7yr old with Bi-polar

Kris - posted on 04/01/2011

I am so glad you found thi site. your daughter is so young and you will need all the support available. here to help or just listen : )

Sharon - posted on 01/06/2010

QUOTE: . I really have hardly touched on what we have been going through with her mood swings and everything else! END QUOTE



I'm not surprised. It does sound like the doctors really tried a lot and definitely did the question aspect. Poor kid.



I hope things continue to go well for her. & I hope you find a way to show her that her illness IS an illness and she needs these meds. So many kids rebel by refusing their meds. Hang in there.



DId you google "bipolar child support" Or "bipolar child forum"?

Kathy - posted on 01/06/2010

well we started taking her to drs. 2 yrs ago. She would be fine then all of a sudden she would start crying for no reason then she'd be fine again,this would go on all day long. Then there were days upon days that were bad all day then she was very "hyper" full of energy. She never slept it would be nothing for her to go to bed at 4am then get up at 7am. First they said she had adhd but meds werent working so she went to a clinic they ran diff. tests asked tons of questions and this was the diagnosis, she has been on meds for approx. 18 mnths her "mood swings" are sooooo much better her rages are alot better she sleeps approx. 11-13 hrs a nite and the school says they have seen a positive improvement in her since she started the meds. So I am only going by what a clinic has told us and a psychologist. I really have hardly touched on what we have been going through with her mood swings and everything else!

Kelsey - posted on 01/04/2010

I was diagnosed with mild bipolar when I was 13... if you have any questions email me at kelsey.anderson@mchsi.com

Amanda - posted on 01/03/2010

Bipolar disorder is so hard for the parent and the child. I worked with a child psychiatrist for a long time who specialized in childhood bipolar disorder....having said that I have to say that I agree with the other posts...it is so easy for a psychiatrist to diagnose Bipolar these days. The one worked for would literally just listen to the symptoms and prescribe...he never really understood if there was a why behind the symptoms,...ex.. if the child is becoming rageful at school is a particular child bullying them,etc. I would definitely get a second and third opinion!

If she truly has it then she is going to need a lot of support. I'm not sure about where you live but in Texas we have an organization called NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). They provide parent trainings and support groups...I will be praying for you and if you ever need some encuragment please send me a message.

Amy Jo - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting Kathy:

7yr old with Bi-polar

I have a 7yr old daughter with bi-polar disorder. Anyone else out there? I could sure use some new insites. Poor baby also has asthma and severe food allergies and enviromental allergies. Feel free to email me also jahayley6112@yahoo.com

Sharon - posted on 01/03/2010

it can be done. its exceedingly rare. and its not a label doctors happily slap on a child to give an answer.



I find it unlikely for a child to have real psychiatric disorders. I believe, its mostly s.f.b. parents who are unwilling to exert real parenting skills over their children and are now reaping the benefits.



HOWEVER it does happen. Of course it happens. And perhaps this poor child really does have bipolar disorder.



in which case you have my deepest sympathies because the support community for such an issue is wretchedly small.



I am curious as to which diagnoses model her doctors used though?

Shelly - posted on 01/03/2010

How in the world can they tell at 7 years old if a child is bi-polar? That just seems too young. I'm not being critical, just stunned & confused that a doctor would label a child so early. Have you gotten a 2nd opinion? I'm a ER nurse by trade, and before that I worked on an ambulance (we did lots of mental health runs). I just hate to see kids put on meds when they don't really need them. How did they come about finding out your daughter was bi-polar? Please don't take offense to my post, I'd just like some insight on why they think your daughter is bi-polar, I have never really come upon a child this young with this dx before.