Daughter (18) is faking pregnancy

[dlgallant]

My 18 year old daughter is faking a pregnancy while she is actively trying to get pregnant.  She's not particular about who she gets to father the child either. On her 18th birthday she ran away from home (not packed and moved out - ran away with the clothes on her back). I've pieced together that in the previous months she began associating with new people - very disreputable people, mostly men.  She fabricated a whole new life history.  Multiple children up for adoption, several abortions / miscarriages, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, criminal record, abuse by me, that I was in prison for drug charges.  She had also began trying to get pregnant for several months. Her main boyfriend was in juvenile jail for assault and molestation.  She left him when she thought she was pregnant but, a recent evaluation for a mental detention warrnat (not approved because she wasn't suicidal) determined she was not.  She immediately went back to this guy telling him she was pregnant.  She was active in school, sports, and church.  Now she rarely speaks to anyone involved in her former life.  Also of note, she was severely abused by her biological father.  She has now embraced him and his substance abuse life style.  I realize that she probably has several different issues going on but, I'm baffled by the sudden change.  She had several brief episodes of this behavior between 16 - 17, but she has been stable and seemingly happy for a year and a half.  

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

This is truly baffling and unusual behavior, but also somewhat understandable from a psychiatric point of view because of her new affiliation with the abusing father and his life style.  People of this age swing back and forth between new and old identities, between loyalty to the life style of one parent or the other, or rebellion against both.  Unfortunately your daughter is doing this in a very dangerous way.  I am not sure that you stop her, but perhaps there is an aunt or an uncle or grandparent who can help stabliize things during this turmoil.

[onroute]

I t hought about this last night and the only thing I can encourage you with that I have heard this thing going on with a long time friend of a friend.  Their daughter went berserk.  Relationship with her was mostly non-existant...she was mean and cruel and totally disobedient.  Did her own thing all the time and did not care about anybody..including her parents.  This was like night and day for them and did not know what to do.  They kept "Loving" her and trying to understand.  These parents were praying parents and leaned hard on God for understanding not wanting to lose their daughter.  I think for three years this went on......and then things changed in t heir daughter...I assume with the hormone balance starting to change in her again with maturing.  Not sure how hormones work but the doc said when this was all over that it was due to hormones only.  Weird!

So if this is the case  hang in there.  Dont give up.  If it is not hormones there will be a day when she will see Clear....

I hope she goes to doctor to get help.

I will pray for her and you.