Would Love Any Advice!

C.,

I highly recommend reading the articles at http://www.emofree.com/articles.aspx?id=9. There are some that deal with mental issues such as ADD/ADHD & bi-polar in children. EFT as been found highly effective in these areas WITHOUT DRUGS!!

There is a search function you can use to find a practitioner near you if you have more questions or I'd be more than happy to help.

M. :)
www.enidmg.com

While it is possible for a child to be bipolar, most reputable doctors will not officially diagnose or medicate for that condition until late teens/early 20's. If her previous symptoms were just a lack of concentration you might try a homeopathic remedy. I can't remember what it's called off the top of my head, but Ruby's in Slidell on Gause Blvd should be able to point you in the right direction if they don't have something there. Another mom was talking about a similar problem recently and I can't put my finger on where it was mentioned, or if it was a face to face conversation. In any case, she said it was a combo of a homeopathic remedy and an herbal preparation and that it works wonders.

I saw a segment about this on "The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet" over Spring Break. More and more juvenile children are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It isn't as uncommon as some people think, and it is a very real posibility with many children previously diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Anyway, here is a website that I found when I Googled it http://www.bipolarchild.com/articles.html . The doctor that was on the show, Dr. Dimitri Papolos, wrote the book "The Bipolar Child" and there is a ton of information out there. You can Google "bipolar child" and get thousands of hits. Hope this helps!

My heart goes out to you!!!
I have a younger brother that was finally diagnosed as bipolar. He started at a very young age (about four if I remember right) with the very same symptoms that you say your little girl has. As his sister I can but say it only got better when the correct diagnoses was reached and we all got some education and help for dealing with it.
I can name come good instatutions around the country Vanderbuilt University Hospital (where he finally went), LSU in Baton Rouge....
Go on line do your research, but keep going til you get the answers.
I will freely admit I am a "nut job" when of my kids has started showing any signs that matched Mark's. One turned out be allergic to red food coloring. We went organic and I am proud that he is fine and in college. One well he's nine and the jury is still out. I only feel calm in the knowldge that I have knowledge.

Face facts we gals on this thing can help some but my first advice is to get online or go to the library and start researching. Read EVERY word you can. Contact your local mental health center. Contact the nearest children's hospital and their clinics. My brother has soo many problems because they took ten years to find out what was really wrong and by that time the drugs that were wrong had really messed him up.

FIGHT FOR YOUR BABY!

YOU ARE NOT BAD PARENTS!!!!!

You need knowldege, namely what is wrong.

I think your doctor is right. If she has been doing well in school, she's not ADHD.

Behavioral issues (and even physical ones) are not always resolved with drugs. Look at your family dynamic, and see if she might be feeling troubled by something. (This doesn't mean you are a bad parent! It just means that raising children is hard and complex, and it's normal to have to work at guiding all of your children through the intricacies of growing up. They see things so differently from adults, and can be troubled by things we might never notice unless we really sharpen our perceptions in order to figure it out.)

But it might be a lot simpler than you think...

For one, stress is an enormous influence on concentration. Your daughter might also just have different needs for concentrating. She might need a quieter environment than the others require, or to take more frequent breaks, otherwise starting to feel restless in the middle of doing her homework, etc. This by no means implies ADHD. It can also explain her outbursts - that she has pent-up energy and would benefit from regular exercise.

Also, being the oldest, she started out in a quieter environment. She might just be a sensitive kid and the introduction of three new members of the family in a relatively short amount of time has been a little much for her. Counseling would be very effective in dealing with this and any number of other issues that might be going on.

T.v., too, can be a very disruptive influence on a family, especially on children. The process of t.v. watching, far more than the content, robs families of valuable opportunities for conflicts to arise - because everyone's just watching together rather than really interacting - and to learn how to handle those conflicts. Eventually, without much practice, children don't know how to handle their feelings, which overwhelm them. You might want to try shutting the t.v. off and replacing it with board games, reading times, playing outside, etc. and see if, over time, you can help her address her issues by teaching her skills for communicating what is bothering her.

It is important to play detective for your children, to see what might be causing their emotional upsets. It's so easy just to medicate unpleasant feelings away, but can be so very harmful to them and the rest of the family as a result. So try some counseling, either one-on-one for her, or for the whole family.

Good luck.
L.

It is possible for a child to be bi-polar but it is rare. Besides medicine have you tried a major diet change. That worked wonders with my ADHD daughter. Not only get rid of sugars but all food dyes. There are books available on this subject. As a former teacher, I have also seen the change diet can bring. Also you need assistance from school counselors as well as the doctor on testing and behavior modification. My ADHD child finished college and is successful as a yong woman. So you definitely have hope for the future.

Here is a link that discusses the similarities/differences in bipolar and ADHD... http://www.adhdnews.com/bipolar.htm . I'm sure you can find more by doing an internet search.

When DS was 4, the psychiatrist thought he had either bipolar or OCD or both. It turned out that some of the amino acids were out of balance. We visited an MD who works with alternative meds, and within 6 months, we had a different child. (This was after giving conventional medicine a try for about a year). He's still very high energy, but no more screaming & biting, etc. You may want to take a look at http://www.alternativementalhealth.com for some ideas. That's how we found DS's doctor. I think it's also mentioned on there about the food dyes that someone else mentioned. Some children have a brain allergy to them (that's what DS's doctor calls it), and they become completely different when not allowed to have artificial colors, preservatives, etc.

Hope this helps.

~A.~

C., it's certainly possible that she has bipolar disorder, but at this age, a LOT of things could be the cause/contributing to behaviors like this. First, at 10, she is probably starting to have hormonal fluctuations. (I NOTE ONE PERSON ON THE LIST SAID THEIR 13 YR OLD HAD WILD EPISODES EVERY 6 WEEKS OR SO... THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HORMONES). My stepdaughter started with the mood swings from hormonal fluctuations at age 9. This isn't unusual to have this years before they start their period. You need to take notes on when it happens (date, time of day) and what happened that might have triggered an episode. You also need to look deeper at what could trigger it. Sometimes it's something small and inconsequential on the surface, but the bigger issue is something that happened to her at school that day that you don't know about (getting bullied, teased). Be sure you know what's going on at school and with her friends. Be sure you know that she's not been abused, bullied, or hurt in some other way that can be causing behavior. Remember, behavior can be a form of communication if there's no underlying neurological issue going on. Ask yourself could she be trying to communicate something to me that she is in too much emotional pain to verbalize.

If that's still not the case, have her checked for bipolar disorder.

But know that you could be contributing to the length and duration of episodes by how you react to them. You need to start reading about Positive Behavior supports on line and ask your Parent training and Information Center to give you help in finding more info (go to www.nichcy.com to find the PTI in your state). Tell them you want PBS for individuals (not school-wide PBS). Learn about functional behavioral assessments and how they are done and how to intervene before a circumstances occur that represent a pattern resulting in disruptive behavior.

Good luck.

Absolutely! We're raising my husband's granddaughter & have had her since age 5...she's bipolar (diagnosed) but they don't like to start them on medicine so young...she's 13 now & a handful! About every 6 weeks she has a huge fit screaming, spitting,hitting,biting,scratching,kicking,cussing
and the list goes on...then it's back to the daily "attitude" which is horrible..we also have a 6 yr.old who is fine & loves her sister but doesn't understand why she's they way she is...! Don't let people tell you otherwise & keep "pushing" the doctors to make them realize it can happen at any age...it's something people don't like to talk about! Good luck!

I know that doctors are very quick to diagnose children with ADHD when they don't have it. My cousins son started on that path and someone suggested that she go see a nutritionist and take her children so they can test them. Come to find out the reason he was having consentration issues was because he was mal-nurished. They put him on a high quality fish oil (which helps with brain development and function in all stages of life) and on a more healthy diet. Both of her children have responded very well to the better dies and have been able to concentrate more. Your not a bad parent at all because your child acts out, she's probably trying to tell you something and just doesn't know how. The other thing that she might be needing is more structure, I have no idea how you parent or how the day's look at your house, but I do know for a fact that children respond better to structure, rules, and discipline than to a laid back do what ever they want to do approach. My sister in law has a child that has a lot of anger issues, but if you look at the structure that the child lives in there is so much hurt, pain and confusion. This child actually spent time in a mental instatution for children and is 8 years old. They drugged her up to try to fix it when honestly if they would have tried counseling or just talking to the girl one on one then they would probably find the problem. We keep her at our house sometimes and when she tries to act up I get on to her and she stops. All she wants is attention. I know you are doing everything in your power to help your little girl and I can understand your frustration, drugs are not the best route for any child (although some might actually need it but it's about 5% of the hundreds of children they put drugs into to "fix"). Try the nutritionist and if that does not work, you might want to try counseling just to see if there is a deeper issue that she cant quite communicate. Good luck.

Mental illness can strike anyone of any age. a pediatrician is not qualified to diagnose something like bipolar. Have your daughter evaluated by a psychiatrist.

I have a 5 year old boy who experiences the exact same things, we have him on Focalin XR he seems to be doing better on it be we have noticed a pattern with him that every week on certain days he has a melt down. We have wondered the same thing about our son being bi-polar. It actually runs in my family so it makes it more of a possiblity but Dr's have told us the same thing that they don't like to diagnose children with Bi-polar until they around the age of 11 or older. So we have decided to continue to treat him for ADHD (because it is helping to control those outburst) until he is old enough to have those test ran. Don't lose hope and just know that you as a parent are doing everything you can for your child. I know a couple of other people who are friends of mine going through the same thing with some of their children all of different ages. You are not bad parents at all, I wonder the same thing sometimes when I get phone calls from the school alot, is there something I'm not doing right or not doing enough of. Is there something more that's wrong with him. But in all reality you are wonderful parents, you are trying to help your child by taking them to the doctor expressing your concerns and trying to do something about it. Best of Luck to you and I hope that this helps some.

The first thing you need to know about bipolar is that it is typically hereditary. Do you have a family history of bipolar or manic depression? Or, is there a family history of alcoholism (the "bipolar's mask")? Also, it is important to note that bipolar is very difficult to diagnose in children (and probably shouldn't be diagnosed in most children because their moods can be deceptive). I know all this because in the last year, we have gone through the same testing you are embarking on. I do have a family history of bipolar and alcoholism, but my daughter has been diagnosed with "mood disorder". Our dr. has encouraged us to survive this and watch for the future. Good luck on your journey - it can be difficult to live with a child with such viotile outbursts (I know from experience)!

Though doctors may not like to diagnose a child that early, there is a chance she is bipolar. I would have a complete work-up done from her head to her toes, electrolytes and all. There could be something off, or something going undetected by simple observation. Also, keep a journal of her outburst and see if it's triggered by anything (i.e. foods, sleep deprivation, anxiety). When you see the doctors be very specific about what you observe.
You may also consider having her tested for learning disabilities as well. Lots of children diagnosed ADD/ADHD are simply having trouble learning (i.e. dyslexia) and therefore refuse to try to focus. Children don't cope with stress as adults do, and they definitely don't know how to say "Mom, I can't learn like the rest of the class".
Don't just stick on the psychological, get it ALL checked out.

Good morning C. - I am not a doctor, or anything resembling an expert, however I have known several people with bi-polarism,. I suspect that one is born with it, but it doesn't present itself as recognizable until at least the teen years. If your doctor is unwilling to determine whether this is a problem or not, you may want to seek other professional advice. It is my understanding there is/are tests that can help diagnose this. You are not bad parents, and your concerns are valid. I wish you the very best of luck, God bless.

Hi C.,

First off, are you a believer? (Christian) I have a prayer that you need to pray over your child....a dear friend gave it to me a few months ago & it's amazing. God truly does hear our petitions.

Yes a child can have Bipolar. My brother has it, my best friend & her oldest child, who is 12 now. It's horrible. So sorry you're @ your wits end w/ this. I KNOW it's difficult. Have you ever considered natural medicines? I have some suggestions, if you'd like. Please get back w/ me if you're interested.

Don't give up!

K. <><

You may want to go to an educational and/or child psychologist to address the behavioral issues. There's one in Eufaula. Dr.Randy Randleman. He did a cognitive discipline plan for our school. He also adopted a daughter that had behavior issues and shared with us how he and his wife successfully handled those. It's possible she is bipolar. But there are ways to handle the behavior besides or with medication no matter what the diagnosis. You really need the behavior modification for sure and meds depending on the diagnosis. Ever watch Nanny 911?

Yes, yes, yes!! It is very possible for her to be bipolar at 10. I have a younger sister who was diagnosed at 9 and we wish a million times it could have been caught sooner because she is a different kid now that she's on the bipolar meds. Also, if she is in fact bipolar, she is a danger to herself and to the younger siblings if she's not on the proper medication. Her outbursts will become more violent the older she gets if she isn't treated. If you are truly concerned that she may have this disorder and your doctor is unwilling to test her, then you need to find another doctor. Try to find a good pediatric psychiatrist in your area to evaluate her, as they are trained to pick up on signs of mental disorders. I don't know how your insurance works, but alot of times you can find them that are in internship still and do their work pro bono. If insurance won't cover it, get in contact with your local university and see what info they can offer you on pro bono internship work. Whatever you have to do, get her evaluated soon!

Hi, C.,
I think so many problems in our lives and our children's lives are from malnutrition...the vitamins and minerals we NEED for healthy living are just not in the foods we eat...even if we think we are eating healthy. I finally proved that to my little sister who is in the gym 5 days/week, eats as healthy as anyone I have ever known, was taking liquid vitamins from the mall...and I gave her a box of VEMMA for her b'day which sat in the floor for 2 months before she tried it...now she is actively pursuing the business because it made such a difference in the way she feels. Nutrition can help many situations that medical doctors just cover up with medications...please go to my website and research this product...a month's supply is $60 +S/tax. There are all types of people with testimonials about great changes in their lives....good luck...M. T
www.myvemma.com/mtuttle
PS...the business opportunity is awesome...you may not have to go back to work if you hop on the bandwagon!!! Let me know if I can help...email is on the website...

My son suffered for 28 yrs. with the same symptoms,you talk about a mother wanting to pull her's and every doctor I tried hair's out.Finally a doctor recommended a heart specialist. {Ithink my son would have really flipped out if he recommended another shrink). Well they found the whole problem, it was his heart beat. One side was not beating in conjunction with the other, which would cause the good side to pump faster and he was not getting enough oxygen tohis brain. Now at 30 yrs. of age he is on just medication for his heart, working the same job for 2 yrs. now, playing baseball, his all time favorite and has two beautiful boys.
Save yourself a lot of years and agony for both your child and yourself, ask them to checkyour daughters' heart, it really needs to be an angiogram, to catch the heart beat, nothing showed on any other tests. I know it's a scary thing, but the outcome is not only giving your daughter her life back, it's giving you and your family one too. Let me know what you find out, and God bless you and your family!
M. H

C.,

Yes, a ten-yr-old can be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Although, usually a set clinical diagnosis is given at or after the age of eighteen for this specific illness. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing with children and adoloscents who suffer from severe mental illness. I highly recommend that you have your child see a mental health professional for a specific diagnosis, as soon as you are able. Finding out exactly what is wrong with your daughter will enable you to support her effectively and deal with whatever her difficulties are at this time. Honestly, she could be suffering from something unrelated from the little you wrote about her. I wish you all the best. God bless you!

K.

Even ADHD children need to know some behavior isn't acceptable. Restlessness, short attention spans, needing to be told multiple times what to do, are things she can't help. Tantrums she can. I would take her to her room and make her stay there until she regains control. Check with her teacher. Is something really stressing her out? I would consider not going back to work. Having a working mother is stressful, and she has a worse time handling things than many kids.

I work with troubled kids and recommend, in addition to having a good medical work up, you also look at the possibility of your child going through any traumatic events in her life. Sometimes kids will react to trauma in a way that mimmics other problems. I would recommend you do some resesarch to find a really good child psychiatrist, pediatrician and therapist in your area. Good Luck!

We have a child with bipolar disorder. It is very challenging to say the least. While difficult to diagnose, our son has had symptoms since he was a toddler. It wasn't until he reached about 9 that I noticed a cyclical pattern to his behavior.

Keep a log of the behaviors throughout the day, for several months. Kids with bipolar may have the "usual" cycling (every 3-6 months) or may cycle extremel rapidly (3-4 times a day). If there is family history of bipolar, it makes diagnosis for your daughter more likely. If you strongly suspect is possible check out www.bipolarchild.com and the bipolar child newsletter. One of the MD's involved has written an excellent book, The Bipolar Child, with great information and recommendations for getting an accurate diagnosis.

I also strongly recommend getting her in to a good child psychologist. If you're in the Little Rock area, Dr. Jody Hagen is wonderful and has been great with our son.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info. Good luck.

C., It is very difficult and it does take a tole on the entire family. We have learned in our family how to making some things work. We have a 15 year old that we ended up having to go inpatient with because she got so out of hand. I let her just go ahead and do everything she pretty much wanted so we wouldn't have the outburst and everything else that would occur. Now I know that that was the wrong way to handle the situations. But while she was inpatient she was diagnoses with ADHD, ODD (Obssesive Defiant Disorder), OCD (Obsesive Compulsive Disorder), and being bi-polar. After several more med changes I believe that we have made some progress. She is back home and I just really have to stick to my guns and she has to have outpatient counceling. I pray that you don't have to go through any of this but my heart goes out to you as well as my prayers for you.