Please Help for my Child?

My daughter has been suffering from some form of emotional, mental illness and its accelerating rapidly. She is 9 yrs old and her mother is bipolar and me father has suffered from depression and anxiety. We have three children and she is the oldest. We have sought help from local psychiatrists and counselors but Im not sure they are getting it. She is a miserable child, so unhappy and I am on a quest to help her. Some of her symtoms include up and down mood swings, almost tantrum like episodes of crying and inability to control her body, twitching like behaviors, crying hysterically and saying "I want it to stop" but cant describe what it is she wants to stop. Has stated she cant live like this and feels like hurting herself. It appears she wants to crawl out of her skin. If you didnt know it was emotional you would think she was in physical pain. She also has an incredible fear of illness and sleeps with a bowl in her face for fear of throwing up and carrys the bowl around. She has been hospitalized 5 times and is on a new medication which has decreased the time duration of the episodes but not enough. Current medication is imipramine, which I also take. She has very little happiness and is suffering. I fear she may become a victim to suicide as she becomes a teenager and I need help now. These counselors and psychiatrists just dont seem to be aggressively trying to get to the bottom of it and I feel im running out of patience with them. I need some solid direction and help. maybe some child forums or experts that you may know of or anything PLEASE

Does she display these behaviors during appointments with her T or pdoc?

There are psychiatrists that focus on children under 16 years of age. I would suggest phoning the places where you have already been and asking them for names of psychiatrists who specialize in working with children. Maybe also phone your local mental health clinic/hospital and ask them for names of doctors.

I am sorry that this situation is so horrid. I hope you can find someone soon.

OMG HOW AWFUL! I can't believe they're not helping her! Do you have a children's hospital in your area? I don't know what to say! Um, I think I would try a crisis hotline, call St. Jude's Hospital, tell her Dr you want a referral to someone that will take you seriously or something. Whatever you do keep fighting until you get some answers! Have you tried videoing her when she gets like that so you can show the docs what she's going through? Maybe That would get their attention?? Bless your hearts I hope you get the help you need soon!

She is solely on an older class anti depressant. Has she ever been evaluated for seizures or migraine? Some of the things she has said jump out as symptoms of child migraine because they can't explain it. I feel you need to have her go through a Neuropsychological evaluation.

Yoda's question is a very good one. Also, I absolutely agree that your daughter MUST be seen by pediatricians, therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in working with children. For example, play therapy or art therapy with a qualified therapist would be so helpful with regard to figuring out exactly what's going on.

In addition, is it possible that the imipramine itself is causing your daughter to have more severe symptoms? Maybe it isn't the best medication for her?

Is she seeing a child psychiatrist or a therapist specializing in children? Does the hospital have a children's unit or is it a children's hospital?

One thing that jumps out at me about the "crawling out of her skin" is that it can be caused by some medications. I've had that happen and it's a horrible feeling and not easy to describe.

First and foremost though, I think seeing a child specialist is a good idea if she's not currently seeing one.

I feel for you.
Get a pediatric pdoc and you said she has been hospitalized in the past. Was is a psyche hospital?
Many times,sadly, you have to wait until whatever it is causing this progresses and morphs into a solid diagnosis. It is very hard to pin down anything until she begins to reach puberty and things escalate. I know they are escalated now.....i understand. I do.
Some pdocs are hesitant to over medicate children when their brain development is still going on because of the problems it will cause.
I would insist on a pediatric psychologist and start demanding more help.
Im so sorry that your family and your daughter are going through this.

I agree, if she isn't seeing a child psychiatrist and child therapist she needs to being specialists. I agree that taping them when they are happening would help if her therapist has never seen what they look like. Also a referral to a neurologist to make sure that there are nothing organic going on that is causing these things. Keep fighting to figure out what is going on. On the contrary to what was said above, you do not have to wait until she reaches puberty to get a diagnosis. The sooner this is figured out the better. Given that she is stating that she wants to hurt herself, make sure you tell this to her treatment team. I hope you find out what is going on. Also assure her that you still love her no matter what and you are there for her to talk to and to support her and that you are trying to find answers to help her.

Sorry for the misunderstanding,
I was trying to explain that when she gets to puberty age it is when a more -solid- diagnosis can be made. With children it is very hard to pinpoint exactly what is going on. Not that parents have to wait until that time to get help or medication.

Hi all,
She is seeing a counselor who works with children but not a psychiatrist for children. I have recently video taped her so I could have some ammunition with me because I was going to contact Bostons Childrens Hospital , the psychiatric department. This is hurting me so bad and has caused some marital problems , which is a whole different issue. I know she wont make it through her life if it isn't fixed now. I recently watched a show on The learning channel about that little girl with schizophrenia and they show her behaviors and I think to myself, "that's it?" My daughter makes her look easy. My other two children just look at her and cant believe it, even my 3 yr old. When they hospitalized her it was at 3 different Cbats which stands for something but its almost more like a group home type environment which I don't think is for her, she needs a higher clinical level but our insurance doesn't seem to want to cover it. They put her there for a week or so which doesn't help. Today her friend told her about a girl who committed suicide down the street GREAT!!! She was frantic that she will do that to herself she told me. Good God what do I do????

Was this happening before she started any medication? Certain medications can actually cause someone to feel like they are in physical pain or like they are profoundly intolerably restless.

ON ,

Yes it was happening before the medications , they have tried her on multiple medications but this one is the best. I have been studying her closely lately and one thing Ive noticed over the last year is that during the summer she was better. As the winter months progressed she grew worse. Then she told me the only coping skill that works for her was taking warm baths, which has helped. So I put two and two together and could this be possibly temperature related perhaps or the feeling of warmth??? Has anyone seen this, I know there is a sunlight deprivation mood disorder but could this be related? What is it?

Has she had a proper neurological exam?

When my daughter first starting having problems I took her to a state run mental health clinic and things just were not getting better. Finally I was able to get a referral to Kennedy Krieger Institute and she was evaluated by a Developmental Disabilities pediatrician and that was the best thing that could have happened. My advice would be to try and find a developmental disabilities pediatrician because they are specialists and hopefully they will know how to help your child and be able to give you the proper referrals to others who can help. Believe me I understand how frustrating and heartbreaking this can be when you see your child suffering and you don't know how to help them. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for your feedback. She has not had a neurological exam at all and I have been going to these state run facilities. Today I contacted Childrens Tufts Hospital, which is not state run. These state run agencies dont seem to care so im hoping tufts will help.

I have been studying her closely lately and one thing Ive noticed over the last year is that during the summer she was better. As the winter months progressed she grew worse

I don't know if this would help, but a family member of mine uses a light box during the winter to help. Something you could ask the doctor about if it's worse during the winter.

Your daughter does sound very seriously troubled, and you are right to fear for her future. I would strongly suspect that there are serious problems with your family dynamics. Your daughter's behavior is a symptom of something out of whack that is bigger than just her. Have you tried any kind of family counseling?

I hope you find a way to improve the situation. It is very much to be worried about. I may be all wrong, but I think your daughter is reacting to something going on around her in the home.

No it isn't (IMHO.) I suspect they are two aspects of the same issue. That may be what you need to change in your thinking. (Just a suggestion.)

I agree, with this! See a neurologist, if the pediatricians and therapists are unable to come up with definitive answers. Just because both parents have some form of MI, doesn't mean it necessarily translates to the children. Sounds physical, hence neurology!

(((hugs))))
First I would be sure to solidify her relationship with you and her mom. Talk talk talk! Let her talk about what she's thinking, feeling... without judging...without giving her too much input from the adult view... but also to share how because her parents struggle, she does not have to also, just because... part of her symptoms includes fears and I think her irrational child mind is fearing she's going to be just like both of you two...

I would hope she's had a full medical check up, blood work etc to rule out anything physical that the average school physical might not catch, and that the doctors might be seeing only the psychological fears and not something tangible underneath? Yes, a children's hospital or clinic connected to one sounds good on that.

What outlets does she have (and other children too?) for expressing herself? Girl Scouts, church groups, school activities, fine arts, etc., all help not only take her mind off herself and her fears, but work through some of them while learning new things, making new friends.

But most importantly, I stress again, let you be the parents she can tell anything to without causing a reaction or punishment or anger etc. You don't know that someone may have imposed upon her because they saw a vulnerable person. Horrible thought, but let's not assume anything did or did not "cause" her anxious life!

If neither of you can take that role, then a good counselor can...is there one connected to the school, or does she have a "favorite" teacher (find out why first...) that maybe can help in this process? Group meetings (parents, child, teacher) and otherwise support is important. You can't have too many adults helping watch and care for her.

Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Times of crisis when she needs hospitalization is not the time to work on things, that needs to be done now.