I have a daughter who is 10 years old and we have been to see all kinds of doctors. This all started when she first entered kindergarten at 5 but we suspected something was off about two years earlier. Basically she has trouble with fine and gross motor skills. She gets tired very easily and craves sugar like there is no tomorrow. She is very sensitive to noise and different types of clothing. She has a hard time getting her words out and often has a hard time listening or understanding what she is listening to. She has to know what time it is A LOT!!! And wants to know what time it is to the minute. Sometimes she will be in her room reading for a long time and other times she starts chatting non-stop. She gets VERY agitated if she is around too many people, too much noise or just for what seems to be no reason at all. She will throw very large tantrums and will start hitting people or furniture or will throw things. I have pulled her out of school for the second time and I am homeschooling her. We have seen neurologists, OT/PT specialists, speech and hearing specialist, psychiatrists and psychologists and she has been tested for Aspergers and Autism. Our latest psychiatrist has her on Abilify for Bipolar disorder. It kind of worked for a couple of weeks and now it just seems like we are back to square one. No one seems to know what this is or how to help her. She is a very smart and sweet little girl and I don't know how to help. I know this is a very long email but I am desperate. Does this sound familiar to anyone or does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried to find a support group in my area but I don't know which one to go to.

Your daughter may have leaky gut/candida if she is craving sugar and is so tired. Your very best bet is to take her to a reliable naturopath asap. The behavior could be symptoms of a her digestive rather than her neurological system. Your insurance may pay something (out of network) towards the treatment. Been there...Joni

My 11 year old son is bipolar; and we rode the rollercoaster ride for a LOOOONG time. One thing to keep in mind is that there is no "1 size fits all" pill. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to play the medication hokey pokey dance until you find the right med for her. Have you contacted the prescribing doctor and informed him that the medication is no longer working? My son was on zyprexa for 3 and a half years and stable but we had to play with the dose ALL the time. It got to the point his doctor just allowed me to tweak the dose based on what we were seeing because different "cycles" required different doses. Perhaps that could be the reason it doesnt seem to be having the same effect as before.

To date, my son cannot wear certain types of socks, fabrics, and always has a pair of ear plugs in his pocket to use when any noise starts to bother him. He is doing wonderful - but it has taken a lot of time for us to figure out what sets him off and different ways to avoid it. It takes time.

I would recommend purchasing (or checking out at the local library) a book titled "The Bipolar Child". (aka the bipolar child's bible) Rest assured you will drop your jaw by chapter 2 because it will feel like the author has hidden camera's in your house and used your life to write the book. It is OUTSTANDING! Also, please check out the site www.bpkids.org . This is a wonderful resource and online community for the caretakers of a bipolar child.

I head a local non profit that offers advocacy and services to children with mental health issues; as well as to their family. If you are comfortable giving me your city/state information I would be happy to look up local resources for your area.

Welcome to the board!
Bobi

Get a copy of the book The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder by Papolos and Papolos.

Also google "Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation" for a parent's support group.

What you describe does not sound like bipolar to me, but then I am not a parent and not a psychiatrist.

The sensory issues sound like they could lead you to a solution. Some people find improvement with diet changes -- like going wheat and gluten free.

Abilify can be an agitating medicine for adults -- of course in children these meds can work differently.

Mari

Thank you for your reply. I would like information on local resources. We are in the Phoenix area. That would be very helpful.

Melissa

I will log into the database as soon as I get to work in the morning and post the support groups and resources I can find for the phx area.

Arizona's Advocates (I put the advocate information in there so that they could help you in getting accomodations that will help your daughter should she ever decide to go back to public school.)

Kim Yamamoto & Associates
(602) 471-0346; (480) 248-0740
(24 hour turnaround)
kim@ArizonaSpecEdAdvocates.com
www.ArizonaSpecEdAdvocates.com
Advocating for families across Arizona for over 13 years. Our professionals specialize in IEP's, 504 plans, manifestation determination
meetings, Functional Behavioral Assessments, Positive Behavior plans, social and emotional aspects of learning, specialized reading
approaches, proven methodologies, high school transition, assistive technology, appropriate placement issues, sensory needs and a
multitude of other unique needs
________________________________
(I like the Special Needs Groups because they are not dx specific. They are just a room full of parents who are in need of support. Further down the list there are bipolar support groups for both kids and adults; as well as other conditions.

Special Needs
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Facilitates a support group for families of children with special needs.
Meets every other month on the 3rd Saturday from 10-12 at the hospital.
Contact Judy Gates at 602-865-4731

Special Needs
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Facilitates a support group for families of children with special needs.
Meets every other month on the 3rd Saturday from 10-12 at the hospital.
Contact Judy Gates at 602-865-4731

SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE NORTH VALLEY
information, opportunities for sharing experiences, resources, and advocacy for parents of children with special needs
Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the North Valley Regional Library located at 40410 N Gavilan Peak Parkway Anthem, AZ 85086
contact Kristina Blackledge, Group Facilitator, at 602-402-9510 or via email at kris@azparentadvocate.com. Gavilan Peak Pkwy in Anthem, AZ

_________________________________

Mental Health
Arizona Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AAMI)
Mentally Ill Kids in Distress (MIKID)
Arizona Supports Kids with Mental Illness (ASKMI)
Child & Family Teams (NARBHA)
Depressive & Bi-Polar (Manic Depressive) Support Groups:

Bi-Polar Bears - Wednesdays 7-9pm
St Luke's Behavioral Health Services
1800 E Van Buren St

New Horizons - 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
7-9pm
Gilbert Health Center
1501 N Gilbert Rd

New Dawn - Tuesdays 7-9pm
Presbyterian Service Agency
2255 W. Northern Avenue B-100
Phoenix
______________________________

The Mood Disorders
Awareness Institute
1st & 3rd Thursday of month
3-4:30pm
______________________________

Anxiety Disorders Support Groups:
Anxiety Support Group
1st & 3rd Wednesday 7-8:30pm
Life Care of Paradise Valley
4065 E Bell Rd, Phoenix
______________________________
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
2nd & 4th Thursday 7-9pm
Samaritan Behavioral Health Center
7575 E. Earll Dr. Scottsdale

OCD For Adolescents
4th Monday
7pm
Day Spring United Methodist Church
1365 E Elliot
Tempe

HI Melissa, I hope you are finding the help you need. I know how hard it can be.

What you described I am not sure what it could be. But I so understand. My youngest daughter is now 15 and when she was 10 and 11 she stared having some problems with school. Some very big anxiety issues about even walking through the front door. Then depression would sink in. Bouts of anger for no reason, then there would be her happy times. It took awhile but she was diagnosed with a lower form of Bipolor and Social Anxiety Disorder (mood disorder also but they tack that onto everything)! Megs is smart, beautiful and generally social in most situations. She never got into trouble in school and they were at first unable to "fit her into a certain catogegory". That was until she was 13 and tried to take some pills in attemp to kill herself. Needless to say it was a very scary situation and we thank God we had been keeping such a close eye on her. The potential for things to get worse was right there. She was hospitalized, we found a doctor who had a clue and proceeded to search for the right meds for her and the right therapist. She was such a bright and happy child we would have never guessed this would have happened to her. Right now things are going well for her and she is on the right track. But it does take a lot of work and persistence on our part to figure out what is going on with our children. You just keep pushing and go with your gut. The school has actually helped us quite a bit but I know that there are many schools out there that are not like that. When that happens there are things you can do to get the help you need. Our children have rights and one of those rights is a Child advocate to help them through this. They don't work for the school they work for your child. If you don't have an IEP (individualized educational program) fight to get one. You have any questions at all please do ask. I know how hard this is for you! This is already way long so just let me know if you want to talk more about it or for me to buzz off.....Take care. Lori T.

Someone mentioned CABF. I know they have a forum there where such issues are discussed. The Papolos book is excellent. You may also want to look at the book by Bock titled "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism. ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies", look at the tests on http://www.enterolab.com, links, info & resources on http://www.itsnotmental.com, information on http://www.autism.com, and also information & testing at http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/

All those pertain to more than it looks like on the surface--more than autism and ADHD-- they delve into what may be behind problems being labeled as the chldhood-onset bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and depression.