Bipolar Depression

I'm new here and had a few questions..

I myself and bipolar and we think my son is as well. He sees a neuropsychiatrist for ADHD but the Concerta and Resperdal aren't working; we have SEVERE temper tantrums that last hours then he's like super boy and runs through the house at a gazillion miles per hour... then he's "normal" and is fine...

His moods have escallated to violent hitting and throwing things.. it's scary and he's only 6.

Is this something that Bipolar children do? I have BIPOLAR NOS, as I am not severely manic and all that; I tend to get cranky and anger is a big one for me.. when I drop I get downright mad... which is how he seems...
How do you deal with tempers like this? I am at a loss...spanking increases his angers... timeouts are a bust; rewards just don't work for good behavior; because he seems like he can't control it...

Any suggestions?

Hi Jena, I just signed up today and saw your post all alone with no replys. So I thought I would say Hi and tell you my story. Maybe it will give some info.

My 12 year old son has Bipolar and when I read your post it reminded me of my son at that age. When my son was born, he never slept and when he did it had to be sleeping in my arms. Extreamlly attatched to me. He was like a tornado, every were he went he left a path of destruction. He would kick, throw things, punch, say hurtfull things, and the fits of rage were out of controll. Anyone with authority he argued with. His moods also flip so fast back and fourth. Discipline was a joke! I would spank him, and he would laugh. Ground him, He would say I don't care. Give him rewards for good behavior, it wasnt ever good enough. In fact nothing I did was good enough. It was always about him. My son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six. I tryed every medication out their for ADHD and nothing worked. I kept telling the Doctors that it felt like we were giving are son an eight ball of coke every morning. On ADHD medication around the age of ten we had to take him to the ER because he had a rage so out of controll we thought he was going to hurt himself or us. The ER said he was having a reaction to the ADHD meds and to discontinue that particullar med. We stopped the meds all together after that. The rages continued, and in fifth grade he started making threats to people in school forcing us to admit him into a hospital for one week. That is were we recieved the diagnosis of Bipolar 1. The Doctor, in the hospital said that when we told our sons regular doctors how our sons rages were worse on the ADHD medication that it should have raised a red flag, that he was mis diagnosed. The Doctor also said that kids with Bipolar 1 should never take a stimulent because the rages will be a lot worse. ADHD meds are stimulents. Our son was put on abilify a mood stabilizer and the changes were amazing! His rages were gone for about 1/2 year and started to slowly come back. I would assume his body got used to the meds. The medication did make him seem emotionless. We also found out that our sons iq test dropped 29 points from third grade to sixth grade, we suspect the medication Abilify caused this. We are back at square one again. We need to change his meds again but extreamly worried about side effects. I found that when my son is having a rage I will try to ignore it for as long as I possibly can but if he doesnt stop I will talk to him in a calm soft voice trying to figure out what really is bothering him and also relate to him, telling him I understand how he feels. Usually that will calm him sometimes! If he so out of controll breaking things, hitting, and ect. I will hold him down talking calmly trying to get him to calm down. One of our sons teachers suggested that. Follow your heart dont believe everything the doctors say! You know your child better then anyone, you go in that Doctors office and you tell them what you think and what you want to try. I knew in my heart that my son was misdiagnosed, I said it all the time, (Something else is going on, this isnt adhd)and I was right. Just remember to follow your heart. A great book to read on bipolar is: The Bipolar Child-available at the library. The book also talks about the differences between ADHD and Bipolar.
I hope my story gave you some of the info that you were looking for. Good Luck and God Bless!! Remember your not alone!

Christie

Hi,

My daughter is 7 about to turn 8. She has been diagnosed with bipolar and add. They have had her on abilify which made her like a sad zombie. She had no happiness or life in her. She was started also on focalin which did wonders with her school and work. I am a loss on the tantrums and depression she has. I am sure its a hit and miss when it comes to the medications, but its so frustrating and heartbreaking. She has other siblings that she lashes out at also. She can go off at any minute and when she does she scratches claws, destroys things and screams and kicks. We have tried everything, keeping her on her same bed time schedule and she still insists on not going to bed and goes into this all out tantrum. Nothing we try works. She is going back to the Dr next week and I guess its another medicine to try, its just so frustrating.