My Bipolar 7 Yearold Son

I have to say, mainstreeming does not happen anymore, and if your son is mainstreemed, that is the problem. Mainstreeming means dumping kids with needs into the general edcuation population and letting them sink or swim. Inclusion is the IDEA standard, and your son is entitled to be in the Least Restrictive Enviornment appropriate for him.

If you are not getting quality medical care that is helping him, you may need more intensive psychiatric care. Not knowing what you mean by "everything" nor how many medications makes it difficult to tell you what you need to do now, but I would suggest that if you are depending on the school to tell you what "everything" is, you have not scratched the surface for what to try.

Questions:

*Do you have a private neuropsychological evaluation that is current?
*Has he had a Functional Behavioral Assessment (that you agree with) at school in the last 6 weeks?
*Does he have a behavoir plan that includes only positive behavioral interventions and supports?
*Has he been in either in school suspension or out of school suspension for more than ten days this school year?
*Do you see a private psychiatrist as often as HE needs it (weekly when medication issues are not going well)
*When you have a medication issue or need, can you see his psychiatrist THAT DAY?
*Does he attend private cognative behavioral therapy and/or play therapy every week?
*Does he attend a weekly Social skills class outside of school?
*Does he have IEP intervention for ALL academic weeknesses, even the ones that the school says are not "real" but are there because of his Bipolar?
*Do you understand what the evaluation data the school is using means?
*Has he had a full scale Language evaluation?

These are the questions I would ask first. He needs plenty of private services, and you need to know exactly what is going on, and what the evaluation data means to advocate for him, and I am not sure that you have all the knowledge you need at this point. It is my experience as an advocate, that when someone has tried everything, they list everything they have tried. It would be perfectly natural for you to be overwhelmed by a situation like this. Log on to www.wrightslaw.com and find an educational advocate in your area to help you. Find the yellowpages on wrightslaw, and find the page for California. There will be many providers, lawyers, and advocates listed who may be able to help you find better services so that you can get the care your son needs. Call the nearest childrens hospital, and ask if you may speak to a social worker to help you find providers that you may not have any idea how to find, they will.

Contact NAMI in SanDiego. They have resources to help you as well. They also have care taker classes. Call them, tell them that you are having trouble, ask what programs they have that can help your son and help you and your daughter live with a person with a brain illness.

M.

Call a counselor or therapist that specializes in anger mgmt for children, make sure to get him in before he hurts someone or himself. Your behavioral specialist at school should be able to refer you or else contact your local hospital for a reference.

Is your son in a specialized program? If he is in a mainstream setting, you should consider requesting that the district place him in a special class for similarly challenged students. If he is already in this type of placement, then you may want to consider a short-term hospitalization.

I know that sounds scary, but it sounds like he needs a med-wash. This is when the doctors take him off of everything for a period of time in a safe environment (children's hospital) so that he can be evaluated in his natural state. When meds are layered without consistent management (not anyone's fault necessarily) they can augment other symptoms.

Your son may need to be considered for a day treatment program either through school or your insurance. Either way, if he's violent at home you need to call 911 and lock your daughter in a safe room until help arrives.

Get into family therapy and get him into intensive counseling.

medication is a "band-aid" measure. you can get to the root cause with homeopathy. I know homeopath who is doing really good job with children
HOMEOPATHY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
www.HomeopathySNC.org
Good Luck
V.

Hi there,

Who diagnosed your son? With the exception of very rare, extreme cases, 7 year olds are not diagnosed as bipolar. I urge you to speak with your pediatrician, not the school district, and get your child evaluated by a reputable team including a prescribing psychiatrist, psychologist, and medical doctor. Good luck.

C.,
What has taken place in his life to make him so angry ? He's not acting out just for the sake of doing it. How long was he on each med? It normally takes a minimum of 30- 60 days to see true results or lack there of. And it could be a little more complicated than first thought. There may be other issues going on that may not have been diagnosed yet. Not to alram you, but, but some things go hand in hand. It's also difficult for a child this age to reason logically or express himself enough to make you understand what he is feeling. Have you tried a child psychologist? I know this situation can be extremely trying and stressful ,I feel for all 3 of you. And maybe some family counseling could also help, esp. your daughter, you might not fully understand what's going on with him. Best of Luck to you, C. S.

Has your son been diagnosed as Bipolar?? Sometimes it takes a while to find the right therapist and therapy. Maybe a neurological work up might help and see what else is going on inside.
It can be very frustrating but there is help.

Penny Amic CEO/Clinical Director
Special Beginnings, Inc.
An Early Intervention Network

One of the manifestations of being bi-polar is anger. Unlike what Cathy said, bi-polar people WILL act out for the sake of doing it. Especially children. Make another appointment with a behavioral therapist who works with children. He needs to know it's his 'normal' but NOT ok and he needs to be re-directed and how to go about it. Some of it will come naturally as he ages too.

GL. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Being bi-polar is akin to having cancer...it's not an easy path to walk to help our children. Hugs.

Hi C., I'm so sorry your son has this problem. I know very little about this however I wanted to see if you had considered acupuncture for your son. I know a lot of people don't believe in it but it helped me a great deal. It can calm you down and make your mood more even. It totally got rid of my PMS, helps my allergies, etc. It might be something that can work for your son to help his moods. I hope it's something you'll look into.

Good luck!

C.,

While I am not in your specific situation, my youngest son has challenges at school and in life as he has high functioning autism. Sometimes, he acts out in aggressive ways and has since kindergarten. We have been through the ringer with our school district and now that he's in 5th grade, we are finally starting to get the support and understanding at school that he so desparately needs. This, of course, only comes after me and some other parents of high funtioning autistic children have made some waves. My son has had more good days in a row this year than ever before. The school staff has been educated with regard to his "disability" and have been trained on how to best de escalate his behavior when it does go sour. Usually kids will give us "warnings" that they are ready to become aggressive. That's when a trained adult needs to step in and try to help him avoid physical aggression. There's so much I could say here. I just want to encourage you to push the school district to provide him with appropriate and necessary services in his IEP. Our kids deserve to have certain services that will make their school lives the best they can be.

The thing that pops in my head first is do you have a proper diagnosis and good medical/psychiatric team in place to help you. Seven is young for a bipolar diagnosis and my concern would be you are treating him for the wrong condition. Who diagnosed him (psychiatrist/pediatrition/etc)? He needs to see a psychiatrist and have a very comprehensive assesment to ensure proper treatment with proper diagnosis.

C., as a retired special needs teacher and now Family Success Coach, this more common than you would think. You didn't give a lot of info so here is what I know:
I know that diagnosis for kids come WAY TOO fast.
I know that a "pill for every ill" is NOT the way to handle our children.
I know that our education system is designed for the success of the school, not the individual students.
I know that "doing better academically" does not mean anything if he can't function in the "real world".
I know that NUTRITION is the key to all imbalances in the body, not drugs. EDUCATION NOT MEDICATION.
www.BestBreakfastEver.com is what I recommend to all my clients. It is a wonderful place to start.
If you want to talk about more specific strategies to help your son, I am here. Systems, schedules and habits are so important to keep things manageable. Let me know.

B.
Family Success Coach

C., I am so happy you came to us MAMAS for advice. So, here's my take: Sugar, dyes, different food combinations and even toxins (in the environment and home) as well as what is going on emotionally can truly make a difference in a child's behavior. But, please also remember that kids are ALIVE and have feelings and spirit and do not deserve to be labeled or medicated. I definitely know from personal experience that psych medications do more harm than good and that, in fact, there are many natural solutions that can actually help with what your son is going through.

And, honestly, I'd look into the motivations of whoever is pushing to label your sweet son.

Please call the CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (CCHR). Their # is: (323) 467~4242. And, here's their website: http://www.cchrint.org/. They can definitely help you!

I highly suggest visiting Every Child Achieves.

Here's their contact data:

Every Child Achieves, Inc.
6400 Laurel Canyon Blvd #600
N. Hollywood, CA 91606
Phone:(800) ECA-8860
Fax: (866) ECA-8160
Email Address: ____@____.com
Website: http://www.everychildachieves.com
http://www.wellnessworkstherapy.com/

Ask for Brandon Siegel. He definitely will be able to help!

I also highly recommend contacting Judy Cutler who is truly an amazing Nutritionist and would definitely be able to help your son naturally. She is definitely a miracle worker when it comes to kids and their nutrition.

Here's her data:
Bio Tech Solutions
9736 Hillhaven Ave
Tujunga, CA 91042
Phone (818) 353~7454

She definitely can work with you via phone if you live too far away from her office.

I'd also recommend checking out 5 organizations validating why going the natural route is best:
http://ablechild.org/
http://www.cchrint.org/
http://www.fightforkids.org/
http://www.psychsearch.net/teenscreen.html
http://www.labelmesane.com/

And, C., when you have a chance.....please watch:

"DEAD WRONG" (Heartbreaking story but truly inspirational)
http://3.ly/9VNy

Psych Conflicts:
http://www.psychconflicts.org/

Making A Killing:
http://www.cchr.org/#/videos/making-a-killing-introduction

STAMP: Psychiatric Disorders Fuel $80 Billion Drug Industry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDpfBnjoiuQ

CCHR: Depression Mental Health Screening Test Puts Kids' Health At Risk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgBSSSVtrU

CCHR Says Top APA Psychiatrist Needs Lesson in Disease vs. Disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjdbifuNco

CCHR: The Difference Between Medical Disease & Psychiatric Disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3JQ8OVHVWA

CCHR Antidepressant Drug Spoof: Tripolar disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8eS8BZdC1o

'GENERATION RX' Extended Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xehHwkPpevk

The Psycho Pharmaceutical Industry with Former Pharma Scientist, Shane Ellison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOT5DSIUTOY&am...

Dr John Rengen Virapen, Whistleblower of the Psychopathic Pharmaceutical Industry, Speaks Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QMYFgC_YSo

Psychiatric Drugs & the Brave New World: Featuring Jim Marrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nGZ1T42lk8&am...

Whistleblower Allen Jones/Mental health screening of kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GhBfDMW2Fo&am...

Fight For Kids: The Candace Downing Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xjx0gdL83I

CCHR PSA: Psychiatric Drugs and Violence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRJN_NfyiH4

CCHR PSA Warning on Antidepressants/Child Suicides
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgMovNmtRF0

Why we need a Mental Health Declaration of Human Rights: http://3.ly/arJ Read it here: http://3.ly/BFs

Drugging Our Children: Side Effects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR4EWSbXLWA

AND

Too many kids on psych meds? Parts 1, 2 & 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73SRn1gdAdM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvCtxaiOGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58UZqr3fiZI

It's vital you watch: "The Drugging of Our Children"
http://tinyurl.com/nrrpw5

I also truly recommend reading "Doped Up and Duped – nearly impossible to find independent studies of psych drugs with no Pharma ties." http://tinyurl.com/mj9494 and "US Kids Represent Psychiatric Drug Goldmine" -> http://www.truth-out.org/1213091

BTW......I recently saw the trailer to "Comfortably Numb" recently. Have you seen it? If not, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6IAV5VBD0. The website is: http://www.uncomfortablynumb.com I'd also read my friend's Ale's experience with these drugs: http://www.pointofreturn.com/alesandra_rain.html I always say the best way to go is naturally. : )

Please feel free to contact me anytime at: (323) 906~2784 or via e~mail at ____@____.com. I'd love to help you and your son however I can.

With love,
L. (MAMA to adventurously spirited, 3 year old, Dylan Orion.......29 September 2007).

Have you tried keeping a food journal? Often times it is something in our overly processed foods that causes behaivorial issues, as well as illnesses like asthma, eczema, etc.. I highly recommend doing this. I've known people first hand that removed ALL processed foods/dyes, etc.. from their childs diet for 30 days and had a new kid.