Parents of teens with Bi Polar disorder, can you answer?

Question

How old was your child when they were diagnosed? How many psychiatrists did you see before they were diagnosed and how has medication effected your child? My daughter is 8 years old and we have been seeing a psychiatrist for almost 2 years now. He says that she has severe anxiety problems, ADD, mild OCD and depression. We have noticed different things with her since birth, but things got real bad 2 years ago. There is bi polar in the family, but the Dr. doesn't want to say she has bi polar disorder, but will say that she is cycling and that he may have to try mood stabilizers on her because we are at the end of the medication list. I am worried about this, but am worried about her also. She has such good days and such bad days. I have looked on the internet, but hearing what other parents have gone through would be a little help. Thank you for your time.

The day that she had a melt down 2 years ago, we went to the first psychologist for therapy. I also wanted to rule out anything medical, so we went to her Dr. for blood work. Everything was normal there. We are now on the second psychiatrist after 3 therapists. All of them have said the same thing and one of them said she had bi polar tendancies, but was so young that she would probably not be diagnosed with it. I hope she is not, but there is more than just what they say is going on. I feel so helpless and hurt for her.

Answer 1

I am a 64 year old grandmother who has lived with bi-polar all my life. I really suggest that you get to a children's real good psychiatrist as the meds are being given to a growing child!!!! I would go so far as to get to a major medical center to find the right physician for a child. Even my adult children and family tell me i was bi-polar as a child, teenager, young adult and mother (they are physicians themselves). I did not take any medication until I went into psychosis when my kids were in their teens. NEVER WOULD I PUT ANY CHILD THAT AGE ON MOOD STABELIZERS UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN THE BEST IN A MEDICAL SCHOOL CENTER. These meds I take are heavy meds with many side effects. I am grateful to God that I have a good doctor I found at Baylor College of medicine in Houston, Texas. I just started with the best psychiatrist I could find (I didn't but my children did it for me) My psychiatrist told my children the best prevention for them with the genetic tendencies was to live a life of order and little stress (which they don't really but they are aware of the predisposition to this mental illness plus depression as my mother and grandmother suffered from) God Bless you and don't listen to anyone talk about holistic health for this child.

Answer 2

My friend's son is bi-polar and he was diagnosed when he was 9. He is 14 now and they have still not found the right mix of meds for him. I think they are talking about admitting him into a hospital so that the doctors can keep a closer eye on him while they try different meds. Don't give up. Change doctors if you need to. Scream, yell, and throw a fit until your daughter gets help. Don't give up.

Answer 3

You really do need to see a doctor. Whatever it is - raging teenage hormones that have gone out of whack,clinical depression or some other mental disorder - you need some help. Are there any other family members (grandparents, aunt,etc) you could talk to? Or a trusted teacher or counselor at school? Having problems with your mental health is no less serious than having problems with your physical health. There is no shame in either one and your parents shouldn't deny you help. Not allowing you to get medical help could be abuse. If they can't afford it, most towns have agencies that can help. Maybe another adult could get them to see that. PS Please don't listen to Aldis Infernum. That is very dangerous advice.

Answer 4

Hi, I am not a parent, but believe that I have had a similar problem in the past. And I also have done alot of research on things like this.
Obviously there are multiple different perspectives regarding health, and you are basically only getting one. Its common though, since you are probably a busy mom doing various things and with the additional stress that these problems are giving you, you probably just jump at the first opportunity to correct this issue. First opportunity for most is the neighborhood shrink. Now here is the thing. An alternative point of view to your sons shift in poles, is that he is having some sort of deep emergency. A spiritual emergency or something similar. Something that has been eating at a part of him on a deep level.
It is a FACT that pharmaceutical drugs do NOT cure a bi-polar problem, they only suppress the symptoms. Take for example that your son has some sort of chemical imbalance. Well the imbalance could be part of a hormonal imbalance, and the hormonal imbalance could be a direct side effect of something in your childs body like hypothyroid disorder. Now if you are taking some sort of drug, it will only SUPPRESS the symptoms of the brain abnormality, thus requiring your child to be on medication for the remainder of his life since the root of the problem has not been addressed. No to mention, as you are taking these drugs, you develop side effects, which will require you to take a different drug for your newly developed health problem. Isnt that awesome? Thats just an example.
I recommend trying something in an alternative field of medicine, and getting your son gradually off of ALL the medication he is taking for his bi-polar stuff. Stay away from the shrink, he would be better off with a great martial arts instructor or coach, preferably versed in phsycology. By alternative field of medicine, I meant more holistic or natural, where they treat they entire body and mind of the patient, not just segments. I recommend staying away from "homeopathy", since it is very sloppy and mostly involves the PLACEBO effect. Although placebo can be healing and powerful, you should find a good holistic Dr. who will work with you face to face without deception. Good luck. Your son will get better, he needs to strengthen his spirit.

Answer 5

I have a ten year old son with bipolar disorder and aspergers syndrome. He was diagnosed bipolar when he was about 8. The aspergers syndrome diagnosis came just a few weeks ago. He has been on a lot of medications. Most of them have helped, a few have made his symptoms much worse. None of them have been miracle cures and none of them have lasted long term. He gained weight terribly on Seroquel, as well as having his frustration tolerance drop to zero, so that he was in a constant state of meltdown. He has been evaluated by a neuropsychologist, who does not agree with either diagnosis, but I disagree with their findings. He saw the diagnosing doctor for about 2 years, and I trust him. You should seek a consultation with a reputable neuropsychology clinic. Those diagnosises that she has could point to Aspergers Syndrome for her as well, it is a mild (haha) form of Autism that causes poor social skills, anxiety, obsessive interests, and poor language skills (mostly in conversational speech). There are support boards for both conditions available, I find them most helpful. Most likely they will start with either Risperdal or Depakote if they decide to try medications for mood stabilization. Best of luck to you, it is very difficult seeing your child suffer, and dealing with the real life consequences of a mental illness or neurological disorder. The links to those boards on in the 'sources' spot.

Answer 6

I do not know why someone would give you a thumbs down because this is a great question!

I suggest this group, and yes we had the same probelm the doctor said no Schizophrenia because children between birth and 17 are still developing. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ParentsofBi-Polars/

Answer 7

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