My daughter was just diagnosed with early onset bipolar disorder.

[momto3]

She is 10 years old. I suffer from depression, but do not know much about bipolar disorder in kids. I was hoping that someone might know of a reliable online resource that might give me some good information. Thanks in advance.

Tracy

[EFerrari]

1. Hey, Tracy. I don't have a source for you but am interested

in finding one as one of my nieces is probably in the same situation. If I dig up anything, I'll post it here.

[momto3]

2. Thank you.

There is a lot of information out there and most of it is pretty scary. I am hoping to find others dealing with this to hear their personal stories and get support. I hate to think of her having to deal with this for the rest of her life, especially since I know how hard it has been for me to deal with my own depression.

[mopinko]

3. i don't have time to post much right now, but

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

and http://bipolarchild.org

and, effective treatment now WILL change the arc of this disease for her.

more later.

[EFerrari]

5. I was hoping you'd check in. Happy New Year, mo. Thank you.

:hug:

[momto3]

7. Thanks for the link.

I am hoping that getting her treated early will enable her to be deal with this better in her life. Her psychiatrist told us that puberty tends to make the disease worse.

Thanks again.

Tracy

[Ocracoker16]

4. I like the Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF)

Here is the link

http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_about

[EFerrari]

6. Thank you for the link.

:hi:

[mopinko]

8. also good.

good chat boards, iirc.

[mopinko]

9. ok, how is she doing in school? this is your greatest asset.

i guess it is sort of sad to say, but for a kid with any kind of illness or disability, mostly the greatest support available is through the schools. if she is having difficulties socially or scholastically, make sure that you jump through the hoops to get her the help that she needs to cope there. therapeutic day school saved my daughters life. usually that is the end of a long line of bureaucratic hurdles, so start now.

your biggest hurdle will likely be meds. no kid wants to be different, and nothing reminds a kid of how different they are like having to take meds and see doctors. this was as hard for my kid with chron's as it was for the one who is bp. the whole process is a crap shoot and a nightmare for anyone. monitoring whether the meds are helping or hurting, when everything is filtered through a kid's rejection of being different and sick will be a herculean task. i wish i had some words of wisdom to pass on about that, but no one has passed any to me yet.

your profile says high point. look at university health systems. i have found them to be the most up to date. treating kids this young is something that is rapidly evolving. you need to get out ahead of it if you can. don't take any freudian crap from anyone. this is not your fault. anyone who wants to blame you instead of help your daughter should have their head handed to them.

anyway. sorta scattershot advice. but please feel free to pm me. i am sure it doesn't seem like it now, but you are very lucky to get a dx this early. you will spend a lot less time than i did trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with this kid.

and take care of yourself. you have a double nightmare there. congratulate yourself for getting this far. you will make it. she will make it. you are doing a good job.

[momto3]

12. Thanks mopinko.

My daughter is brilliant. She excels at school. This is of the reasons she was diagnosed as bipolar as opposed to ADHD. We have been reluctant to talk to her school for fear of her being labeled. There is still such a stigma to mental health problems that I do not want her to be saddled with that so early in her life. But, I am struggling with this decision. She does not act out at school, only at home, but her meds may very well affect her school performance.

I am worried about her being on these medications for the rest of her life. She is only 10! Most of the treatments available have not been tested in pediatric patients, so the treatment plans are all trial and error. Right now the plan is to get her mood stabilized with an anti-psychotic so that she does not hurt herself. Otherwise she will need to be hospitalized. Then we will need to find an anti-depressant to help her with her lows. She is currently on risperdal. It makes her sleepy. She is also starting to put on weight. That will be something else she will have to deal with as she enters puberty.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed today - I am sorry that I am venting. I really do not have anywhere else to turn right now. I appreciate all of your advice. I need to find a support group for her and for myself, but have not had the time.

Tracy

[Odin2005]

10. Damn, that sucks! :(

:hug:

10!?! Thats VERY early for Bipolar.

[momto3]

13. Yes.

Pediatric or early onset bipolar disease has just been recognized as a separate disorder within the past couple of years. There is still a subset of psychiatrists that do not recognize it. It varies from the adult form. Children tend to cycle very quickly. My daughter is what they call a rapid cycler. Her highs and lows cycle within minutes. This can go on for hours.

Thanks for the hug. I need it today!

[mopinko]

11. in case you missed it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7397665#7407592

[momto3]

14. Thank you! eom