[pandaseal]

If you have any questions that you can't seem to find answers to, or want to know what it is like to be Bipolar go ahead and ask.

[Dr. Art]

A really good book for parents is

The Bipolar Child. It has terrific information and is easy to read.

[meowylyn]

Did it take a long time for your bipolar disorder to be diagnosed? i.e. Were you diagnosed with ADHD first? There seems to be a lot of overlap in symptoms at younger ages.

[adopteefran]

I have been through hell, first they made inhuman on mass amounts of ritalin for ADD, then they thought it was depression, put me on anti depressents till i went crazy on an attempted suicide and then bipolar. But they have never gotten me the right medicine, first they put me on a medicine lithuium and i gained 20lb then they put me on topomax so i wouldnt get fat, i walked my feet raw, then they put me on depakote, i was like a zombie. Then i tried an anti-anxiety, it would make me fall asleep where i was standing. then they tried lamictal and i would throw up constantly so now its back to the lithium and topamax, i dont think medicine is worth it anymore

[adopteefran]

I have been through hell, first they made inhuman on mass amounts of ritalin for ADD, then they thought it was depression, put me on anti depressents till i went crazy on an attempted suicide and then bipolar. But they have never gotten me the right medicine, first they put me on a medicine lithuium and i gained 20lb then they put me on topomax so i wouldnt get fat, i walked my feet raw, then they put me on depakote, i was like a zombie. Then i tried an anti-anxiety, it would make me fall asleep where i was standing. then they tried lamictal and i would throw up constantly so now its back to the lithium and topamax, i dont think medicine is worth it anymore

[mamasong]

My daughter, (adopted) was diagnosed with ADD as a 7 year old, and was helped tremendously with Ritalin and later Concerta. She is now 22, was diagnosed Bipolar, but no medication has agreed with her. She has gained a lot of weight, and only takes meds for ADD. Have you found anything that works for you?? Do you have difficulties with medication....as in low tolerance, or easy "build up" to toxicity??

[goaway]

I was told i was bipolar and they put me on all sorts of medications when i was younger. It turned out that i just had a lot of issues to work out on being adopted. I had terriable anxiety attacks especially when i had to go to school ...i didnt feel i fit in i had trouble focusing. I think people forget all the stress that sometimes comes with being adopted whatever baggage youve left be hind.. or pain and discomfort you have to work out. Iv been in therapy all my life and have found that as time went on and as i worked out my issues i no longer needed medication and my anxiety went away. iv read that many children are diagnosed bipolar because they are when there younger..they dont know who they are sometimes erratic.. esp adoptee or trama exposed. My best advise is to seek therapy if you can..talk about your issues and i feel its always healthyer if you can work it out instead of taking medication..they tried everything when i was younger.. i was like a lab rat nothing worked..only therapy..time..patinece...understanding..and lots and lots of love! i still have lots of work to do.. but anixety and erattic bevaviour has changed for the better!

[mama2-8]

Originally Posted by goaway

I was told i was bipolar and they put me on all sorts of medications when i was younger. It turned out that i just had a lot of issues to work out on being adopted. I had terriable anxiety attacks especially when i had to go to school ...i didnt feel i fit in i had trouble focusing. I think people forget all the stress that sometimes comes with being adopted whatever baggage youve left be hind.. or pain and discomfort you have to work out. Iv been in therapy all my life and have found that as time went on and as i worked out my issues i no longer needed medication and my anxiety went away. iv read that many children are diagnosed bipolar because they are when there younger..they dont know who they are sometimes erratic.. esp adoptee or trama exposed. My best advise is to seek therapy if you can..talk about your issues and i feel its always healthyer if you can work it out instead of taking medication..they tried everything when i was younger.. i was like a lab rat nothing worked..only therapy..time..patinece...understanding..and lots and lots of love! i still have lots of work to do.. but anixety and erattic bevaviour has changed for the better!

I so agree with you. I am not anti-medication to say the least, but as foster/adopt parents we have to remember what the child has gone through. The pain doesn't stop when they are adopted. It could take years to heal those wounds, and medication isn't always the answers.
Thanks for sharing with us, its alwasy nice to get adoptee's prospective.

[4mykidz]

My AD, S, is bipolar and a combo of zoloft and Risperdal have made her into a different child. She is learning how to take control when her rages come on. Before this, she was excessively violent and completely unpredicatble. Her dx is compounded with FAS.

[warriormom]

I'm very interested in anything you can tell me. My 15 year-old daughter has recently been diagnosed with "mood disorder" or "bi-polar" disorder, depending on which therapist/psychiatrist I talk to. She had previously been on Lexapro, an anti-depressant, but would not take it. (She would say she took it, but wouldn't take it.) Finally, she admitted to a new therapist that it made her "brain go too fast". So at the recommendation of the therapist her psychiatrist now has added "Abilify" in the lowest dosage. I think it has really helped her mood to be lighter and more easy-going. She still seems to enjoy the sadness and the melodrama. I know part of that is just being a teen, but I just don't understand why it's so hard for her to WANT to be happy. Can you relate to that at all? Does it ring a bell with you? Do you have any insight that might help me better understand my daughter? Thanks.

[sassafras]

I have a bipolar daughter who is 12. She is adopted. She says such horrible things, screams at top of her lungs at me etc. i try to remind myself its the disease but it's really hard to bond.

Any insights i would love to hear them!

[SunshineHappy]

Originally Posted by leca

I have a bipolar daughter who is 12. She is adopted. She says such horrible things, screams at top of her lungs at me etc. i try to remind myself its the disease but it's really hard to bond.

Any insights i would love to hear them!

Bipolar is not a disease nor an illness nor a disability.
It is a neurological disorder which affects the way we think and behave etc.
Its the same with autism, its not technically a mental illness its just a brain disorder which affects the way we think.

[foreveramom]

My husband is bipolar and he has been through several different medications. We have had tremendous success with Zyprexa. It has been a miracle drug for us. He had to start out at high doses until the mania was under control, and we have been able to cut the dose. He currently takes 10 mg. zyprexa and 300 mg. wellbutrin. It really can be controlled. We have been truly blessed. He did gain a good bit of weight with the zyprexa, but he has been able to lose a lot of it with changing his diet.

[mmdd2b]

My AS's bparents are both bipolar. He is currently almost 4. Although he has come along way, we are still way concerned about his phsyc right now. We know he has been diagnosed with P.D.D., RAD, Echolalia, PTSD, etc.

He is extremely bright, where my DH and I have to be up to speed 10x more around him. He is constantly in survival mode, always giving you an answer he thinks you want to here, when you know ten things crossed his mind that were not good thoughts before he came up with the right one? Is that normal with Bipolar symptoms? He has no social boundaries, he would rather hurt someone and think he can play.

He is starting to hurt siblings in a way that is thought out first, then act. Like he doesn't know the consequences even though he does. How hard is it to find the right diagnosis of bipolar in children?

Sorry for this being long? You may not have any answers, just trying to figure him out.

Kristy

[foreveramom]

I don't have any experience with bipolar children, only my husband. My husband has never been violent. When he has gone off of his meds, he has been aggressive and slept very little (which I think adds to the agitation). The more manic, the louder. Thank the Lord we haven't been through it in a long time. We have been truly blessed. Wish I could help you!