[jestlani]

hello, i am a mom of 3. and i am trying my best to do right by my kids. but lately i been having problems with my 2 oldest children they are 3 and 2. they can not sit still always on the got they get into everything and anything, what ever it is if they want it they get it. they climb and they have tantrumps like no tomorrow. their father has had add since he was 3(he is 44 now) my little brother has adhid since he was 7 i have a learning disabilty(not sure what kind) but i joke around with my boyfriend that am bipolar, and we went online to look at the symptoms for bipolar and i fit for it all...i guess what am asking is how do i know if my kids have add/adhd/adhid? someone please help me understand


thank you

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by jestlani

hello, i am a mom of 3. and i am trying my best to do right by my kids. but lately i been having problems with my 2 oldest children they are 3 and 2. they can not sit still always on the got they get into everything and anything, what ever it is if they want it they get it. they climb and they have tantrumps like no tomorrow. their father has had add since he was 3(he is 44 now) my little brother has adhid since he was 7 i have a learning disabilty(not sure what kind) but i joke around with my boyfriend that am bipolar, and we went online to look at the symptoms for bipolar and i fit for it all...i guess what am asking is how do i know if my kids have add/adhd/adhid? someone please help me understand

thank you

You need to take them to a medical professional for diagnosis - self-diagnosing is never a good idea. A psychiatrist or learning specialist is much better than a family doctor, as they will know more about the conditions, how to diagnose, and how to treat. Most psychiatrists will not trust a diagnosis made by a family doctor.

Hyperactive, inattentive behavior is normal at 2 & 3 years old, and every kid matures and develops differently. It might be too early to determine for your younger kids, and even if they were diagnosed, it might not be the best idea to medicate their little growing brains right away (some of the drugs do stunt your growth and physical development.)

I'd suggest going to the library and checking out some books about ADD/ADHD to better understand what it is and what you can do for your kids. Nothing will help more than educating yourself so that you can be their best advocate - and while you can learn a lot on PC, no online forum can stand in for taking the time to learn about it.

If you suspect you're bipolar, you should also consider a professional evaluation. It can wreak havoc if untreated, so if it really is a concern then don't wait. There are also several other conditions (and combinations of them) that mimic bipolar disorder, so there could easily be other (less scary!) issues causing similar symptoms.

[jnep]

A friend of mine has a daughter who used to have a short fuse and throw really bad tantrums, bad as in she would throw anything she could get her hands on and scatter and destroy anything that was in her path. She found an after school center that works with children who have special needs and spoke with the clinical director. From what she told me, the treatment was very parent-involved. They taught her techniques on how to handle her daughters behavior when she wasn't at the center. They also did in-home sessions to see how her behavior was at home. My friend seems less stressed out and her daughter seems more calm than before. You can consult with her to diagnose your kids since she's a certified clinician. My friend has had a very positive experience with the facility. The place is called the Learning and Behavioral Center, LLC.

They're located in Tarzana, CA but I don't think it will be a problem if you're not in the area. My friend was able to keep her weekly appointments with the clinical director via skype/telephone while the clinical director was flying to other states doing in-home session with her out-of-state clients.

I hope this helps. I haven't experienced this first hand but I've seen the toll it can take on a parent. Best of luck

[BlackCanary]

Hey, your kids are a bit young for an ADHD diagnosis. Impulsive, inattentive, climbing, not listening to directions - all of this is standard toddler behavior.

I have an ADHD son. Yes, we suspected ADHD pretty early, maybe at age 4 when he was in preschool and struggled with learning. BUT we also wanted to give his brain time to mature, because patience can be learned.

I'd definitely pursue getting mental health support for YOU! With three kids age 3 and under, you have a huge amount of responsibility and it's going to wear you out. That is a LOT of butt wiping and lots of messy meal times. They don't know how to entertain themselves, always relying on you. I hope you are able to meet up with other moms and kids at a community center or other location where there are activities and fun things to do.

If you are stressed inside, then the kids' behavior will be SO hard to handle. I have really had to work hard on keeping calm because my ADHD son really pushes all my buttons some days.