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Highlands Today

Reconciliation, Courtesy Of 911

Brad Dickerson/Highlands Today

Ashley Neeley was hard at work wiping down the tables at the Lake Placid Holiday Inn Express, where she co-ops through a program sponsored by Lake Placid High School. Neeley, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has seen her relationship with her father improve since she has begun taking her medication again on a regular basis.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: February 28, 2009

LAKE PLACID - Ashley Neeley hid from her father, Clarence, that she had stopped taking her medication for bipolar disorder.

The 18-year-old Lake Placid High School senior was fed up because one of the medications side effects was nausea.

Without her prescription, Ashley's temper would take a turn for the worst, causing her to lash out at her loved ones.

"I couldn't fathom her anger all the time," Clarence said. "A key word would set her off."

The teen found she would start yelling, use profanity and throw things. Ashley's mood hit a crescendo when, roughly two years ago, she threatened to kill herself.

Clarence decided to get law enforcement involved and called the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. That decision was a saving grace for the father/daughter relationship.

"With her dealings with the (deputies), they finally got through to her that medication is important," Clarence said.

Ashley was taken to a facility in Bartow for two days of medical supervision following the threats. On the drive down, she said the deputy was listening to the rock band Korn and it was discovered the two shared a similar taste in music.

"He was like, 'Do you know who this is?' Ashley said. "I'm like, 'Yeah.' So, he turned it up some more and we started rocking out."

Since the incident, Ashley has resumed her medication and there have been no other episodes.

Ashley is now devoting her days to her school work as well as her duties at the local Holiday Inn Express. She spends time there each week through the high school's co-op program, which is helping her gain work experience.

Her duties include cleaning, tending to laundry and assisting with housekeeping.

A Mended Relationship

Ashley's medication caused an unpleasant side effect with the nausea, something she is now regulating by taking it with food.

A pleasant side effect to being back on the meds is the improved relationship she now has with her father.

"It has just 100 percent turned her around," Clarence said. "We can talk things over without her getting upset and hollering and screaming and throwing things."

Clarence also thanks the deputies who came to assist him when Ashley's behavior was at its worst.

"A policeman or a sheriff, they have the same problems that we have," he said. "They have Progress Energy to pay, they have their mortgage to pay, insurance to pay and then they have issues with their children when they get home. When they put on the uniform, it's like they flip a light switch. They go into the help mode and they have to leave their problems after they put on the uniform."

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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