I just need to rant | ADHD Information

 I am feeling so alone. My son is nine and adhd. He has been on adderal since we moved back to the States after three years in Europe. His new school is great. I love his teacher. She speaks English and she takes time for me and believes in my son.

But he is having horrid mood swings. I am beginning to suspect bipolar, I don't even want to say it. He gets so frustrated with math, or his sisters or his nose, and he hits himself in the head. He talks a lot about wanting to be dead. He wrote 'I hate myself and I suck' on his math paper. He tried to take a knife last week. I do not think he would have hurt himself with it but I can not be sure.

I have an appointment with his Dr. to talk about all of this, and I have a referal for a psychologist.  In the mean time, I am going crazy. Everyday, we have these melt downs. I am so worn out, my husband travels a lot and when he is gone I get no break. That is not completely true there are the 6 hours and 41 glorious minutes that school is in session.

It has been cathartic just to write all this down. Thanks for letting me rant.
Hey Louise, you are not alone out there, my son is in the middle of being tested for bipolar. I've come to grips with it, and then realized it's not that bad. There are so many people out there that have it you'd be surprised. I just found out my co-teacher has it, and only because she was acting a little different one day, then she says oh i forgot to take my medicine. I feel as Long as my son gets the treatment that he needs then it will be good. He's 12 and been on adhd meds. since 5.

I have bipolar and it can be controlled. The ADHD meds aren't good for bipolar--they can make the bipolar kids deteriorate. I think a Psychiatrist (with the MD) is best to diagnose bipolar. We didn't have much luck with Psycologists. I have a few sites you can browse. Good luck.

www.bpkids.org

www.bpchildresearch.org

www.conductdisorders.com

 

You need to get to a psychiatrist.  You can't go to a grocery store and find an expert on car parts- it's the same if you try going to a general dr and ask about bipolar.  You need an expert on mental health- that's what a psychiatrist is.  Psychologists are the counselors- they can't give meds, just therapy.  Psychiatrists will give mental health meds and manage it, making sure it works, adjusting or changing it as needed- that is what they are trained for and experts at.I agree with OlderMom and Sarah.  Skip the psychologist and go for a board-certified child psychiatrist.  I have two kids with BP, and the psychiatrist is the only medical professional who understood what was going on and put the proper treatment into place.  Psychologists just blamed my kids' problems on willful behavior and poor parenting.  Just wasn't so.  My kids are improving on mood stabilizers; they didn't do well on stimulants and SSRI antidepressants.Hey

Thanks for the great advise. My problem is that in our area there are no psychiatrsts that will see children and our insurance is very limiting as is our income.

Does anyone have any good advise for what to do in the midst of a melt down.  When he hits himself in the head and jaw or bangs his head against the floor what do I do?

Thanks

Louise, you may have to travel a distance to find a child psychiatrist.  They can be found at university and children's hospitals.  Sometimes these hospitals will take insurance, or sometimes they will work with you on a payment plan.  You need to do this for the sake of your son.  Therapy alone with a psychologist ain't gonna do it.

The best book I've read on parenting easily frustrated and chronically inflexible children (likes ours!) is The Explosive Child by Ross Greene.