You were right when you said she can't help it. Because she can't. Is she on meds right now? I personally wasn't dx until 2 years ago but I know my husband just couldn,t deal but he tried to make the best of it and he stuck in there for our kids (thank God) someone had to. I've been through the sceaming, flipping over chairs and tables and breaking things and I'm 32 yrs. old. I can't imagine how a child must feel. I guess my only advice is hang in there, get her stablized on her meds and take care of that poor baby.
Best of luck.

Thanks...yes she is currently taking lithium and geodon...but has a really long list of past meds...As she gets older I see her trying to control her rages on her own I guess that is start,sometimes she can tell me when her mood is changing so we can all prepare!

It sounds like she's doing well for someone her age. I mean, think of yourself when you were 8, how aware were you of your moods, and how they affect others? Give her opportunity to learn about herself, get her some CBT, it will help. AND try not to take anything personally. (My daughter is fine, but I still have to remind myself that it's not personal, it's just her moods, at least once a week, and she's not 2 yet.) I've read about attachment parenting idea of discipline (as guidance, not punishment), and the frameworks is SO helpful. Try one of Dr. Sears's books. I know what you're going through is outside of normal experience, but it will still help. Your daughter is still growing, and kids learn well. She will get better with time.

I teach my daughter that she can scream and not hit/bite when she's angry, etc. I try to steer towards less destructive behavior. Try giving your daughter alternatives. You might need a child psychologist's help to get some ideas. But get her into a sport, say soccer, where there's lots of running, or something similar, that will surely help, exhausts her, sometimes is a rage outlet, and physical exercise helps brain chemistry too.

Also, very important: my INSANE PMSs stopped when I went on a low-carb diet. And my mood improved significantly. Make sure she's not eating simple sugars, nor white flour bread and pasta, nor rice cakes etc. Common culprits are also pop, candy, chips, oh, about half of what we eat. Educate yourself on the glycemic index, and steer her diet to low-glycemic foods. This is good for her anyway, but there is some research that it helps the mood too. Also, try less processed food, as some additives, food colorings etc, affect kids. And again, it can only be good for her. And absolutely have her thyroid (TSH, T4 and T3) checked. That's cheap and easy.

thanks for the advise, It is really hard for her to get envolved in things such as sports ect because of her anxiety..she struggles in school with her friends also she often tells me "mommy nobody likes me" or they don't like her because she acts goofy..it's really hard to hear that coming from your young child. but thanks again you guys are really great!!!

Have you tried swimming? Athletics (as in running)? Tennis? Ice skating? These are very individual sports, that she can practice on her own, and maybe if she's successful, she can track her progress. I was very socially anxious at times, but I was still in sports because I had to be. Just throwing ideas at you.

Also, as she gets older, there will be friends for her, no matter how goofy she may be. Kids that small are rather conformist, they shy away from the strange, but older kids seek it. I mean, think of teenagers.

Try to brainstorm a way to involve her physically, to take away some of that energy.

hi my son is 12, and i agree with everything you are saying. he is not stable yet but we sre getting there.its so hard to get mad i know i feel so bad for these children this is an awful disease. check out my journal and lets talk if you want
barbara

I was diagnosed when I was 12. I hit puberty early (age 9), so my mom kept thinking it was hormones. We struggled for many years. I have to say it got much worse before it got better. I saw her as my savior, who was choosing to not help me...it wasn't for lack of trying, it was the we couldn't find the right combo of meds. Wasn't til I was 21 that I found the right stuff. Don't be discouraged by this because I had a lot of resistance in between my diagnosis and that age. I refused therapy once I turned 18 and my parents couldn't make me. I had several reactions to drugs. We tried going with out drugs with just talk therapy, etc...The one thing I can tell you is, I wouldn't change a thing about what I experienced. I'm 32 now and my mom is my best friend. She is the person I turn to, even though I'm now married and have a great therapist because she was the only one who has been there and seen me at my worst, so when I feel like I'm slipping back, she pulls me right back up. Unfortunately, I think your relationship will feel a little like trial and error, but as long as you support her, she'll feel safe.

my nephew was undiagnosed childhood bipolar for most of his life, and it was extremely trying for my sister and the whole family in general. He's the oldest of six, almost seven kids, and refuses to swallow any sort of pill, so my sister put him on a special diet to regulate some of the chemicals in his brain, and it has made such an amazing difference that it's not even funny. You can read about it here: http://milehimama.blogspot.com/2006/11/yep-im-quack.html

I am sorry that your child has bipolar they use many different medications for your children. It is sometimes scary to read about these but as they get older they will change them.

Elflet, THANK YOU SO MUCH for that link. Now I know why you're so skeptical about the US medicine. :)

Wow thanks so much...good link