violence
ADHD is not violent unless co-morbid with something else, like bipolar. Read the explanation of the difference between ADHD and bipolar that I posted. Pretty much says it all. Violent kids are a step beyond ADHD. If you have mood problems or substance abuse in the family it is prudent to think about early onset bipolar, rather than ADHD. Here is a link: www.bpkids.org
Are you seeing a child psychiatrist or a NeuroPsych? A therapist is not medically trained and wouldn't know the differences. They should--it would be helpful--but they are trained only in behaviors and most have some knowledge that ADHD exists and tend to tag all "hyper" kids as ADHD, even if that's not the big picture.
yeah, i read it and it sounds to me like there is some bi-polar there, and since he's on the respirdal i wonder if it means the mood swings are a charcteristic of bi-polar. i guess i should ask the dr. next time we go.the bp symptoms are very much like my son.... we are seeing a psychiatrist but when we move there is an actual psychiatric hospital not too far away so I am thinking that I will take him there to seek new treatment. I'm kinda scared but I have always said that there was something else wrong besides he ADHD.
Krsty
Reading some of the posts kinda scares me as my son has been violent since he was an infant. Our doc says that is part of the ADHD. He is so very destructive when crossed and his temper fits seem to last for atleast 45 minutes. I'm really wondering about bipolar. The child has never really slept well at all. Even now he doesn't sleep and his meds are not exteded release at all. I don't know what to do our doc is impossible and I think that I need to start all over once we move. I guess I can take him off all meds and then start documenting all the things that concern me about his behavior. But a lot of it seems so normal now to me that I am afraid that I will miss something crucial.my son is add/aspergers once he is set off his temper seems to be in hot mode for a while, he's currently taking strattera/resperdal for mood swings, that helps a little but the dr. told me it was his personality, and that it wasn't bi-polar. just part of being add and getting frustrated easily. can you try a different dr.? when are you moving? maybe try taking off meds document like you said then when you move go to a different dr.and show him/her all the things you wrote down about your son's behavior and then go from there. good luck, i hope this helps.Enter Your Email below to claim your Free Book