Re: OT Rapid Cycling Bi Polar

[Guest guest]

Missy Feldhaus wrote:

> We think this is what my 12yr old son may have. Before I go out and

> get a book I would like to hear from other parents dealing with it.

> Each outburst he has gets worse and worse, last night was by far the

> worst.

According to Dr. Luke Tsai

http://www2.med.umich.edu/cfusion/psychiatry/psy/

fac_query4.cfm?link_name=Tsai

of the University of Michigan, children diagnosed with " rapid cycling

bipolar " who are later admitted to his hospital turn out to be actually

having frequent serious meltdowns and are found to be on the autistic

spectrum. If cycling is less than a matter of weeks, you should look

into this possibility as well as the bipolar possibility, in my

personal opinion.

One of the reasons I am responding is that I know the drugs used for

bipolar medication can decrease the child's ability to learn and use

initiative if bipolar is not indeed the proper designation. I hope you

find a way to evaluate him for increased meltdowns caused by sexually

maturing and by social changes due to his age.

Patty

http://www.autistics.cc

[Guest guest]

Missy Feldhaus wrote:

> Thanks for responding Patty, I really appreciate that. He does ok as

> long as

> he is left alone and no one bothers him, or if things are done on his

> terms.

> As soon as something disrupts him he will blow. Asking him to do

> something

> can trigger it.

Well, there ya go. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the

brain. It cycles all by itself and the basal mood goes from depression

to excited mania over a period of weeks or months. Bipolar disorder is

not " set off " by actions from outside.

> Asking him a question more than once can do it. Last night

> it was over my 4yr old playing in the bedroom and my 12yr old wanted

> him

> out. Next thing I know he was threatening to kill the 4yr old and my

> 12yr

> old daughter, everyone one the bus and half the school.

Hmmmm. I have had days like that.

> The meltdowns came happen numerous times in a day or we can go a few

> days in

> between. I have thought about him being on the spectrum but not sure

> where

> he would be. He prefers to be alone. He has one friend he associates

> here at

> home. He is the victim of a few bully's on the bus and at school and he

> takes it until something makes him blow. He has has only had one

> meltdown at

> school but I can sense more coming.

ly ... to me (and I am NOT a paid expert) he sounds like a classic

case of " on the spectrum but too bright to get help. " In my humble

opinion (as an autistic myself) he is going to need teaching, coaching

(perhaps an aide?), and cognitive training to learn to handle himself

in public and to learn to lessen the damage when he blows in private.

Patty (who blew up last weekend due to stress and couldn't do a thing

about it)

[Guest guest]

Missy Feldhaus wrote:

> Thanks for responding Patty, I really appreciate that. He does ok as

> long as

> he is left alone and no one bothers him, or if things are done on his

> terms.

> As soon as something disrupts him he will blow. Asking him to do

> something

> can trigger it.

Well, there ya go. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the

brain. It cycles all by itself and the basal mood goes from depression

to excited mania over a period of weeks or months. Bipolar disorder is

not " set off " by actions from outside.

> Asking him a question more than once can do it. Last night

> it was over my 4yr old playing in the bedroom and my 12yr old wanted

> him

> out. Next thing I know he was threatening to kill the 4yr old and my

> 12yr

> old daughter, everyone one the bus and half the school.

Hmmmm. I have had days like that.

> The meltdowns came happen numerous times in a day or we can go a few

> days in

> between. I have thought about him being on the spectrum but not sure

> where

> he would be. He prefers to be alone. He has one friend he associates

> here at

> home. He is the victim of a few bully's on the bus and at school and he

> takes it until something makes him blow. He has has only had one

> meltdown at

> school but I can sense more coming.

ly ... to me (and I am NOT a paid expert) he sounds like a classic

case of " on the spectrum but too bright to get help. " In my humble

opinion (as an autistic myself) he is going to need teaching, coaching

(perhaps an aide?), and cognitive training to learn to handle himself

in public and to learn to lessen the damage when he blows in private.

Patty (who blew up last weekend due to stress and couldn't do a thing

about it)