Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Hi Tamara - I've been following your situation in bits and pieces because things have been so hectic around here lately. Although I don't recall all the details of the situation I do remember that was recently hospitalized. Bipolar per say doesn't involve " voices. " While racing thoughts and " flight of ideas " are common, voices telling you things aren't usually involved. There's usually up or down, but for us there was never a happy medium in between. My oldest (now 23) was diagnosed bipolar at age 12. Prior to that, we went on the diagnosis of ADHD. Do you have a family history of bipolar? It is very " genetic. " My son, who is diagnosed OCD, TS, and depression/anxiety has been watched carefully for bipolar because we have such a strong history of it. He is prone to temper outbursts (major angry aggressions) usually when his anxiety level is way up. When meds are going well, this disappears. Is off all medications? Could this be a withdrawal or wash-out type situation going on? Maybe he's now just dealing with the whole hospitalization crisis? All of this could certainly add a ton of anxiety (which, I'm sure you're feeling too). Maybe for the time being, you can get him back in a routine now that the hospital and intense evaluation period is over and not worry so much about assigning a diagnosis to him. Watch him for patterns. Be careful not to feed those patterns. I think you mentioned you had an outpatient appt scheduled. Maybe you can call and get in sooner. Describe what you're seeing, keep a log. Any specific aggravating factors, time of day, certain situations, etc. I know it's tough when you just don't know what is going on with your child. It's frightening, but you have to be the strong one and don't let him know you are frightened. Remember, he looks to you for strength and guidance. In a message dated 6/11/2006 8:03:45 PM Central Standard Time, tamara_naranjo@... writes: Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or could it be a sign that he is bipolar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so we would let him have all of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be allowed to play violent video games. The latest confession, which he swears is the truth, is this: He hates himself, his life and everything about himself because he's a huge liar who lies about everything. He only gave a couple examples of lies, but one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about a supposed lie). He also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD thoughts, but racing thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him that he's stupid, ugly, uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His first complaints a few months ago were that his thinking is different than anyone else, he worries all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take all the pressure from the voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or could it be a sign that he is bipolar? Tamara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Hi Bonnie, I certainly don't blame you for feeling so frightened about the changes you are seeing in your son. Often on this list we will hear of kids whose OCD is bossing them around, telling them what to do. Frequently when my son Tommy is being bothered by sticky OCD thoughts and he has not yet summoned the energy to boss them back, he will say things like - it's not OCD telling him what to do, it is himself. Usually he will change his mind, but not until whatever is bothering him interferes with his daily living. I am not a professional, nor am I an expert, but I am unfamiliar with voices being heard by those with bi polar disorder. I recall reading that is just out of the hospital (correct me if I'm wrong!). Is he off all meds now? CIndy in Southeastern PA is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so we would let him have all of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be allowed to play violent video games. The latest confession, which he swears is the truth, is this: He hates himself, his life and everything about himself because he's a huge liar who lies about everything. He only gave a couple examples of lies, but one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about a supposed lie). He also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD thoughts, but racing thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him that he's stupid, ugly, uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His first complaints a few months ago were that his thinking is different than anyone else, he worries all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take all the pressure from the voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or could it be a sign that he is bipolar? Tamara __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Hi Tamara-My 17yo dd has a dx of TS,ADD,OCD,and bi-polar.She has been hospitalized twice for 10 days each-the last time because she said she had so many thoughts in her head,going so fast,she couldn`t think right,and it scared her.She also was becoming violent pretty fast when she couldn`t get her own way.They adjusted her meds and gave intensive therapy.We are now taking it day by day. You are doing the best you can with drs,therapists,hospitals,etc.Just hope for more good days than bad days,and have faith. best-sue12771 --- T Naranjo <tamara_naranjo@...> wrote: > is scaring me now - I don't recognize > the son I've always known. > His fits of anger since coming home from the > hospital have lessened, but > he still alternates between saying 1) he was > pretending to have OCD thoughts > to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he > really does have OCD, > but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so > we would let him have all > of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be > allowed to play violent > video games. The latest confession, which he swears > is the truth, is this: > He hates himself, his life and everything about > himself because he's a huge > liar who lies about everything. He only gave a > couple examples of lies, but > one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about > a supposed lie). He > also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD > thoughts, but racing > thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him > that he's stupid, ugly, > uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His > first complaints a few > months ago were that his thinking is different than > anyone else, he worries > all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take > all the pressure from the > voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about > consistent with OCD or > could it be a sign that he is bipolar? > > Tamara > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Hi. I know you are worn out and should be at this point. I think your son does have OCD and is denying it in order to get things back to the way they were. You are challenging the OCD and " IT " is like a two year old: when you tell it " no " it will have a tantrum in order to get its way. " IT " will try anything at this point to get what " IT " wants. I have read that the OCD gets worse and then reaches a peak. At the peak, the feeling of anxiety should start to drop and your son (and you) will feel some relief. You are well on your way up the mountain and if you can just hold out, things should improve! As for the voices, my youngest daughter talked about voices and also about things she could " see " (we named them " Seeing Things " because they were a part of our lives for quite awhile) and I was told that she might be schizophrenic but I just had a feeling that she wasn't. I asked her (she was seven) about the voices and she said they were very loud thoughts that were so persistent, they seemed like voices. The " Seeing Things " were scary thoughts that were very real to her. They went away once her meds and therapy kicked in. She is twelve now and we haven't had anything like that for a long time. My other daughter, fifteen, is also OC and she never mentioned voices. Hang in there. I feel like you are doing the right thing. I know it is hard and if you are anything like me, you are ready to run away yourself! Your son is lucky to have you. Kelley in NV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Hearing voices can be a part of a bipolar illness with psychotic features. A psychiatrist recently explained this to me and I have a sister who is bipolar. She reported hearing voices while in the depths of it. Bonnie > > is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. > His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but > he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts > to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, > but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so we would let him have all > of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be allowed to play violent > video games. The latest confession, which he swears is the truth, is this: > He hates himself, his life and everything about himself because he's a huge > liar who lies about everything. He only gave a couple examples of lies, but > one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about a supposed lie). He > also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD thoughts, but racing > thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him that he's stupid, ugly, > uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His first complaints a few > months ago were that his thinking is different than anyone else, he worries > all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take all the pressure from the > voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or > could it be a sign that he is bipolar? > > Tamara > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Hearing voices can be a part of a bipolar illness with psychotic features. A psychiatrist recently explained this to me and I have a sister who is bipolar. She reported hearing voices while in the depths of it. Bonnie > > is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. > His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but > he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts > to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, > but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so we would let him have all > of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be allowed to play violent > video games. The latest confession, which he swears is the truth, is this: > He hates himself, his life and everything about himself because he's a huge > liar who lies about everything. He only gave a couple examples of lies, but > one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about a supposed lie). He > also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD thoughts, but racing > thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him that he's stupid, ugly, > uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His first complaints a few > months ago were that his thinking is different than anyone else, he worries > all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take all the pressure from the > voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or > could it be a sign that he is bipolar? > > Tamara > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Tamara, As you know my daughter has been diagnosed with both ocd and bipolar. What the pdoc told me was that normally with ocd, the child will hear his own voice in his head. Now with things like schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder, they will hear someone else's voice, usually telling them to do bad things, and with the bipolar, they will usually have visual hallucinations, instead of the auditory. Remember every child is different, but this was what I was told was the " norm " for these diagnosis's. Have you filled out the questionairres on bipolar at your pdoc's office? Does it run in your family? My daughter's moods shift constantly, as well as what she says(very similar to what you are describing.) I'm here if you need me! hugs Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, but told the OCD specialist he was making it up so we would let him have all of his old privileges again - mainly, he wants to be allowed to play violent video games. The latest confession, which he swears is the truth, is this: He hates himself, his life and everything about himself because he's a huge liar who lies about everything. He only gave a couple examples of lies, but one of them actually wasn't true (i.e, he lied about a supposed lie). He also said that his thoughts are not intrusive, OCD thoughts, but racing thoughts and voices (his own thoughts) telling him that he's stupid, ugly, uncoordinated and a liar, among other things. His first complaints a few months ago were that his thinking is different than anyone else, he worries all the time, he hates his brain and he can't take all the pressure from the voices in his head. Are the voices he talks about consistent with OCD or could it be a sign that he is bipolar? Tamara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Hi Tamara and (((hugs))) to you! This really has to be wearing you out both emotionally and physically! too. My first thought was bipolar. If you read about bipolar you will see there is more to it than just the one word " bipolar " . And OCD is common (or not uncommon?) with bipolar. Voices can be due to bipolar, even visual hallucinations I think. I know it has GOT to be so difficult to figure out the " voices " part. One thing might be bipolar. Or it might be his OCD talking. Or it might just be his being so " down on himself " that his thoughts are just saying all that to himself. (I know I tell myself how " stupid " or whatever I've been or something.) I believe I've read somewhere before that if bipolar is suspected, then treat that (can be tricky to get right med combo) and then a lot of other symptoms, even supposed OCD ones, can go away; and what is left (like OCD behaviors) is then looked at towards treating it. And I always wonder about any bad changes that come after medication was started. If they don't " settle, " then I would talk to the psych/doctor. How bad were things with him before he ever began medication, if he just began trying any in the last year? Hang in there, though I know that's easier said than done! http://www.bpchildresearch.org/juv_bipolar/faq.html http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_about > > is scaring me now - I don't recognize the son I've always known. > His fits of anger since coming home from the hospital have lessened, but > he still alternates between saying 1) he was pretending to have OCD thoughts > to stay home from school and get sympathy and 2) he really does have OCD, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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