You've been struggling for a long time, and it's no wonder you're so confused and frightened. Behavior is a tough issue, and meds can help or hinder, and the ongoing process of finding the "right" meds can take a lot of time and frustration. And because your child is growing, a med that works great for a year or two might not work so well in the future. I would recommend The Bipolar Child and The Explosive Child. If The Explosive Child seems useful in your situation, you'll also want Lost at School, for teachers. For the thinking behind these latter books, check out http://www.thinkkids.org/parents/

As for getting mad, well sure, who doesn't feel angry about the impact and implications of bipolar disorder on their child and family? But keep in the front of your mind that getting mad at your child is (normally) counterproductive. If he is unable to control his emotions and if his thinking is "off," then complying with ordinary rules and expectations and "behaving" may not always be within his grasp. Punishment won't help and will only increase anxiety and volatility. You can offer all the stickers and prizes in the world to "motivate" your son, but just as you can't motivate a person in a wheelchair to "just try harder" to sprint down the track, you can't motivate a child to "behave" when his brain is not functioning properly. That's not a permanent condition, but between meds and the right kind of therapy for you and your child, things can and will get better.

Daunna Minnich
Moderator, JBRF Education Forum