Bi-polar, ADHD, ODD teenage son..

Gena - posted on 03/29/2011

I know exactly what your feeling. I have an 11 yr old son and he has ADHD, ODD, and is bipolar. It is very complicated. You get all these people trying to tell you ow to deal with your kid but, what they do not understand that his whole personality changes from moment to moment and has to be dealt with on a seconds notice.

Jolie - posted on 09/29/2009

hello moms i am glad i came to this site i feel like i am not alone anymore

Jolie - posted on 09/25/2009

thanx so much for every one comments i just hope that he one day can lead a normal life he sort of does now but how many meds can he be put on and hes been hosptialized 2xs and its hard for my 3yr old who get the abuse from him

Pam - posted on 09/20/2009

Can anyone tell me when it is prudent to consider residential care, and if insurance covers any of it. I'm just not sure how much more my family can survive. My son is 13 and has been inpatient once and PHP twice. The problem is these programs are just a short lived fix. We still can not get a handle on his medication. He may seem stable one day, but the next he is totally out of control, abusive and somewhat violent. He seems to go into crisis every time he is given any sort of consequence or told to do something he doesn't want to do. What are we supposed to do? He needs to learn to be responsible for his actions, how do we teach that without any consequences?

Lisa - posted on 09/18/2009

My son has been diagnosed with all of those and more through the years. We've settled on Aspergers/BiPolar/AdHd/Severe Global LD/Anxiety. Right now I'm so exhausted from dealing with an explosion that lasted an hour that I can hardly think, but wanted to say No, you're not alone.

Lorianne - posted on 09/18/2009

Hello Tina! I have an 11yr. old son who has been being treated with therapy,behavior modification, & a long list of meds. that have been tried.

Pam - posted on 09/18/2009

I have a 13 year old son who also has bi-polar, ocd and add. We have been living on a horrible rollercoaster for the last 3 years, and our 11 year old daughter as well as our marriage has suffered greatly. I would love to be part of this group and have others to talk with that actually understand what we are going through. Pam

Kirsten - posted on 09/17/2009

Hi there! I am a 27yr old mother of 3. My Son who is 7yrs old was diagnosed withBi-Polar, ADHD, ODD, Generalized Anxiaty Disorder about 2 1/2yrs ago but I had known what his diagnosis would be from the age of 15months. Bi-polar is genetic. My husband was also diagnosed in his teenage yrs. It is very difficult to deal with this type of disability. If you need anyone to talk to just give me a shout, I know first hand what your going threw.

Debora - posted on 09/17/2009

if you need help getting a iep started contact your local familyresourcenetwork office they specailize in this and have support groups for families with specials needs like yours or will help you start one.since they know how to advocate with you .i work with them to make sure my daughters is followed they will call the school to find out why its not and then it will get followed or they have lawyer in education that will for you for free or little cost depending on income.

Tori - posted on 09/17/2009

My son is now 13. We have been going through this for quite a while though. He was officially diagnosed at age 8. He has been hospitalized an played the med game and is extensive therapy. I guess there are days when you feel like you are finally getting somewhere and you are making some kind of progress. then there are those days when you just want to ask yourself if all this headache and heartache is worth it.
Jolie, what do you need help with? The sibling relationship, the therapy, the being a mom part? I will help as best I can, but keep in mind that this is all crazy and new to me too- I've just been doin it a little longer! Does your son change the rules of the game on you too? That is one of my most frustrating things to deal with.

Jolie - posted on 09/16/2009

my son is 7 years old has odd adhd and bi polar has been hosptialized 2 times and im a single mom also have a 3 yr old at home i need help and cant gat it

Jolie - posted on 09/16/2009

omg i found a mom like me my son has all of them to he is a 7 year old how old is yours and i need help

Jolie - posted on 09/16/2009

Quoting Tina:

Bi-polar, ADHD, ODD teenage son..

I would desperately like to communicate with any other moms who have any experience in this area. I am tired of feeling like I have noone to talk to.

Tori - posted on 09/16/2009

Wow! You aren't kidding! You do feel alone-at least I do! My son has been diagnosed with bipolar and Adhd and I know there is definately ODD in there also. I guess my biggest thing is that most people don't get to see it. I and my husband are the ones he likes to show this too. I believe there is the ODD because my son can be the sweetest, most loyal, most respectful person-until you ask him to do something! Even if it is something as simple as taking a shower- he will fight to the death!

Diane - posted on 09/16/2009

This is absolutely incredible--I AM NOT ALONE and it feels absolutely wonderful!!! My son is 16 and is Bi-Polar, severe ADHD, ODD parasomnia, and other things...what a road it has been and it's not over. Jeff was diagnosed at 3 with severe ADHD and at 6 with Bi-Polar and the rest. I don't know how many comments have been made about putting a 3 yo or a 6 yo on meds or how many friends I have lost because of the issues with my son. They just don't understand...After my son was diagnosed with Bi_polar, I asked the county for help with my son--their solutiion was parenting classes and foster care. They told me that I was causing his behaviors, anger, and outbursts. Hello...he is Bi-Polar, a seripus mental illness that will not go away-it is with him the rest of his life. Since his diagnosis when he was 6, Jeff has been hospitalized 14 times, 2 of which were 30+ day stays in state hospitals for med adjustments and evaluations. He has also been in 4 foster homes, the first 3 kicked him out because of hos behaviors. The foster home he is in now is absolutely wonderful!! They have not given up on Jeff and do all that they can for him. He has improved so much in the last 4 years while at this foster home, though he still does have issues now and then. As a single parent of a very special needs child, I just couldn't do it any longer, even with the help of my parents. Our relationship is stronger than ever and I am actually getting healthier (major depression-recurrent). It is absolutely no ones fault that your child is this way--it is a chemical imbalance in the brain (hence the meds to level out the imbalances). Raising a child with Bi=Polar takes patience, understanding, persistence, and unconditional love and not to mention a ton of docotr visits. Don't give up and don't feel like you're alone, rejoice in the small accomplishments and be sure to say "I love you" at least once a day no matter how you are feeling; they need to hear it.

Mandy - posted on 09/14/2009

My son has ODD. Somtimes it is horrible.

Stephine - posted on 09/09/2009

You are not alone. My son was diagnosed at the age of 3 with ADHD, at 10 he was diagnosed with bi-polar and ODD, now at 17 he was finally diagnosed with Autism. I have had many struggles with him, from school to home. I would be very glad to listen and help if you need anything.

Samantha - posted on 09/03/2009

hey angie,

from hearing what you are saying, you may want to find out if he is bipolar or not. before diagnosing my sons bipolar, they did the adhd and had him on ritalin. it seemed to help his moods just a bit but also made tantrums and outbreaks last longer and adventually got worse. the doctors than tryed vyvanese which made him loose five pounds in a week, then tried concerta, which made him a suicidle basket case. finally we got into a psyciatrist who told me he was bipolar and you CANNOTgive a bipolar child meds for adhd if they are not on a med for the bipolar, ( a mood stabilizar). You might want to look into it. now that my son is on two mood stabilizers, we will start the adhd meds once he adjust to these med.It is so scary going through the med trial and error phase, as we don't know how our child will react to each pill.

If your son refuses to speak to that therapist, try a new one until you find one that he is comfortable with, children dealing with this have a hard time trusting, but when the right person comes along you will know. Good Luck, and I hope it all works out for you and your family.

Angie - posted on 09/03/2009

My 14 yr old son was recently diagnosed with ADHD and myself and the pediatrition both feel there is MORE going on then just the ADHD such as bi-poehler. My son refuses to speak with a therapist when I bring him. He is the most moody person I have ever dealt with in my life. I feel like I have to walk on egg shells around my own child! My daughter who just turned 18 has CP and taking care of her many needs is easier to deal with then his mood swings.......he's on a low dose of aderall for the ADHD and it's helped some. I hated to put him on it but he was starting to flunk his class's and knew he was fustrated. The meds seem to calm him a bit also but not totally.....I haven't figured out all the answers yet...but I'm here if you need to talk / vent.

Samantha - posted on 09/03/2009

If anyone wants to drop me an email you can do so at sammyjo23@aol.com. Sometimes it's easier to do private talk through that, as there is a lot going through this sight.



Samantha

Samantha - posted on 09/03/2009

Thanks Mary, I see the difference, hopeffully they get you going properly this year, as our children don't really have the time for the schools to be pidling around these programs.

Gayla, yes this sight is pretty amazing, and I hope all of us continue helping each other out, even just to vent, or let your emotions out if you need to. We all have some of the worst days with this, and like a lot of you, I sometimes feel no one else understands. Good luck at your appt. today, and hopefully you get some answers that you need! Everyone have a good day : )

Gayla - posted on 09/02/2009

Wow this sight is amazing. Thank you God we are not alone. My son is 14 diagnosed ADHD ODD and now possibly BiPolar. It hurts so much to feel so hopeless. We are blessed to live in this country and have the medical advances to help them with this Medical Condition. I so get the words of roller coaster, thunderstorm, pure hell to describe how it can be. We go tomorrow for yet another screening to hopefully admit him for treatment. My heart goes out to all of you moms who do so much. I trust we are doing all we can even when its just loving them when its tough. Thank you and look forward to more chats.

Mary - posted on 09/02/2009

Thx Samantha ;) FYI: An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is similar to a 504 Plan but it's more "strict". Your child has to meet certain criteria to qualify for Special Education; and pretty much any child that has a medical condition, including Bipolar, ADHD, etc. that interferes with their learning qualifies by law under FAPE (Free and Public Education). About 6 yrs ago (?), the government specifically stated that kids with ADHD, Bipolar, etc. meet the criteria for an IEP, under OHI (Other Health Impairment). The IEP allows for modifications and accommodations for your child at school and holds the school responsible for upholding it to the letter. Hence, why we were so upset with the teacher who kept trying to side-step the IEP when she thought she could "get away with it". The most important difference between and IEP and a 504 Plan, is that the IEP details what services your child is entitled to receive and assigns what personnel (teacher, counselor, etc.) are to be held responsible for each service; whereas a 504 Plan has a lot of leeway and pretty much puts everything under the judgment of the child's teacher. Sorry to ramble - hope that all made sense :)

Samantha - posted on 09/02/2009

That's unreal, obviously the teacher should have realized that Cailtlin ( I love that name) had a medical problem and if she couldn't deal with it, she should have had her put with a teacher that can. There are some great teachers out there that can handle situations and some that just don't want to deal with it at all. Sorry you and Caitlin ever had to go through that. I havn't heard of an IEP program, I wonder if it's simular to the 504 program. Hearing your story makes me feel very lucky that Brandon is pretty mellow at school and holds it all in until he gets out of class. Of course all the meds he is on keeps him very mellow through the day anyway. I wish you all the luck with 3rd grade and pray that she has an understanding and compasionate teacher this year around. Good Luck

Mary - posted on 09/01/2009

@ Samantha - thanks for the well wishes and support. We do, in fact, have an IEP in place for Caitlin, actually since 1st grade, and her teacher that year was wonderful!! (hopefully we'll get another for 3rd grade). Unfortunately, her 2nd grade teacher last year was anything but wonderful. She was very put off that she couldn't give Caitlin the same consequences as the rest of the children, i.e. "shame tactics" -- name on board for any "misbehavior", pink slips for bad conduct, etc. She also wouldn't let our daughter leave the classroom and go to a "safe place/person" to calm down enough to re-join the class (she felt Caitlin couldn't be trusted to go there & come back), but instead kept sending her to "the class library" aka a corner of the classroom where the other kids supposedly couldn't see her and the air conditioner would make enough "white noise" to block out sounds of Caitlin crying and generally losing control of her emotions (another "shame tactic" which is detrimental to already low self-esteem and self-worth). I understand there are going to be teachers/friends/family that don't really get what's going on with our daughter, even though we provide them with a plethora of info. For whatever reason, this particular teacher felt that despite the IEP, Behavior Plans, and various letters from professionals, our daughter was instead a master manipulator, liar, drama queen and generally a misbehaving child who needed the exact same consequences she's been giving students for the last 25 yrs. because, in her words -- "to do otherwise would be undermining my authority in the classroom." Honestly, their relationship was doomed literally from day one of 2nd grade when I was called into the classroom after the school day to be met with pure shock from this teacher that "we need to have strategies in place to deal with Caitlin behavior" (I asked what happened) "well she started crying and yelling, and pulling her hair and banging her head on her desk during a timed math test; and when I told Caitlin not to be such a fussy face, her anger got worse!" Gee -- ya think!!! My reply, of course, was something to the effect that per the IEP, our daughter wasn't to take ANY timed tests, and be allowed to go to a safe place when she has an "episode". My opinion was that the teacher never even bothered to really read the IEP in the first place. Even throughout the school year, I was assured the IEP and accommodation, etc. were being followed, but I'd find out otherwise from our daughter but not until the infraction was already committed and Caitlin was a basket case from trying to hold it in, i.e. Caitlin holds things in because she doesn't want to get "punished" or doesn't want that person to be mad at her. So we shall see how 3rd grade goes.....

Samantha - posted on 09/01/2009

Well put Mary, I'm very lucky that my son's school is going through the proper channels with me. We have a sst meeting scheduled thursday, and he has the most perfect teacher right now to deal with this. She is going to school for her masters in child phsycology and for these kind of medical issues in children. She is just wonderful with my son and it makes me feel good to know she is watching out for him. Mary, have you got a 504 letter from your pysciatrist to give to the school? If you have one use it completly to get your daughter on the proper school program, it will help all the way around with the school, hopefully. Thanks for joining in, it helps to hear everyones story and input. : ), remember to smile and just thank god that we are here to take care of these amazing, wonderful children who need us more than anything in the world.

Mary - posted on 09/01/2009

Just wanted to add my name to "the List" of mothers who are dealing with these challenging yet beautiful children. My 8 1/2 y/o daughter has been diagnosed with COBPD (Child-Onset Bipolar Disorder) & ADHD-combined since July 2007. A roller-coaster ride is about the best analogy for parenting these children with special needs. I concur with Samantha, "The Bipolar Child" is literally the bible for learning about kids with BP and how to deal with the symptoms. The parents (mostly moms) are truly the life-line for these kids - we know them best and don't let family, friends or teachers try to dissuade you from being your child's advocate in every way. Whenever I get "flack" from others about my daughter's erratic behavior (especially school personnel), I simply repeat as many times as needed that my daughter has a MEDICAL CONDITION that effects her moods, energy level, concentration, etc. BP & ADHD are not behavior problems; they're MEDICAL CONDITIONS and should be treated as such! The example I like to use is you would not expect an asthmatic child who is in the middle of an asthma attack to be able to concentrate, etc. on specific task, etc. And you certainly wouldn't punish, etc. an epileptic child because he/she won't stop having seizures! They need to understand that a bipolar child is basically having a "brain seizure" when they're in one of their "episodes". They literally cannot make sense of what's going on and how to proceed appropriately. We, the adults in the child's life, need to be their "filters" because they essentially do not have them.

Samantha - posted on 08/31/2009

Quoting Beverly:

Hi, I Dont know if I would be of any help, but my 8 year old son is about all of those two. He is currently in a hospital. I Also, would like to be able to talk to someone about being a parent during these times. However, i am not a been there done that mom.. I am learning as i go along. Would love to talk to a parent that is going thru this too... Feel so alone...
Beverly

Wow, I can' imagine if things got to the point of my son having to be in a hospital.  I to am just learning as I go along, as everyday seems to bring something new to the table.  I know how you feel when you say you feel so alone.  My husband is very involved in what is going on but sometimes it seems like us moms take it to a whole different level when it comes to what our children go through.  I would definatly say to start off with a book, i am currently reading "The Bipolar Child"  (third edition)by dimitris papolos.  I think it has opened my eyes to accept what is going on as I can agree and relate to just about all of it.  I does give me some comfort reading this book, and I am not I reader, I hate reading but when it gives you some peace of mind, I have had no trouble reading this book.  I have also started keeping a journal, writing about new challanges, good days, bad days, reactions to meds, how the dr appts go, etc.  I find I do most my crying when I am writing it out, just still in shock of how some days can be.  Hopefully I can be of some help, as we can all go through this together, don't feel alone, there are plenty of us mommy's feeling the same way!

Beverly - posted on 08/31/2009

Hi, I Dont know if I would be of any help, but my 8 year old son is about all of those two. He is currently in a hospital. I Also, would like to be able to talk to someone about being a parent during these times. However, i am not a been there done that mom.. I am learning as i go along. Would love to talk to a parent that is going thru this too... Feel so alone...

Beverly

Samantha - posted on 08/31/2009

Quoting Deana:

My 10yr old has Bipolar and ADHD. It is a very frustrating journey(she was diagnosed at 4). I want to smack everyone who says to me " I just don't get why someone would put a child on medication." Yeah, they have to be in our shoes. I am sorry for those who have children that have been or are committed. I am truly scared of what lies ahead for my daughter. It's too painful to even imagine. It definately helps to have someone to talk to.

My 9 year old son was just diagnosed with Bipolar, ADHD, and OCD. He has actually had it since he was 2 but has just been diagnosed properly for it. Going through the medicine trials have been so exhausting and for the first time in my life I have fallen in to depression. I spent the first 3 weeks crying, not understanding, then I hit the denial stage and just kept questioning the psyciatrist, then I decided to take a whole new approach. I went to the book store and bought a nice big stack of books about the disorder and am now educating myself. I am finally able to accept it and take all the proper steps to make sure my son has a happy healthy life. It is a lot for any parent to deal with, as I admit I still spend a lot of time crying and wishing I can make it all better. When you have your 9 year old holding a knife to his head threating to kill himself or making comments such as wanting to join the army so he can be the first one shot and killed, as a parent it is very hard to deal with emotionally. So to all you parents dealing with this, I wish you all the best as no one understands this unless you are going through it. If anyone needs to talk, I would love to, it definitly feels better to talk to someone else going through it too.

Samantha - posted on 08/30/2009

Quoting Deana:

My 10yr old has Bipolar and ADHD. It is a very frustrating journey(she was diagnosed at 4). I want to smack everyone who says to me " I just don't get why someone would put a child on medication." Yeah, they have to be in our shoes. I am sorry for those who have children that have been or are committed. I am truly scared of what lies ahead for my daughter. It's too painful to even imagine. It definately helps to have someone to talk to.

Georgianna - posted on 08/25/2009

Melinda,I feel your pain,and I know what you and your family are going through.One word of advice they really dont mean what they say,sometimes richard cant even remember when he's had a rage spell or the things that he's said.I cant even tell you how many times he has said he hates me,or that he wishes he had never been born,they really dont mean it.And one drug not to let them put your son on is paxil, when richard started taking that he keeped getting worse,paxil makes their condtion worse and makes them more violent. talk to you soon I hope. georgianna

Lisa - posted on 08/25/2009

WOW! I also didn't think that there was others that knew how I felt. I have a 14year old and she has ODD and ADHD. I think she had it I swear from like 2 or 3. It has been a long hard road for me and my hubby but for some reason she has taken it out on me for the most part. I have been the one here with her keeping her or trying to keep her where she needs to be. We adopted her and she didn't have a very good start to life. Her birth mom did a lot of drugs and drank while pregnant and after. There was physical and mental abuse also for the first year and a half of her life. So I have always tried to keep it together for her but it has been hard and only gets harder. The only emotions she seems to have is anger and haterage. I had a daughter to our surprise and she is 7 and can't wait till the older one moves out cause it is just pure hell living here with her. So I know what you all are going threw and counseling well we have tried all different kinds and thus far nothing seems to work. I just try to keep it together and hope there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is so hard no one will take her but my mother in law and she calls crying cause of what my daughter puts her threw. I do a lot of in my bedroom crying with the door closed. I'm at a loss.

Catherine - posted on 08/24/2009

I feel for everyone who has a child experiencing behavioral issues. My daughter has always had lots of energy and could be very demanding. She needed a lot of one on one help in kindergarten and sometimes had problems fitting in with other children. She is an only child, so I had little experience with these issues and cried almost daily when she first started school because I was always being called in to speak to the principal or a teacher. As she got older, I held her back one year because she was emotionally younger than many of the kids in her class and was already struggling with reading comprehension. We moved and then she started a new school where the teacher was a horrible bitch who treated her terribly and made her so upset that she talked about suicide - this, from a seven year old! The same teacher and a teacher's aid claimed that they believed she had ADHD and tried to convince me to allow them to label her as such. Instead, we went to a pediatric behaviourist who said she was nothing of the kind and to just keep my head down and keep ploughing forward, to trust my instincts about my daughter and focus on the positive. In the end, we discovered that she has dyslexia, found a tutor who specializes in teaching dyslexics, and she has come forward in leaps and bounds. She is almost nine, is a gifted artist and a very unique soul, and I'm so glad that I didn't allow nay sayers to railroad us into labels that would bring them more funding and make their jobs easier, while my daughter would have to live with that label for the rest of her life. Don't give up, even though it's rough. There are always happy surprises around the corner.

Amanda - posted on 08/24/2009

I also have a 9 yr old daugter with ADHD,Bipolar,and OCD. She was diagnosed about 4 yrs ago. She has been on meds ever since, differnent ones, because alot of them didnt work. Everyone around me doesnt understand as well. I have two other children, both boys, one 12 and the other 14 months old. Life around here is chaotic everyday. I completely understand how you feel; how everyone feels to be the parent of a child with these issues. Its not easy, but just try to remember that God doesnt make us endure things that he thinks we cant handle. There is a silver lining on this cloud, you just have to find it. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers always. Im on yahoo messenger if you want to talk/vent/cry, or whatever. I know its hard, but stay strong. You WILL get thru it. My ID on yahoo is ag_padgett. Add me if you want to talk. Im in KY btw.

Yvonne - posted on 08/23/2009

Hi There Tina!! I have a son who is 13 years old and diagnosed ADHD, Mood Disorder. I understand completely about living like your in a thunder storm. There are days that I simply want to run away and never come back. It is great to know that their are other people around who are experiencing the same things that I am. I am available for discussions or venting at any time.

Tammy - posted on 08/23/2009

I have a son that just turned 14 and is diagnosed with bi-polar adhd odd and other things it would be nice to talk to other moms going through the same thing

Melinda - posted on 08/22/2009

tina, there should be support groups for parents of bipolar children, they are just normally so far away, i know i couldn't attend a support group 50 miles away. this is an increasing diagnosis, and you would think that they would come up with more support groups. i thought once of starting one at a church. not sure of all the beauracracy surrounding it.

Melinda - posted on 08/22/2009

Quoting georgianna:

hi,I have a 16 year old son who is odd and adhd and bipolar,it has been a rough 7 years.Things are better but there are days that I still dont understand how a child can be so mean and hateful, when he has been so loved.Not a day goes by that I dont think there was something I could have done to change this coarse hes on.How could a loving happy child turn like this. Yes I know its a mental disorder, i've read the books done the research talked to the doctors,but somedays I still wish for more answers. georgianna patridge

georgianna,

i feel the same as you, and ppl ask when this started, i look back and think, i have pics of this kid, all smiles 3 &4 yrs old, and things just changed. he is now 15, and was admitted to the hospital Weds night, because of tying a belt to the clothesline post and around his neck, he didn't tie it to the post well enough, thank God, and it let loose, after it had placed bruises around his neck. this all started because he didn't feel he needed to take a consequense for his actions. him and his brother are both diagnosised with bipolar. and adhd, my mother blames me, maybe she is right,

it makes me so sad, that to avoid a conseq. he would do something so final.i'm at a loss, and don't know what to do anymore.

Sarah - posted on 08/22/2009

Some times i think as parents we all want to know it wasn't our fault.. life is cruel not just to those who have the conditions but also to us their parents and their siblings who also have a very hard time having someone diffirent and time / attention demanding as a sibling who they love and hate at the same time. Keep reading the books, keep hoping , keep believing not just that our children will cope with the harsh wide world but maybe one day the world might be able maybe not to help them but embrace them....

Georgianna - posted on 08/22/2009

hi,I have a 16 year old son who is odd and adhd and bipolar,it has been a rough 7 years.Things are better but there are days that I still dont understand how a child can be so mean and hateful, when he has been so loved.Not a day goes by that I dont think there was something I could have done to change this coarse hes on.How could a loving happy child turn like this. Yes I know its a mental disorder, i've read the books done the research talked to the doctors,but somedays I still wish for more answers. georgianna patridge

Nancy - posted on 08/22/2009

I found out in my daughter's senior year that she has depression and bipolar disorder. But, with medication and finally finding the right therapist life has gotten better. The things we went through brought us closer together and are doing things like going to the gym and taking a Integral Tai Chi class together. Sometimes she still has difficulties but, she seems to be able to control herself better. I find the older she gets it seems to get a little easier for us.

Holly - posted on 08/22/2009

I have a son who is 9 that is adhd and odd, and it seems no one here understands what we are going threw. ppl look down on me for him being on medication. i look at it like this he is my child and it makes him alot better.

Sarah - posted on 08/21/2009

Hi My son is now 20 but just because he is ADULT he has A.D.H.D and is far far far from it. I would say i survived but i'm not there yet. Days would go by and i felt the only mum in the world who loved their sweet child alot but could quite easily kill the little devil when it took over. He has been abusive as he got older and most people just look and i feel a failer most of the time with him. But i live in the hope one day ...... who knows.

Deana - posted on 08/20/2009

My 10yr old has Bipolar and ADHD. It is a very frustrating journey(she was diagnosed at 4). I want to smack everyone who says to me " I just don't get why someone would put a child on medication." Yeah, they have to be in our shoes. I am sorry for those who have children that have been or are committed. I am truly scared of what lies ahead for my daughter. It's too painful to even imagine. It definately helps to have someone to talk to.

LEANA - posted on 08/20/2009

then you ask the government for help and they say there is nothing wrong with her. How can they say that there is nothing wrong with them they dont live with them I just wish they would come and live in our shoes and really see what is going on.also jacquie and am so sorry that she is on a group home at a young age. It killed me why my 20 was committed for a week..

JACQUIE - posted on 08/20/2009

OMG. i didn't think there WAS anyone else out there. My 14 yr old has bi-polar and severe ADHD along with a slue of other issues. I was lucky to have found a practioner 10 yrs ago that agreed that there was something wrong with my daughter and it wasn't my parenting. That's the hardest part. Unless you've traveled this road people really have no idea. I have no great suggestions. I had to recently place my daughter in a group home for her safety and it doesn't look like that is going to be enough so she may have to go to a residential hospital. You treat the ADHD and then it brings out the bi-polar. viscious cycle.

LEANA - posted on 08/20/2009

I am also a mother with a child who has the same but also has been comitted for a week for wanting to kill herself. Gets down in the dumps because it was hard for her in school and she quit when she turned 18 and now struggles and wants to get a job but has a hard time controlling her anger and aggression...There are days at my house it is like WW3.

Leana

Jennifer - posted on 08/19/2009

Tina, I have a son who is 11 and has been diagnosed with Bi polar Disorder. They have also diagnosed him with ADHD and ODD but I think those are just smaller parts of the whole problem. I also have two other children who have true ADHD. I would be happy to share in this with you. I know that not a lot of people get what it's like to live amidst a thunderstorm EVERYDAY. I am always here if you need to share or just vent. Jenna