My Child Has Bipolar Disorder: Re: Re: okay now I am scared....

» rhodes12000 - Re: Re: okay now I am scared....

In response to message posted by King2002:

Hello! I just found this website this evening and cannot believe how closely your sons behavior describes my own! My son is almost four and it has been such a struggle since the first day we brought him home from the hospital. He has always demanded attention, as an infant he would cry continuously until he was focused on, he would not sleep on his own and still sleeps with us. We tried to ignore the crying when he was an infant so that he would get used to his crib and he literally would keep us up forever. It was a nightmare and it broke our hearts. We have always thought that it was just a stage. That he was just a more difficult baby, just a more difficult toddler. We thought well, its just the terrible twos. The family doctor dismissed our concerns. He has always had extreme tantrums when he doesn't get his way, bit us, still hits and kicks us. Throws things at my husband and I. Is demanding and will become very aggressive if he does not get his way. Runs from us in public and will not listen. Throws tantrums in public and forget about going out to eat! He will not sit still for two minutes. He climbs on furniture and has a hard time sleeping. Naps can be a struggle for him. He will complain, "Mommy I cant hold still" and will turn, move, and talk to himself until he falls asleep which can take a while. He used to fight me tooth and nail because he didn't want a nap. He rarely sits to eat a meal without getting up. What have we tried? Spanking... which has little effect. He shows no concern after the spanking and will continue with the same behavior or act like nothing happened. Time Out... same thing. At first he got the concept and did his time but, still continued with bad behavior after coming out of time out. Then he started coming out of time out & being reprimanded to go back. He tries to say "sorry" for his behavior to avoid punishment but, does the same things over and over. He abuses our animals. Constantly chasing them and annoying them. Kicking at them or slapping at them. It is like a game to him and he thinks it is hilarious. I tell him over and over to stop it. I have tried everything, it just does not compute! He interrupts adult conversations, demanding to be heard even after being reprimanded over and over. He is aggressive to other children and always the "one" the other children are reporting who "hit Me" or "kicked Me". Many children avoid him like the plague because he is so overwhelming. He is Hugging them and extremely physical. It is as if he knows no boundarys. Everything is his. He can touch whatever he wants, open whatever he wants. He refuses to use the toilet. He was urinating for quite sometime on his own and we thought he was on his way. He hated "pooping" in the potty and decided he would not. He continues to go in his training pants or pull-ups. Now he also urinates again in his pants! We have told him over and over to use the potty. He knows he needs to but, always whispers in my ear that he has gone in his pants. Seems like a game!

Then, there is that one good day maybe once a month or those few nice hours once a week when this sweet intelligent child is totally different. It is almost as if a switch is turned on. I am a Registered Nurse. I also have another college degree. I am not a failure in life, but maybe as a parent I failed. I felt that this was something I caused. I felt that I had to be a bad parent. I went to a psychiatrist with my son a few months ago. I found out today that he may be bipolar. My grandfather was severely bipolar but, I never thought of it at such a young age. I thought maybe adhd. I am in total shock and a little relieved that this may not be all my fault. It helps to know that there are others out there going through this similar problem.

-- posted by rhodes12000