with this. We need to help each other not get discouraged and maintain this attitide.

Please feel free to stay and chat even if you are just "interested" in the subject and have no real personal experience with it. But, again, if this is something you disagree with, please do not stay just to stir up trouble.

[cherry_bomb88]

Welcome Everyone!

I hope we all feel encouraged and free to speak in here. However, remember, this is a "public" forum, so be careful in the information you post.

[cherry_bomb88]

(((((((((((((ping))))))))))))))

Welcome all! Please feel free to ping other FReepers you know deal with this issue or would be interested in providing encouragement, resources and input.

[cherry_bomb88]

Encourage your children they can still do great things!!!!

Following is a partial list of some successful & famous bipolar people!

January

• Virginia Woolf - novelist - January 25, 1882

February

• Axl Rose - rock singer - February 6, 1962

March

• Robert Lowell - poet - March 1, 1917
• Charley Pride - country-western singer - March 18, 1938

May

• Rosemary Clooney - singer - May 23, 1928.

September

• Linda Hamilton - actress - September 26, 1956

October

• Sting - musician, actor - October 2, 1951
• Margot Kidder - actress - October 17, 1948
• Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor - October 18, 1960
• Jeannie C. Riley - country-western singer - October 19, 1945
• Carrie Fisher - actress/writer - October 21, 1956
• Sylvia Plath - poet/author - October 27, 1932

November

• Larry Flynt - publisher, activist - November 1, 1942
• Vivien Leigh - actress - November 5, 1913
• Jonathan Winters - comedian, actor - November 11, 1925
• Burgess Meredith - actor - November 16, 1907
• Dick Cavett - actor, author, host - November 19, 1936
• Ben Stiller - actor, director, writer, comedian - November 30, 1965
December

• Connie Francis - singer, actress - December 12, 1938
• Patty Duke - actress - December 14, 1946

This is just a partial list...I'm searching.

[cherry_bomb88]

Last Revision: October 4, 2002

The purpose of this Web page is to provide inspiration for those who have manic depression (bipolar disorder) or depression (unipolar disorder). The "Famous People List" originated in 1993, and was the first of its kind on the Web. I am indebted to contributors all over the planet who have made this list a success.

The list includes living celebrities who have publicly stated that they have experienced manic depression or depression in their lives. The Bibliography contains the sources for this information. [Note: Please do not re-post this list without my permission.]

Contents of this Web page:

How the Lists Are Compiled
Celebrities Who Have Experienced Manic Depression
Celebrities Who Have Experienced Depression
Bibliography

Go to Joy's famous people of the past list

Go to Joy's bipolar disorder information pages

How the Lists Are Compiled:

These are lists-in-progress. When a name is suggested to me, I find documentation before adding the celebrity's name to the list. Hearsay (or speculation) is not enough evidence to include a name. Sources must be reliable, and may include biographies, autobiographies, printed articles, and radio and television interviews. In some cases, there has been personal interaction with the celebrity by the person who suggested the name. [Click here to go to the Bibliography for the following lists.]

Additions are welcomed. Send updates to parrot@frii.com.

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

These individuals have publicly stated that they have experienced manic depression in their lives.

• Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
• Shelley Beattie, athlete (bodybuilding, sailing), artist
• Ned Beatty, actor
• Maurice Benard, actor
• Danny Bonaduce, radio personality, actor, writer
• Robert Boorstin, writer, special assistant to Pres. Clinton, State Department
• Art Buchwald, writer, humorist
• Alohe Jean Burke (Ghafoor), musician, vocalist
• Tim Burton, artist, movie director
• Robert Campeau, financier (Canada)
• Lisa Nicole Carson, actor
• Dick Cavett, writer, media personality
• C.E. Chaffin, writer, poet
• Garnet Coleman, legislator (Texas)
• Francis Ford Coppola, director
• Patricia Cornwell, writer
• John Daly, athlete (golf)
• Ray Davies, musician
• Lenny Dee, musician
• Eric Douglas, actor
• Robert Downey, Jr., actor
• Kitty Dukakis, former First Lady of Massachusetts
• Patty Duke (Anna Duke Pearce), actor, writer
• Thomas Eagleton, lawyer, former U.S. Senator
• Margot Early, writer
• Robert Evans, film producer
• Carrie Fisher, writer, actor
• Larry Flynt, magazine publisher
• Connie Francis, actor, musician
• Stephen Fry, actor, author, comedian
• Kaye Gibbons, writer
• Kit Gingrich, Newt's Mom
• Stuart Goddard (Adam Ant), musician
• Shecky Greene, comedian, actor
• Linda Hamilton, actor
• Kristin Hersh, musician
• Jack Irons, musician
• Kay Redfield Jamison, psychologist, writer
• Daniel Johnston, musician
• Margot Kidder, actor
• Peter Nolan Lawrence, writer (England)
• Rika Lesser, writer, translator
• Bill Lichtenstein, producer (TV & radio)
• Sue Lyon, actress
• Jay Marvin, radio personality, writer
• Kevin McDonald, comedian, actor
• Kristy McNichol, actor
• Dimitri Mihalas, scientist
• Kate Millett, writer, artist
• John Mulheren, financier (U.S.)
• Robert Munsch, writer
• Ilie Nastase, athlete (tennis), politician
• Tony Orlando, musician
• Margo Orum, writer
• Nicola Pagett, actor
• Susan Panico (Susan Dime-Meenan), business executive
• Jimmie Piersall, athlete (baseball), sports announcer
• Charley Pride, musician
• Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), musician
• Jeannie C. Riley, musician
• Lynn Rivers, U.S. Congress
• Alys Robi, vocalist (Canada)
• Axl Rose, musician
• Francesco Scavullo, artist, photographer
• Lori Schiller, writer, educator
• Frances Sherwood, writer
• Scott Simmie, writer, journalist
• Earl Simmons (DMX), musician, actor
• Alonzo Spellman, athlete (football)
• Muffin Spencer-Devlin, athlete (pro golf)
• Darryl Strawberry, athlete (baseball)
• Ben Stiller, actor, comedian
• Gordon Sumner (Sting), musician, composer
• Lili Taylor, actor
• Dimitrius Underwood, athlete (football)
• Jean-Claude Van Damme, athlete (martial arts), actor
• Mark Vonnegut, doctor, writer
• Sol Wachtler, judge, writer
• Tom Waits, musician, composer
• Brian Wilson, musician, composer, arranger
• Jonathan Winters, comedian, actor, writer, artist
• Luther Wright, athlete (basketball)

Unipolar Disorder (Depression)

These individuals have publicly stated that they have experienced depression in their lives.

• Marvin Lee Aday (Meat Loaf), musician, actor
• Louie Anderson, comedian, actor
• Fiona Apple, musician
• Oksana Baiul, athlete (skating)
• Rona Barrett, entertainment reporter, author
• Halle Berry, actor
• Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister, Norway
• Marlon Brando, actor
• Willie Burton, athlete (basketball)
• Delta Burke, actor
• Barbara Bush, former First Lady (U.S.)
• Helen Caldicott, activist, writer
• Drew Carey, actor, comedian
• Jim Carrey, actor, comedian
• Melanie Chisholm, singer
• Margaret Cho, actor, comedian
• Sandra Cisneros, writer
• Dick Clark, television personality (American Bandstand)
• John Cleese, comedian, actor, writer
• Leonard Cohen, musician, writer
• Paula Cole, actor
• Judy Collins, musician, writer
• Shawn Colvin, musician
• Jeff Conaway, actor
• Pat Conroy, writer
• Billy Corgan, musician
• Kathy Cronkite, writer
• Sheryl Crow, musician
• Bill Dana, comedian
• Rodney Dangerfield, comedian, actor
• Jonathan Davis, musician, composer
• Sandra Dee, actor
• Ellen DeGeneres, comedienne, actor
• Paolo DiCanio, athlete (soccer)
• Scott Donie, Olympic athlete (diving)
• Tony Dow, actor, producer, director
• Queen Elizabeth
• Jules Feiffer, playwright, screenwriter, cartoonist
• Tim Finn, musician, composer
• Eddie Fisher, singer
• Harrison Ford, actor
• Albert French, writer
• Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
• John Kenneth Galbraith, economist, educator, author
• James Garner, actor
• Paul Gascoigne, athlete (soccer)
• Kendall Gill, athlete (basketball)
• Dwight Gooden, athlete (baseball)
• Tipper Gore, activist
• Pete Harnisch, athlete (baseball)
• Mariette Hartley, actor
• Juliana Hatfield, musician
• Anthony Hopkins, actor
• Janet Jackson, musician
• Billy Joel, musician, composer
• Elton John, musician, composer
• Daniel Johns, musician
• Ashley Judd, actor
• Gelsey Kirkland, dancer
• Joey Kramer, musician
• Julie Krone, athlete (horse racing)
• Pat LaFontaine, athlete (hockey)
• Jessica Lange, actor
• Jacob Lawrence, artist
• Allie Light, director
• Rick London, cartoonist
• Greg Louganis, Olympic athlete (diving)
• Courtney Love, musician, actor
• Camryn Manheim, actor
• Martha Manning, psychologist, writer
• Dave Matthews, musician, composer
• Gary McDonald, actor (Australia)
• A.J. McLean, musician
• Robert McFarlane, former National Security Advisor (U.S.)
• Rod McKuen, writer, poet, producer
• Paul Merton, comedian (U.K.)
• Alanis Morissette, musician, composer
• S.P. Morrissey, musician
• Les Murray, poet (Australia)
• V.S. Naipaul, writer, Nobel Laureate
• Stevie Nicks, musician
• Deborah Norville, television journalist
• Sinead O'Connor, musician
• Rosie O'Donnell, actor, talk show host
• Ozzy Osbourne, musician
• Donny Osmond, musician
• Marie Osmond, musician
• Dolly Parton, musician, arranger, writer
• Charley Pell, former coach, Univ of Florida
• Teddy Pendergrass, musician
• Alma Powell, wife of Gen. Colin Powell
• Susan Powter, motivational speaker
• Freddie Prinze, Jr., actor
• Bonnie Raitt, musician
• Lou Reed, musician
• Trent Reznor, musician
• Joan Rivers, comedienne, talk show host
• Robbie Rist, actor
• Roseanne, actor, writer, comedienne
• Martin Rossiter, musician
• Winona Ryder, actor
• Yves Saint Laurent, fashion designer
• Monica Seles, athlete (tennis)
• Linda Sexton, writer
• Neil Simon, writer, playwright
• Paul Simon, composer, musician
• Lauren Slater, writer
• Jose Solano, actor
• Phil Spector, producer (music)
• Rick Springfield, musician, actor
• George Stephanopoulos, political advisor, educator
• Teresa Stratas, musician (opera)
• Darryl Strawberry, athlete (baseball)
• William Styron, writer
• James Taylor, musician
• Kate Taylor, musician
• Livingston Taylor, musician
• Tracy Thompson, writer, reporter
• Hunter Tylo, actor
• Kurt Vonnegut, writer
• Mike Wallace, journalist, TV news (CBS)
• Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer, director, producer
• Dar Williams, musician
• Tom Wolfe, writer
• Elizabeth Wurtzel, writer
• Boris Yeltsin, former President, Russia

[Risa]

Re: People who had bipolar disorder

Abraham Lincoln was thought to have had bipolar disorder. He certainly experienced some lengthy depressions, and others described him as excessively energetic at times, too.

And my favorite prose writer, Winston Churchill, had bipolar disorder. He would call his depression 'Black Dog.' He had periods of mania that would last for days (no sleep), and was known to keep everyone else up at all hours when he was in a work frenzy. Sadly at least two of his children inherited his brain disorder, as well as alcoholism, and they led troubled lives. Winny was depressed for many years at the end of his life. Today we are more fortunate because we have at least better treatment, and with all the new brain imaging techniqiues and research, it can only get better.

[Dog]

Over here..

[cherry_bomb88]

wow...already having comments removed....this is a hot issue

[cherry_bomb88]

It was also said that Hemmingway was manic depressive, as was Edgar Allan Poe.

The list can go on, some people are probably not the "best" role models for kids (my daughter informed me this morning that Eminem is bipolar).

On another note....VICTORY!!! The house voted to ban schools from prohibiting children that had behavioral problems from being at school without medication!!!!! That is awesome.

With my daughter, unfortunately, to medicate or not is not an option....we tried for years to do the "not". However, there are so many kids that really don't need to be medicated, they just need extra help, love and attention. So in that case, it should be the parent(s) making the decision to medicate or not...not the school forcing it!!!!

[cherry_bomb88]

((((((((((((((ping)))))))))))))))

I thought you all might like to come somewhere you feel welcome & encouraged about our common interest! :o)

[cherry_bomb88]

Today we are more fortunate because we have at least better treatment, and with all the new brain imaging techniqiues and research, it can only get better.

And as much as I hate the attitidue of educators sometimes (because they can be so liberal)....the schools are doing now more than ever for the severely at risk children. They have schools now that are "more intense". They are public schools with smaller class size, more structure, and some therapy mixed in. In many of these schools, these children are not allowed to leave until their classwork is complete, even if that means 7pm. It helps reinforce what the parents are trying to do at home and it ensures these kids will learn and not be left behind and be "ignorant". It also helps keep down the drop out rate and prevents them from becoming society's problem later on.

I would just say that if you are going to utilize one of these special schools, investigate it, it's acheivements, the ratio of kids that improved and were reintroduced to mainstream schools, graduation ratios, the philosiphy of the educators, and then STAY INVOLVED through the whole process...don't use it as a babysitting service and a way to not have to deal with the problem. If used in conjuction with GOOD PARENTING it can be a wonderful tool.

[Risa]

Bushlover992, the graphic is way cool, but I am missing something--to what are you referring by Bush's fascism?

[cherry_bomb88]

BTW...Thank you for having that pulled so quickly. I didn't see it and I'm not sure I want to.

I know there will be many "lurkers" on this thread that never actually post as they don't want the hassle of those that are very vocal in their disagreement with some issues. However, hopefully the few of us that thumb our noses at them and post information, stories, etc. will help the ones that lurk.

[ChemistCat]

Thank you. I don't regard my autistic son as being more at risk than my daughters are. (I think we have an Adversary who ensures we're pretty much all at risk, especially if we get too prideful.) But that's because I have him in an awesome school, with incredible teachers! and have had him on AND then off the right drugs at the right times. (He's been completely off all behavioral-modificiation meds since halfway through 1st grade...just completed 5th grade today.)

Life isn't as cosy and comfortable lately as it was. He got a C on his report card in math, so I told him that means we'll be working on math all summer. He threw the closest thing he's had to a temper tantrum in YEARS--really does NOT want to do any studying over the summer! But it's also progress that he is resisting my will for him. It simply didn't happen till very recently. He's always been a compliant child, and I'm secretly proud of him for his new ability to resist something for reasons other than the normal sensory-integration reasons of wrong color, noise, whatever. To understand that the C means a summer of having to do math EVERY DAY is a feat for him; to balk at this is a new ability.

Now I just have to make him understand that we will NOT be doing math "every day, ALL DAY!"

(Heh, if he'd gotten an F, on the other hand.....!)

[cherry_bomb88]

C's would be a step up with my daughter. However she starts a new school next year that is smaller and more structured and I will continue to work with her as best I can.

It's a constant struggle just to get my daughter to maintain a C average. The sad thing is I know she's capable of so much more. She gets A's in Literacy (English) and B's in Computers ...well, you get the idea...the more she likes a subject, the better her grade, the less she likes it...it's a constant battle.

[gracie1]

With my daughter, unfortunately, to medicate or not is not an option....we tried for years to do the "not". However, there are so many kids that really don't need to be medicated, they just need extra help, love and attention. So in that case, it should be the parent(s) making the decision to medicate or not...not the school forcing it!!!!

The opinions of many on this forum are that all children who have been medicated for behavior problems are being exploited by the schools. The decision to have my son evaluated for ADD was first and formost mine. The school had nothing to do with it. I agree that many times it may be unnecessary, but it is not wrong to seek medical help for behavior problems.

[ChemistCat]

You might enjoy this thread, Luckystarmom! Sounds like you have more to contribute than I do.

Six is a very awkward age for girls. They are so sensitive to what other people think of them, to that "pecking order" they suddenly run up against everywhere. Maybe J got it out of her system early and stabilized, while E hasn't had to cope with adversity as much, till all at once, it seems to be everywhere!

[ChemistCat]

Medication definitely has its place, and I think parents can be better equipped than specialists (let alone teachers!) to determine when it's time to try that.

I have had people insist that my son's autism is due to inadequate discipline. I don't spank him enough. Or I'm too demanding of him, or...etc etc. It's all nonsense. He's got a damaged brain, albeit very subtly, and at certain times medication was very helpful to him.

When it became clear that the meds no longer helped him, as he had matured enough that his anxieties were no longer so awful, but instead, just made life easier for his TEACHERS, it was time to battle for his right to NOT be medicated. Taking him off of it was just as appropriate as putting him on it was. And to heck with anybody whose uninformed opinion has to be thrown into every arena no matter what.

[HairOfTheDog]

I would recommend that you guys meet formally here to collect interest and then form a private Yahoo group also on the side where you can all talk to just each other about more personal stuff without being so public...

There is a chat room there for easy chatting, and no one can see anything unless they are approved in.

Just an idea.

[gracie1]

At 14 my son made the decision for himself to no longer take his medication. I let him know that if he really didn't want to take it, he could stop. But he would have to be responsible for his behavior. He was not allowed to use his problems as a crutch, or a excuse. His issue was that everyone had become focused on the medication, and not on him. I think there was truth to this. I think I at times was guilty of saying "Johnny, did you take your pill" at every outburst. He still has problems with focus, but then hey, so do I.