Parents of Bipolar Children Support Group

my daughter isn't diagnosed bipolar, but i am, and she is currently seeing a psychiatrist and is on tenex for hyperactivity and resperdal for rage issues. she is only 8. i'm mortified that she doesn't really need these meds and if i were normal she would behave normal too. the thing is, she always behaves at school. what does this mean? that it's just us, our messed up family that has her acting in these ways? does anyone have a child who is truly bipolar or something and able to control their moods at school?

Hi Arua -

I just joined this group because I too am bipolar and wonder if my 10 yr old son is too. He rages at home and can't seem to get along with my other three kids. He is super emotional and can seem happy and fine one moment, then when he doesn't get his way, he flies off the handle

I read somewhere the symptoms of bipolar in children - he had a lot of them. However, at school he has never gotten in trouble, gets mostly A's. I talked with his teacher and she was really surprised at what I told her about his behavior at home.

Can a child be bipolar and have no symptoms at school? Same question as you - is it just a child that acts out because I'm doing something wrong?

Hope someone will see this today and answer both of our questions. Hope you have a great day. Annie

thanks so much for your reply, wow, we're in the same boat huh? nice to meet you!

Yea - my dilemma to is that if I take him to be evaluated - the doctor will go off of what I say. I don't want him to be diagnosed bipolar and take medications, also have that label (if you know what I mean) based upon my info.

Gabe has been challenging for me since the day he was born. I always say that he came out of the womb with an attitude!

Aren't the chances that we will have at least one child with bipolar disorder pretty high. I think I was bipolar as a teen but then - 80's - my mom didn't even know the word bipolar. So confusing - I want him to get help if he needs it, but don't want to influence a diagnosis.

Great to see someone have the same questions. Annie

exactly. i just wondered if she copies my behoviors sometimes? although it seems like something is really wrong at times, she is so out of control and mean and aggressive.

annie, I understand your feelings very well. My exhusband had all the bipolar characteristics, but to this day is in complete denial, and out of our lives, but when our Daughter was born, I knew early on that she too was different, more aggressive than any child I had ever known. If I said anything to her Dad, he would yell & curse at me that I hated her, which I didn't, I just knew something. Everyone in his family, friends, coworkers (we had a tree business) stayed out of it. They agreed with him I believe to keep him calm. That was something his family learned early on, how to avoid Donnie to get angry. Me, if I felt it, I said it, if I thought something needed to be fixed, I tried to fix it. W R O N G. If I knew then what I know now, I could have avoided a lot of fights, and bad times.

This went on, until Brittany was 5 years old. But when her Father's abuse turned toward her? I knew I had to get out. It was no longer trying to help him, but to help our Daughter. He shot our female Rottweiler dog, Diamond who we raised since birth, after Brittany begged him not to by hanging on to his shirt tail. He shot & killed the dog who was 3 & half years old, and Brittany went into post traumatic stress & I went into deep deep depression on what in the world was I going to do with a child who I could not control, didn't know what was wrong with her & her Father, but knew that what ever she had, her Dad had.

I had to choose between her Dad and her. Today, Brittany is on vyvanse for ADHD and Risperdal for a mood stabilizer. She is doing fantastic, with some occasional outburts of crying, screaming etc, but nothing like before. She rarely sees her Dad. He is still making bad choices for himself, but has a LOT of family support and a new girlfriend to support him.

Thank you for your input - your story is so sad but I read in your other post that you lean on God for support and answers - sounds like you are an "overcomer".

Did your daughter act out at school. Gabe only does it at home and teachers say he is well behaved - even gets mostly A's. So confusing to me that he would be different at school and be able to turn off his tantrums and agression there but not at home.

my question too

Can a child be bipolar and have no symptoms at school? Same question as you - is it just a child that acts out because I'm doing something wrong?

Yes they can!

This book The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder

Has been tremendous help for myself and my family.

And your right kids do tend to mimic a parents behavior so it does make it hard to diagnose them but it can be done.

My 10 year old son is Bipolar his behavior is the same every where, the time and place does not matter the highs and lows happen. period.