Sensitivity to stimuli/"just right" feeling
 

Hi everyone!

I have a son who just turned 4 and who is showing signs of bipolar.. I'm a bit worried since I am bipolar myself, and we have many relatives with psychiatric conditions that were never diagnosed.

I wanted to ask you about your kids who are extremely sensitive to stimuli.. I was the same way when I was little, and still am, to a certain extent (of course I can control it and don't get tantrums...). Anyway, my son is for example extremely sensitive to mittens and socks.. he can throw tantrums because they don't "feel right" and it drives me crazy, although I feel really bad for him because I know what it's like, so I really try to help him with it. But this "just right" feeling follows him everyone.. one tiny thing that's "wrong" and he can go crazy.. like if the spaghetti touches the sauce, or things like that.

Does anyone else have the same experience? Any advice on what to do?

I would look into sensory issues for one thing. Because there are lots of
things that a therapist can do now.

I don't know about this and bipolar. But I do know its something that
kids with autism have a lot of times. You might look into this too.

Even if he is talking and things good.

Donna

this was my exact thought, also. the autism spectrum is very broad: high-functioning autistics can be very bright and very functional, but still experience the world differently - sensory experiences can be much more intense, there may be a different perception of patterns and order (spaghetti-sauce relationship).

~ waves ~