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Hello all my name is M-K and I'm the mother of a 6 year old bipolar child. He had been diagnosed since he was four. We are having very difficult times now, his meds are not working like they used to his behavior is outrageous. He is extremely violent lately attacking his younger sister who is 4. He hates school and refuses to do his homework if he even brings it home. I've tried the reward system for the small behavior, I've tried the time outs but when he is upset there is no talking to him to tell him to go into the corner. I have taken stuff away.. I'm at a loss as to what else I can do his doctor was talking about boot camp his other doctor was talking about the hospital. Anyone have any advice to give all would gladly accepted thank you
M-K, I am a single mother of an 8 year old who is being treated for bipolar. She was just kicked out of her 2nd daycare.
She has been kicked out of another daycare, kicked off her school bus and hospitalized for over a month.
She seemed to be doing better after she got out of the hospital but now things seem like we are right where we started.
I recommend buying a book called "The Bipolar Child". It is helping understand how to deal with this disorder. Any of the typical ways of discipline do not work. I have tried the sticker chart, time-outs, taking things away but these to not work for children who are bipolar.
I also suggests taking him to see a neuropsychologist. They will do a standard battery of tests to see whether this is bipolar or some other brain disorder.
I feel everything you are feeling but have realized that I am the only one that can help my daughter. There is nothing in my area so I need to seek help elsewhere. I know that there is no easy fix but I need to learn how not to let this take over my life.
That is all I can suggest for now. I actually just made an appointment for her to see a doctor that is about an hour and a half away from here. I think you should seek the best care that you could, no matter how far or how much you need to spend. Good luck to you.
Jeca
Posts: 1 | Location: Plymouth, PA | Registered: 02-20-2007
My name is Marty and I have a 10 year old little girl that was diagnosed at three with bipolar. We have been kicked out of daycars, schools, buses, and friends no longer speak to us. It has been a rough ten years. I know what M-K and Jeca are going through. We have seen the neurospsychologist and all other doctors that claim to be experts. The diagnoses read off like a grocery list, but in the end no child is the same and you have to be your childs advocate. My daughters name is Halee and rages every other day.
You have to know your childs trigers. Use a note book to track the episodes. Halee has to be on a schedule, change is bad. Wake up everyday at the same time and goes to bed everynight at the same time. We have dinner as a family at the table every night at the same time. She has to have structure. We have to ensure that Halee is woken up with a smile on our face no matter what. We set the tone for her day.
We got in touch with the county and had her put on an IEP. This means she goes to a normal school that has a class for her to go to when she feels an episode coming on. The class is her escape.
M-K, I would check the meds. When Halee gets like that it usually means that her meds are not working. Some meds work diffrently on certain children. Halee has taken all meds and some made her worse. She currently is on Lithium.
Halee does not rage at home any more. Only at school.
