Ep 228. Help, Dr. Phil! My Bipolar, Manipulative Millennial Daughter Is Now a Runaway on a Downward Spiral to Find Herself
- November 28, 2017
In the 228th episode of season 15 of the Dr. Phil Show, titled "Help, Dr. Phil! My Bipolar, Manipulative Millennial Daughter Is Now a Runaway on a Downward Spiral to Find Herself," we meet the Matthews family, who are at their wit's end with their daughter, Madison.
Madison is a 22-year-old college dropout who claims she's on a mission to "find herself." She's been living with her parents on-and-off for years, but has become increasingly erratic and manipulative. Madison has a bipolar disorder diagnosis but doesn't believe she needs medication or therapy. Instead, she's been relying on partying and drugs to cope with her moods.
The situation reaches a boiling point when Madison disappears for days, leaving her parents frantic with worry. When she finally resurfaces, Madison is unapologetic and insists she needed the time to "get away from her toxic family." She decides to move in with her grandmother in another state, even though her grandmother is elderly and has health issues.
Dr. Phil steps in to try and help the Matthews family before Madison's situation gets any worse. His first order of business is to get Madison to agree to a psychiatric evaluation, which she vehemently resists. Dr. Phil also speaks to Madison's parents about setting boundaries and not enabling her behavior any longer. They admit that they've been guilty of giving in to her demands and bailing her out of trouble in the past.
Dr. Phil then brings in a licensed therapist who specializes in treating bipolar disorder to talk to Madison about the importance of medication and therapy. Madison remains skeptical but agrees to attend a therapy session with her mother.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Phil addresses the larger issue of mental health stigma and how it can prevent people from seeking help. He encourages Madison and her family to speak openly and honestly about her illness and to not be ashamed of it.
By the end of the episode, there are some small signs of progress. Madison agrees to the psychiatric evaluation and the therapy session with her mother. Her parents are more willing to set boundaries and hold her accountable for her actions. However, there's still a long way to go before Madison can fully get her life back on track.
"Help, Dr. Phil! My Bipolar, Manipulative Millennial Daughter Is Now a Runaway on a Downward Spiral to Find Herself" is a powerful episode that sheds light on the struggles faced by those with mental illness and their families. It also serves as a reminder that seeking help is not a sign of weakness and that recovery is possible with the right support.
