It just breaks my heart for her to have to go through this at such a young age... That said, though, if she HAS to deal with this, IMO, it is better that they get a grip on it NOW, instead of as an adult....
My cousin is 40-ish and has just been diagnosed as bi-polar within the past six or eight months. His life has been terrible. I can't even begin to tell you all the things he has gone through.
The "short" list:
drug and alcohol abuse
murder (Got "out of it" by saying it was self-defense---but he was buying drugs from the person he shot.)
many issues with his heart (The short version of the story.... He made a smart remark about someone's girlfriend at a party, got punched in the face, passed out on the exam table in the ER after he got his stitches. Fell in the floor, which caused something weird to happen to his heart--all because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. )
His most recent girlfriend had issues herself.... Her ex-husband burned down my cousin's house. (Which, BTW, was the house my mother grew up in.... Lots of memories just gone. The only thing left was a cast iron skillet.) The ex-husband also killed my cousin's best friend in a hit and run. Tried to run over my cousin, too. THAT was what FINALLY sent my cousin to the psychiatric unit.

Sure, all these things could have been different if he had made different decisions.... But in my heart, I truly believe things would have been VERY different for him if he had been diagnosed earlier. His parents were just too busy with their own lives to realize he had such serious problems. I think his really started during his teenage years and the put it off as typical teenage rebellion....

I didn't say any of this to scare you--and I truly hope I didn't. I'm so VERY thankful that Ashley's parents are getting her the help she needs. Praying for her--and your family.

I wil definitely keep praying for them.

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