[dreamer7369]

I have a 9 year old son who was diagnosed about 8 months ago as bipolar, no one around me understands him and honestly even though I print stuff and email them information, I don't think they are even trying. I feel alone and am looking for some help from either another parent of a bipolar child or some one with bipolar who can give me some insite on what to do when he flys into his rages, or when he is so sad and can't shake it. any advice welcome thanks

dawn

[grizmom]

Hi Dawn! Will you and your son be seeing a therapist? Other than that, you can help teach him coping techniques to learn how to get through the hard times, and it is important to keep the lines of communication open. I'm not sure what other advice to give; I wish you the best!

Originally Posted by dreamer7369

I have a 9 year old son who was diagnosed about 8 months ago as bipolar, no one around me understands him and honestly even though I print stuff and email them information, I don't think they are even trying. I feel alone and am looking for some help from either another parent of a bipolar child or some one with bipolar who can give me some insite on what to do when he flys into his rages, or when he is so sad and can't shake it. any advice welcome thanks

dawn

You might look for a local chapter of DBSA. Sometimes they have groups for parents. That might be a good place to start.

[Eloise42]

My experience is with doing child-care for some special need kids (although personally I think all children have special needs) and I can also relate to your son's behavior. I didn't have that many episodes when I was his age but I did have some.

It's important that he has an outlet, drawing or reading. He needs a place he can go mentally and/or physically that is safe and comforting. I was nanny for a 5 y.o. who curled up in a milk crate when he was distressed, I could get him out of the milk crate by reading to him. It could be a stuffed toy, a certain book, activity or even something like apple juice whatever brings him back. Having a routine is also really comforting and important.

Having another thing to take care of might seem overwhelming but there is also a lot to be said for animal therapy. I can't tell you how many times I was able to keep it together because my animal depended on me. I have a cousin with Ausberger's who is the same age as your son. He doesn't relate to people naturally but shows incredible affection towards his cat. He calls her his "angel". I think he adores her because she doesn't have the emotional demands on him that people do.

Whether he is up or down it might make him feel better to know that you recognize it. I'm twenty-eight and if I had the option of sitting on my mom's lap every time I feel depressed I would. Ask him how he feels and if he can communicate it, repeat what he said and ask him what would make him feel better. If he's not verbal in an episode he might be able to communicate with a sticker chart later.

Extreme emotions can give us tunnel vision, it might make him see the larger picture if he can use stickers to represent different emotions and see them all together.

[RRU96]

I unfortunatly do not have any experience with children, though I am bipolar. I was wondering if there were ways to incorporate the child into talking about the emotions on an age appropriate level.

I dont know if this is coming out right, but for instance, a board, with varying degrees of frowns and smiles... letting him express how he is feeling emotionally using a Smile Chart (for lack of better terms).

Think of it like... the Pain index chart you see in your doc's office. On a scale of 1-10, how bad is the pain kind of thing. I would like to think that if something like this was incorporated it would help the mom be more apt to learn the ups and downs, the signs of each, and even triggers that her son may not be able to recognize yet.

MOM- I dont mean to talk around you like your not here. It just came out that way. sorry.