I am new here and a mother of three beautiful girls. My first (9) has my blood line. At 4 years she started taking meds which at the time was diagnosed with ADHD. I know to some this may sound way too soon to start meds but she had violent fits and broke her nose. She was given a pre diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder at 7 when we had her tested for asphergers disorder (please excuse the misspell). Today Trin is very defiant and does have more bad days than good (working on this). She is just now at a 1st grad reading level and in the 3rd grade. I am on this forum to learn more and for support as well as solutions as to what I can do to help her grow and flourish. It is very important to me that she understand she has an emotional disorder and to work on it seeing as she will have it for the rest of her life. I thought I was crazy until I got it out of my mom at 18. I also understand that at her age there is only so much she can take in. I am up for any one messaging that have raised a child with this disorder to please give me discipline pointers, information and questions. Thank you for reading, Tracie

I have bipolar disorder but it did not manifest completely until my early twenties. So I don't have any advice but just wanted to say hello. I also have 3 young children. Welcome!

Thank you Butterfly, my daughters manifested at two years old. But she walked early (6 m) and talked early ect. Crazy hu?

Hello there Tracie,



Welcome to Neurotalk, and to the Bipolar Forum!

Thank you for sharing and participating in the various threads. Remember we are here to support you too.



~ waves ~

welcome to the forums. hOw did you find us? I am always curious.
Donna will come along and share wonderful info, she is a child advocate in so many ways.
bizi
I don't have any children.

Wow! She is eager to get a jumpstart on life!

Hi, I'm Donna and I have 3 boys that have disabilities of some kind.

I applaud you for getting her help as early as you did. Its not easy to
find a doctor that will listen to you at this early in your childs life.

I have 5 grandchildren and 4 of the 5 have some kind of disabilities that
make them need help in school

One has a severe speech disability and were still not sure what else is going
on with him. Were working on other issues at the age of 6.

He could have ADHD but his doctor like many doesn't believe in meds before
6, so we are just looking at meds. But he has kept his mother up all
night for years as the energizer bunny. He has taken melantonin for
3 years or so. He was on 15 mg till the other day when his doctor prescribed
amytrillpyline because of sleep needs and headaches. To see if we
can get a hold on the need to go up again.

We are working on it. He is making strides with the speech and sensory things, but not as intensively as needed.

We are filling out paperwork right now, for the doctor. And so is the school.

donna

I also have a granddaughter that is a step that has bi-polar, and other
issues.

And another that is depressed. So I definately understand the issues.

My oldest son has depression issues, from childhood. He had issues
from a young age. When it wasn't even well known.

Let us know how we can help.

Feel free to message me if I can help.

Donna

Hi, TidBitz

I am curious about why she has an "emotional" disorder. Is this a term that the school came up with? It implies that the daughter needs to be managed and taught to act according to their expectations. That is not appropriate. A student with bipolar cannot fit into the rules of the school that way. Instead, the school is supposed to provide accommodations so that she can have an easier time of getting through the stress of the school day.


See this link about the difference between a child temper tantrum and bipolar:
http://voices.yahoo.com/child-temper...91.html?cat=25



Here is a good link about settings at school:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5189145_ed...-children.html

As you know, bipolar is a a mood disorder ---- we cannot control our moods unless we have good medicine. I certainly have no control over my emotions. Zero.

With twenty four years of intense therapy and practice with coping skils, I can somewhat control my behavior.

M

Mari-- she was first diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 4, her therapist and psychologist sent her for testing for Aspergers at the age of 7 due to specific behaviors at that time they pre diagnosed her with bipolar but seeing as she was that age could not determine if that was the cause of other behaviors. The school does accommodate her needs by tutoring classes and any time she needs to step out of the class is able to go there. She was just switched schools this past year due to not learning, I felt more could be done and now more is being done. I met with all of the teachers and told them what I wanted to see for the school year so far she has gone from a kinder reading level to a 1 grade so what they are doing is working.

Dona- thank you very much for your support. Melatonin worked for Trin for a while but then her body just got used to it and it no longer worked. Trin is on 4 different meds right now one was just added to her due to we could not raise any of her other doses. With that said I trust her psychologist who is also mine (I worked in a NH he works for, for 6 years). I was very lucky her pediatrician listened and sent a referral I switched Dr's to get it done though. Trin had a speech impediment problem also, still goes to speech for it but has come a long way my problem with her was getting her to slow down and sound each word out. I wish you the best of luck and do let me know how it goes.

Bizi & Waves-- thank you for the welcome.