Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Dx'd with mood disorder, not BP, but it's the same thing without the label.
2 weeks in a row now he's been suspended for hitting teachers. He has explosive violent outbursts. I don't know what else to do with him.
He's suspended, grounded, lost all toys and tv, sees a tdoc, just got out of time out (I kept him there for nearly an hour), I talked to him about it.
What else can I possibly do with him to get it through that it's not ok? Do you think this is mood disorder related? (It happened when he didn't get his way) Pdocs only want to medicate him for ADHD even though they acknowledge that he has a mood disorder. They won't give him meds for it until they've exhausted all ADHD meds without success. I don't want to put him through the medication merry go round at 6 years old (and I've tried him on 4 ADHD meds already without success).
What more can I possibly do? ANY ideas are welcome! Please!
2 weeks in a row now he's been suspended for hitting teachers. He has explosive violent outbursts. I don't know what else to do with him.
He's suspended, grounded, lost all toys and tv, sees a tdoc, just got out of time out (I kept him there for nearly an hour), I talked to him about it.
What else can I possibly do with him to get it through that it's not ok? Do you think this is mood disorder related? (It happened when he didn't get his way) Pdocs only want to medicate him for ADHD even though they acknowledge that he has a mood disorder. They won't give him meds for it until they've exhausted all ADHD meds without success. I don't want to put him through the medication merry go round at 6 years old (and I've tried him on 4 ADHD meds already without success).
What more can I possibly do? ANY ideas are welcome! Please!
(((big hugs)))
One option for a mood stabilizer for a child that young might be an anticonvulsant prescribed off label. My son was placed on one at age 11. His primary symptom was rage.
I've got his blanket for leverage left...that's it. I don't know whether to go the medication route or not. I hate the thought that he's actually suffering, but which is worse? The suffering or the suffering he would go through from medication side effects?
Gentle and creative redirection can be constructive and it will give him something to focus on instead of going nuts...
You know something like, every time you do that I want you to write a poem about why you shouldn't have done that or what better way there was to accomplish your goal... etc...
I wish I could take all of you parents through one of my courses... I train children's homes on how to deal very positively with children that are struggling...
He does see a regular therapist, and he's currently unmedicated (except at bedtime). I've tried sugar free diets in the past to try and see if that was a problem. I'll have to look into an allergist.
l wish l had a better answer but perhaps just talking over the meds route to see if its a definate no or yes might help, and having your little one assessed properly from today to see if he really is at breaking point himself.