The following was written a couple of days ago. I just had to feel comfortable with posting it. Forgive me for the long, draw-out story.......
Hello!! My name is Annie. I have been married to a wonderful man for 16 years now (our anniversary is May 18th). We have two children, Jacob 7 and Bradley 5. Jacob is so much like his father, sweet, kind, caring, sensitive and loving. Bradley, on the other hand, well, he's a tough one. He was a very difficult baby, always crying. I suffered post-partem after his birth. As soon as he was old enough, he started being physically violent toward everyone, his brother, his cousins, his classmates. He would bite, kick, pinch, punch, pull hair, knock down, trip, elbow and any other kind of violent act he could think to perform on any child at any time.
I always thought there had to be some excuse. When he was 1, 2, 3, 4, I thought that he was tired, hungry, thirsty or had a sugar problem. We ran blood work on him and everything came back "normal". So, we didn't find any answers with his physical health. Last year, when in preschool, I would be asked to stay after to talk with the teachers so they could tell me who he hurt and how he hurt them. I thought he was acting out because school was something new and thought he'd settle down. After several months of that behavior at school, I started taking him to see a psychologist. Boy, did I screw that up. Of course, I thought it couldn't be my son. It had to be my fault, something I was doing wrong as a parent. I mean, he was only four years old!!! So, I went in and spoke with the counselor and said that perhaps he was mimicking me that I must have anger issues. Yes, I am short-tempered but that's probably from what I've been dealing with with him. Needless to say, the counselling didn't work.
Finally, school ended and I didn't have to hear about him hurting other kids. That is until we started camping. He would hurt the kids at the campgrounds, ALL the kids at ALL the campgrounds. Fall came and it was back to school (D-K Developmental-Kindergarten). I think it was the first or second week of school, he came home with a "pink slip" (sent to the principal's office). He wasn't quite five years old at the time. Of course, I explained that away as "it's a new school, he'll settle down". Well, he didn't.
So, I took a big step and called the pediatrician for a referral to a psychiatrist. He was diagnosed the first visit as having a mood disorder, bipolar. The doctor put him on Risperdal. And, because I am not a big fan of pills for kids, we started out with a very small dose. We were cutting a .25mg pill in half. He would take the half a pill at night before bed. We thought we saw a difference in him soon after starting the meds. Well, we were fooling ourselves. We then increased to the full .25mg pill. Of course, we thought we noticed a difference again, but nope, back to same ole same ole. The doctor thought he needed Concerta and started him on that. Boy, that was a rough few days/week. He was so much worse. We took him off the Concerta. Then, we increased the Risperdal again and again little bit by little bit. Well, he's now on 1mg per day. That just started this past Friday. We'll see what happens.
Mood disorders run in my family as well as my husband's. I have 13 brothers and sisters. Several of us are on anti-depressants. Others, in my opinion, need meds but refuse to accept or admit they have a problem. There is also alcoholism in my side of the family, starting with my Dad. He developed diabetes from drinking and had to quit, which he did cold-turkey many, many years ago. The majority of us kids do alot of binge drinking, including myself.
My sister has suggested that I may be bipolar. I don't think so, not after researching as much as I have. I believe I suffer depression not bipolar. I am currently taking 300mg of Wellbutrin XL. When I don't drink, my medication works. But, in order to deal with everything, I usually drink a couple/few times a week.
I think it took me so long to post this because I know I have problems of my own as well as trying to help my son.
<sinking into the abyss>
Hello!! My name is Annie. I have been married to a wonderful man for 16 years now (our anniversary is May 18th). We have two children, Jacob 7 and Bradley 5. Jacob is so much like his father, sweet, kind, caring, sensitive and loving. Bradley, on the other hand, well, he's a tough one. He was a very difficult baby, always crying. I suffered post-partem after his birth. As soon as he was old enough, he started being physically violent toward everyone, his brother, his cousins, his classmates. He would bite, kick, pinch, punch, pull hair, knock down, trip, elbow and any other kind of violent act he could think to perform on any child at any time.
I always thought there had to be some excuse. When he was 1, 2, 3, 4, I thought that he was tired, hungry, thirsty or had a sugar problem. We ran blood work on him and everything came back "normal". So, we didn't find any answers with his physical health. Last year, when in preschool, I would be asked to stay after to talk with the teachers so they could tell me who he hurt and how he hurt them. I thought he was acting out because school was something new and thought he'd settle down. After several months of that behavior at school, I started taking him to see a psychologist. Boy, did I screw that up. Of course, I thought it couldn't be my son. It had to be my fault, something I was doing wrong as a parent. I mean, he was only four years old!!! So, I went in and spoke with the counselor and said that perhaps he was mimicking me that I must have anger issues. Yes, I am short-tempered but that's probably from what I've been dealing with with him. Needless to say, the counselling didn't work.
Finally, school ended and I didn't have to hear about him hurting other kids. That is until we started camping. He would hurt the kids at the campgrounds, ALL the kids at ALL the campgrounds. Fall came and it was back to school (D-K Developmental-Kindergarten). I think it was the first or second week of school, he came home with a "pink slip" (sent to the principal's office). He wasn't quite five years old at the time. Of course, I explained that away as "it's a new school, he'll settle down". Well, he didn't.
So, I took a big step and called the pediatrician for a referral to a psychiatrist. He was diagnosed the first visit as having a mood disorder, bipolar. The doctor put him on Risperdal. And, because I am not a big fan of pills for kids, we started out with a very small dose. We were cutting a .25mg pill in half. He would take the half a pill at night before bed. We thought we saw a difference in him soon after starting the meds. Well, we were fooling ourselves. We then increased to the full .25mg pill. Of course, we thought we noticed a difference again, but nope, back to same ole same ole. The doctor thought he needed Concerta and started him on that. Boy, that was a rough few days/week. He was so much worse. We took him off the Concerta. Then, we increased the Risperdal again and again little bit by little bit. Well, he's now on 1mg per day. That just started this past Friday. We'll see what happens.
Mood disorders run in my family as well as my husband's. I have 13 brothers and sisters. Several of us are on anti-depressants. Others, in my opinion, need meds but refuse to accept or admit they have a problem. There is also alcoholism in my side of the family, starting with my Dad. He developed diabetes from drinking and had to quit, which he did cold-turkey many, many years ago. The majority of us kids do alot of binge drinking, including myself.
My sister has suggested that I may be bipolar. I don't think so, not after researching as much as I have. I believe I suffer depression not bipolar. I am currently taking 300mg of Wellbutrin XL. When I don't drink, my medication works. But, in order to deal with everything, I usually drink a couple/few times a week.
I think it took me so long to post this because I know I have problems of my own as well as trying to help my son.
<sinking into the abyss>
Annie, Mother of Jacob 7, Bradley 5 (bipolar)


