Learning to Accept My Son's Diagnosis of Bipolar

By Angewl, published Jan 18, 2007
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When my son was 4 he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). This was a very tough time for him and us to go through. If I had only known then that it could get a lot worse.

My son had been through play therapy and sessions with a child psychologist. We had tried behavior modification with no success. He was put on medications. We tried all the different kinds. Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and Strattera. We tried different doses.

He was still having difficulty. He was not learning in school and was having major behavior problems. One minute he would be crying like his world was ending and the next laughing hysterically. He was lying, even stole all of our rent money and playing with fire were just some of the things he was doing. He was also not using the bathroom as he should have been. He was using it in his room, on the floor. He talked often about killing himself.

This was so hard for a mother to hear. He was only seven for crying out loud. I felt like a failure and the worst mother in the world. It must have been something that I had done or had not done and I had failed my son in some way.

The school system said he was depressed and that I had to do something. I had been doing everything I could, but it just was not good enough.

My sons pediatrician put him on a low dose of Paxil, an anti-depressant safe for kids.

The week after that my son got much worse. He was hearing voices and talking to people not there. He was paranoid. He was hiding under tables and telling the teachers that there were cameras in the vents recording him. He had been suspended from school for a week for this behavior. His principal had to physically restrain him and said that he probably would not be able to be in any school

I immediately stopped the anti-depressant Paxil.

Back to the psychologists we went. After many sessions with her, she had her ideas of what was wrong. She sent us to a child psychiatrist. After many tests, MRI's, blood work and discussion the psychiatrists said there were two different things it could be. Schizophrenia or Bipolar.

 
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It can be managed.

Credit: Angela Marsh

Copyright: Angela Marsh

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Takeaways
  • It is so hard to learn that your child has something as serious as Bipolar, also known as Manic Depression.
  • He was hearing voices and talking to people not there.
  • He is a loving, caring, and affectionate child.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
 
 
Thank you for your honesty and for sharing intimate details. I hope that you can find some people with whom you can talk about what you're going through and find some solace. If you keep persevering you both will eventually find some peace, and all will be okay.

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Posted on 05/05/2008 at 7:05:50 PM

 
I have bipolar disorder. I'm not ashamed of the diagnosis. I'm also not afraid to admit that I take medication for it. It took many different trials of medication before we found the one that I'm on right now. As a teenager, I took a couple of medications that just didn't work at all - or made it worse. While I am medicated for the condition, I also do counseling - medication isn't the cure-all but it does make dealing with life easier. Please understand that a normal life IS possible. I'm married, hold down a job, have friends, am not violent nor prone to things like excessive spending sprees. A diagnosis of manic depression is NOT the end of the world. The worst thing you can do is think differently about your son because of the diagnosis.

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Posted on 05/04/2008 at 1:05:04 PM

 
HI :) The worst is to despair... There are many aproaches to help for bipolar, depression etc. most of the Dr.s are not too helpful..They hand out meds like candy ...Alernative meds have most options in this area along with cognative therapies..some of the symptoms may not be the disorder, some may be behavioural as he aware of attention getting tactics and taking advantage of that ...structure in ones life helps to rectify some of the problems along with change in foods and vitamin supplements...vitamin c and b are very helpful with depression. also the help of a pscho analyst rather than a pshyciatrist, as they are more informative on the nature of the problem..and last of all ..there is Lithium ...it really does work for those that need it due to lack of salts in the brain..it is an older med but affective. you have to look at it as if someone was a diabetic and they need the insulin daily. there are tons of books to read and inform urself on the illness. really hopes this gives u

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Posted on 03/30/2008 at 9:03:57 AM

 
My qualifications? None, just a father of 4, having a mother put on psychiatric medication for a blocked bowel! listening to people with psych diagnoses & years of alternative research. So with all my heart I do understand. I don't suggest stopping what you are doing. Research says psychiatric medications are no better than placebos. Yet drugs are the 1st choice for Drs who don't have time to look. You could try this too as someone may have missed something. Get the written diagnosis with all clinical test results. Get a 2nd diagnosis with another Dr. Get a COMPLETE medical check including spine, glands, hearing, eyes, diet problems, food/lead/tooth filling allergies, tumors, blood tests - the lot. List medication & vaccination history. Make copies. Get it all evaluated by a Dr, Dietician, Naturopath & a Chiropractor. Study the results & recommendations. Look for Dr Fred Baughmann & Dr Peter Breggin & others on the net. Then work out your own plan with a Dr with the time & your

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Posted on 03/17/2008 at 7:03:34 AM

 
It's better if I let her call because I never know if it will be an up or down day for her. She told me several weeks ago that she had seen a doctor and was on medication, but only time will tell if she stays on it. As one parent to another, I wish you peace. God bless.

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Posted on 03/02/2008 at 8:03:06 PM

 
It's hard to read what I've lived with for years. My daughter, now 25, started showing signs at about age 11. She was always an excellent student, exceptionally talented, and at first glance seemed like any other teen. But no one can imagine what it's like to live with a bipolar child until they've been there. My sister was also bipolar (back when they called it manic depresive), and I knew the signs all too well when they started. We went through many years of what I called "the Emily rollercoaster", never knowing what to expect next. She now lives on the other side of the country. She graduated from college Magna Cum Laude with a degree in liberal arts. She's so artistically talented and could get a job in graphic design, even had several offers, but she prefers to be a waitress in a restaurant, insisting that she has no talent. I finally resigned myself to put her in God's capable hands and have had to learn not to blame myself. We talk about once a week. It's better if

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Posted on 03/02/2008 at 8:03:39 PM

 
my doctor wont refer me to genetasist and ive been going threw hell and beleive my son has autism or similar,how can i bypass my docor nd ge the right help. juli,merseyside

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Posted on 11/29/2007 at 9:11:00 PM

 
an article written from your heart. Thanks so much. If more people brought this to the forefront maybe it would make it easier for those who have it to deal with and get the help that they need. Great informative and thoughtful topic. Kudos to you girl!

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Posted on 01/18/2007 at 2:01:00 PM

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