Daughter with Bi-polar?

Question

My 6 year old dqughter has just been diagnosed Bi-polar. What is the current treatment and medications used for this condition? Any good sites that I can visit for some good info? My wifehas it too.

Answer 1

Oh boy, you have your hands full in your household!

I can give you some links and also the name of a couple books worth reading.

http://www.bpkids.org/
http://www.bpchildren.com/
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=13107


The Bipolar Child by Demitri F. Papolos, M.D. and Janice Papolos
(the 3rd addition recently came out. they also have a website www.bipolarchild.com )

Intense Minds by Tracy Anglada (I have not read but it looks very good)

The Explosive Child, by Ross W. Greene (this one has steps for dealing with very difficult behavior)

If Your Child Is Bipolar: The Parent-to-Parent Guide To Living With and Loving a Bipolar Child (I just finished this one and would recommend it)

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know, by David J. Miklowitz

New Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder: Your Friendly, Authoritative Guide to the Latest in Traditional and Complementary Solutions

I personally believe that the earlier there is intervention, the better. I'm sure a lot of people are going to tell you that a 6 year old can't be bipolar, but research has shown that to be completely false. Doctors don't tend to rush to diagnose a child with bp, so I'm betting that there are very good reasons that they came to that conclusion. I wish you lots of luck (not to mention patience!), I hope things go well.

Answer 2

Try bipolarworld.net. The Dr. Phelp's guy on there is really up to date on the treatments, supports everything he says with studies, even presents other people's opinions fairly! He has all the technical stuff there if you really want to get into it, but he gets to the gist of it all too. I look around a lot for bipolar stuff, and this is the best.

Otherwise, you could try NIMH - national institute for mental health and NAMI national association for the mentally ill. These sites will list other good places to go for information. Avoid the sites that tell you that meds are a bad idea - For bipolar, you have to have the meds. I think there is a bipolarkids site, too. Try googling that.

I use Lamictal, which is an anticonvulsant drug originally used only for epilepsy. This drug works good on the depression part of bipolar as well as the manic end. There is lithium and depakote are biggies. I don't know about kids.

Some behavioral things for your wife and daughter:

Go to bed and get up the same time each day as best you can. If you stay up all night, you might go manic, and if you lay in bed all day, any depression you already have will just get worse. This takes a lot of self-discipline!!!

Use a light box in the winter (seasonal affective disorder treatment) if winter depression is a problem.

Try to get some exercise every day. It does seem to help the moods.

There's probably other stuff I do that I forgot about and just do without thinking, but it'll be on those web sites.

A comment, PMS makes bipolar worse in many ladies, and maybe worse so in their 40's. It's just terrible, and doctors have trouble getting depression under control at this time. It's very discouraging. So it would help your wife to know that, and she'll have to give your daughter a heads up when she's older.

Answer 3

http://www.bpchildresearch.org/index.html
This is a site about research being done on Juvenile Bipolar Disorder... it also have interesting information about the disease and treatments. Contact your psychiatrist and ask the nurse if she can recommend any support groups in the area or if she has any educational literature on this disorder. She also may know of camps and events that your daughter can attend to meet other children with the same disorder. Once your daughter and wife are being treated correctly, they should be able to lead normal, healthy lives. I have several family members with bipolar disorder but you would never know it! Good luck.

Answer 4

The National Institute of Mental Health has a lot of information. Here is a link to one article and a downloadable brochure on bipolar disorder, even addressing its occurrence in children. Medication is usually a trial and error process, some meds work better than others depending on the individual.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm

Answer 5

There is alot of meds she can try. Its trial and error with the meds. You have to find the one that works for her. It will take time. She needs to talk to a pro. Someone she can talk to openly with and without you there. You are in for a long ride. DO NOT get angry with her. Sometimes its not easy to understand depression. There is alot of info on the internet. Type in bi polar and depression READ READ READ all you can. You really have to understand it. This is not easy i know, I had this problem with someone very close to me. Her family looked the other way and it was just me to help. It was not easy but you can do this. I always told my friend this too shall pass and it will. PRAY. Be there for her. Keep a good eye on her. Tell her that you dont know how she feels but you are always here for her and you are reading everything yoj can to help her. Tell her that you are her friend. She can come to you ANY TIME...even in the middle of the night. Ask her to promise you she will talk to you when she is sad. Let her know you ARE there for her. Your my best and i am always here to talk and listen to you. Tell her that WE will make it and WE will get better. Tell her you are strong and can carry any problems she has. We can do this together and i promise you will get well. Tell her all of this. I would ask my friend to rate her day on a 1 to 10 scale.. IE: how are you right now ? 1 is good 10 is bad...give me a number. If its over 5 drop EVERYTHING be there for her. READ all you can and you will make it. Best of luck. We made it and she is not on any meds now. It took 2 years but life is good. she still has bad days but i still tell her give me the weight. I would say to her i am noways tired....sounds funny but let her know its OUR problem...not just hers. I lost a good job over my "friends" depression. But she is alive today and doing well

I will pray for you. You need to be strong for her. Never show her your down,this is not a easy fight. god bless your family.

Need to talk ? contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 6

well i have a small case of bi polar and i am on anti depressant-- it helps.

Answer 7

get a 2nd opinion