Children with bipolar disorder can also have other diagnoses. Some are separation disorder, ODD, OCD and anxiety disorder. Some symptoms of children with bipolar disorder are they cannot take no for an answer, have no remorse; they tend to be bullies (by picking on smaller children and small animals). These children can also sadly have dreams that are very graphic. These dreams are extremely visual seeing mostly blood and gore. It is believed that dreams like these are almost exclusive to children. When children with bipolar disorder are manic video games and TV can hold no interest to them. When these children are totally out of control they will be mostly physical and verbally abusive to those people who are closest to them. They tend to have grandiose delusions. It has been found as a fact that most children with bipolar disorder have major craving for carbohydrates and sweets.

REMEDIES

The parents with the help of a therapist (if proffered) need to help the child do some damage control so the child can see the source of their anger. I personally have found out, time outs do not work. The child is so angry he/she is not able to sit and think about what it is they may have done. These children need to find a way to release this anger. Holding them tightly even if they do not want to be held can help tremendously. This only proves to show the child no matter what they may have done or said they are still greatly loved. Also giving the child things to do to help release the anger can be extremely helpful. Things like tearing up old phone books (but they have to pick up the mess and with the anger gone they are most likely willing to clean up), hitting punching bags, counting to ten and screaming into a pillow ( this last one helps us parents too). Only when the anger is in control and only then the child may be able to speak about the situation. We as parents need to listen very closely so we can help figure out how to help the child head off the next outburst. This parent has found to pick and choose my battles carefully.

FACTS

It is suspected that a great number of children that are diagnosed with ADHD have C.O.B.P.D. or even both. Another frightening fact is that alcohol and drug addiction can happen when there is no diagnoses of bipolar made at a early age. Early intervention can have a significant reduction of severity, frequency and duration of episodes.

The one thing that bipolar disorder does not discriminate about is medication. Adults and children must go though the trial and error of medications to help find the right combination. Adult and children a like all react differently to medications. Some meds will work for one and not the other. The same goes for side effects. One person may have severe side affects and another person have none. We must always remember that bipolar disorder is different and similar in every different person.

SUMMARY

Lastly, more on a personal note., I now have two children with bipolar and one is also ADHD. It can be so hurtful to us as parents to carry the stigma of we have "bad" children. It has taken me years to come to realize that this simple is not true. We should consider ourselves the best parents these children could ask for. I believe we were hand picked to raise these children because we are the ones who are special. We fight for everything our children need (not want) from the best psychiatrists and therapists. We work hard with the school Dept. to get them the best I.E.P. (individual educational plan) and education possible. We will go to the end of the earth, give our right arm to make sure our children get the best treatment available. We would never give up on our children no matter how much we get hurt. We do need to take care of our children but please remember to take care of you. With out you were would the child be.

Remember we were given a job to do. A hard job, but not an impossible one.

 

BrendaW