Category Archives: bipolar

what do you do when…

your child is manic and goes running down the street into traffic yelling, just kill me?

We had the start of an episode tonight.  I ignored it.  I walked away.  I turned the other cheek.

Every time I refused to acknowledge the behavior, the behavior escalated.

David started spraying something that we later learned was “just water” at his brothers, the pets… and but we didn’t know that for sure.

He has cut himself in the past.  He has sprayed the animals with bug spray.

So I called the Sheriff.

Thankfully, he was able to help deescalate the situation.  Things are better now.

To say that I was, and still am very concerned about his safety is an understatement.  But, we are safe now.
I did discover one of his noon meds (for mood control and stability) laying on the floor of the van.  Which tells me that he missed a dose.

Thoughts – control – arguments and what not

I have been torn.  Since David has come home, we have had quite a few good days.  The bad days, holy.  It is trying on the whole family when they happen. So I am going to take a page from another parent of a child a lot like David.

No confrontations.  If he is spoiling for an argument, or a fight, we will just stop everything involving him.  No giving in.  By pursuing the fight, we are giving him what he wants.  That is attention.

Instead, we will continue what we have been doing.  Praise ALL of the positive behaviors and actions.

It won’t be easy.

We have tried the direct confrontation.  We have tried discipline, taking away privileges and that type of thing.

He may lose one privilege, but he won’t lose them all.  He needs to be able to burn off that energy.  Not letting him do so is a recipe for disaster.

The Nintendo DS is a means of coping.  As it gives him a focal point.

Please comment if you have any other tried and true methods.

Cheers,

Carl

Is this the start?

Caught David stealing food.

10933707_10205820074170553_1599785289395656830_nHe knows that all he has to do is tell us he is hungry.

We just don’t want him hoarding food in his bedroom.

Then he lies and blames it on others, including the cats.

We know that with his metabolism, he burns enough food for two or three other people.  We are not withholding food.

Makes me sad.

Is this the start of the end of the honeymood?

On a side note, his former psychiatrist agreed to accept him into her case load and not make us wait until the end of April.

Time to return to the book “Get Your Joy Back”.