Make a connection, ask a question, share a concern, give advice or just chat. Our message boards connect you with a community of people who understand where you’re coming from and what you’re going through.
My son is 10 years old. He was diagnosed with ADD in 1st grade. 3 years later and about 7 different meds later, and 4 doctors later he was diagnosed with bipolar last Sept, now 4th grade. He is on Abilify and doing very well (at least more so than before). His anger outburst are few and attention is probably better than it was on ADD meds. BUT - he struggles in school SO much! He is close to flunking the 4th grade. He has very, very low self esteem, no matter what we do or say. The school gives him very little extra help, even though I am asking/pleading all the time. I am actually getting ready to call Sylvan Learning Centers to see if this will help him. Bipolar runs in all the men on my husbands side of the family. All of my nephews are the same way, my husband (though he refuses to do anything about it), my brother-in-law and father-in-law. What are some of the learning disablities others are struggling with? I so want to help my son be the kid I know he can be, but he's given up on himself. At 10! It's a daily struggle. What have others done?
My son is also on abilify and has problems functioning in school. they had him on concerta and that seemed to help but he got very violent on it. There is a new drug coming out that my son is going to try that is supposed to target all the areas. Ask your dr about it. Sorry i dont have the name of it. but will post when i know
I have found the same issues with my daughter although she went through abilify and had severity of weigh gain due to it. She is now on Lamictal and it is working rather well. All though she too has big time struggles in school. Math is her hardest subject. I found out this summer that the school started a program called Excel and got her enrolled in it. It has helped her alot but she still struggles. The school was able to qualify her for a program that pays for tutoring through sylvan and that has helped alot. What might also help you as well is case management and Personal Care Attendent. They help out with home work and daily chores that he might have. As well getting him in the community and teaching him how to cope with behavioral issues. This has helped tremendously with my life. My daughter has pca 4 times a week. But this way I can get things done that I need to and these people are trained in working with children and adults who have behavioral issues and worse.
