[Homeira]

I realize that a lot of people in the forum have suffered from this medical illness as children as well. I wonder what is the opinion about giving a child a diagnosis. How about giving a child medication? Do you guys see other ways to help a child struggeling with this issue? Considering that bipolar is a hereditary illness, what do we do when we spot symproms in our children? Are we too much on the alert when it comes to looking for bipolar-symptoms in our children? As a parent, I see that my son exhibits some symptoms making me suspect a possible case of ADHD. But I am very reluctant to have him diagnosed and put on medication...

To me I guess it would depend on the severity of the symptoms in the child and how its effecting the child's life. I have seen many children (i hve none of my own, but hae friends that do) that do well with positive coping mechanisms and parental support. They did well in school and seemed to be doing very well overall. I have another friend who wasn't so lucky and their child has severe ADHD and ODD. They began him on Ritalin and it was a complete turnaround. With positive coping, the medication and therapy, their child is a straight A student with no behavior problems and acts like himself. They found just the right dose to prevent him from being a "zombie" and he lives a completely normal life. You really just have to look at your particular situation and determine if the benefits outweigh the risk. There is really no one answer to this question. It is very situational.

i think medication is a rocky road with kids. below the age of 14, i would find it difficult to see how a kid could be prescribed lithium or emolium. 'milder' drugs, if they are needed then yes.

[Victoria'smom]

My son is ASD, ADHD. His previous dr. said he was bipolar but was not going to diognose unless he had to be hospitalized. We went to a psychiatrist after his first suicide attempt. He was on lamictal, abilify, and daytrana. We moved and now he's only on daytrana. He's been suicidal and picking at his skin to the point he looks like he has the chicken pox and walks around bloody. I can't keep up with the wounds. He needs his meds so we'll see how his doctor handles it in three months.

Before going the traditional we tried to teach him our coping skills, had him in sports, every socail activity we could find. We resorted to learningRX while that help we needed more help when we found out the suicide attempt.

[Homeira]

I am sorry to hear about the struggle your son is facing. And I can only imagine how hard it is for you guys as his parents to cope with it as well. My son is not showing as severe symptoms. But there is a problem some times at school because he can have a very limited attention-span. He recently started high-school, and he seems to be doing better overall there. His grades are better, he seems more content, and calmer in a way. So I am not stressing it right now. But there is a parent-teacher meeting coming up soon, and then I will know more about how he does in class etc.

My kids pdo pdoc didn't want to DX him"bipolar" with all the stig attached. She called it a mood disorder and put him on seroquel for 3 years. He wanted off and doing great! Like he didn't need it. His mom and I are both bipolar, and he seems normal, so he doesn't get me. He doesn't have the label.

[Homeira]

I am concerned about the kids who are not as academically strong. In earlier times there were a lot more opportunities job-wise for more practical jobs. These days it seems that everyone needs to have a degree from a universty. And if a kid is not able to follow along the present school-system, which seems to target the academically inclined kids, they get labed as ADHD or so. Very negative for those who really have ADHD or bipolar or such, since that is very real and quite serious disorders.