TerryJ2
Well-Known Member
We met with-the social wkr today. They don't have all the tests back, but, no surprise, difficult child has a "little bit of this and a little bit of that." incl. possible bipolar.
Sh*t. I had no idea that Asperger's and bipolar had so much in common. I mean I knew it, but I didn't realize HOW nearly IDENTICAL they could be until today.
It's nearly impossible to tell the diff at this point. There is an aspect of bipolar in kids where they don't learn from consequences and think the rules don't apply to them. Just like some Aspies.
Aaarrgh.
After the mtng, husband and I went to B&N to kill time, because our visit with-difficult child was 1-1/2 hrs later and there wasn't enough time to go home. I found a book on bipolar in kids. One paragraph in it described a know-it-all, argumentative personality that was difficult child's bio grandmother to a T.
The soc wkr said we were in it for the long haul, no matter what the diagnosis is, but of course, difficult child is too young and we just have to wait and see. He said to expect to see more of the acting out and anger issues and to be strong and consistent.
We have to make sure difficult child gets a lot of sleep, because lack of sleep sets him off. No easy feat when he gets up in the middle of the night to play on the computer or watch TV or read. husband has been setting his watch for 20-min increments and doing bed-checks to make sure difficult child stays in bed. And this was before the problems that escalated into his going to the psychiatric hospital.
And we have to get him to practice coping skills and anger mgmt. No-brainer there.
We'll know more on Thurs, which is his expected release date.
The good news is that the soc wkr said he was much better than most of the pts they get in there (like that's supposed to make us feel better?) and that they were not concerned about any sexual identity issues, just impulse control.
Crystal ball ... I foresee a future with-a defiant teen who gets his 17-yr-old girlfriend pregnant, history repeating himself just like his bmom ...
difficult child was happy to see us at the regular visit between 6-7. We played Clue and chatted a bit. We'll visit at lunchtime Mon.
Sh*t. I had no idea that Asperger's and bipolar had so much in common. I mean I knew it, but I didn't realize HOW nearly IDENTICAL they could be until today.
It's nearly impossible to tell the diff at this point. There is an aspect of bipolar in kids where they don't learn from consequences and think the rules don't apply to them. Just like some Aspies.
Aaarrgh.
After the mtng, husband and I went to B&N to kill time, because our visit with-difficult child was 1-1/2 hrs later and there wasn't enough time to go home. I found a book on bipolar in kids. One paragraph in it described a know-it-all, argumentative personality that was difficult child's bio grandmother to a T.
The soc wkr said we were in it for the long haul, no matter what the diagnosis is, but of course, difficult child is too young and we just have to wait and see. He said to expect to see more of the acting out and anger issues and to be strong and consistent.
We have to make sure difficult child gets a lot of sleep, because lack of sleep sets him off. No easy feat when he gets up in the middle of the night to play on the computer or watch TV or read. husband has been setting his watch for 20-min increments and doing bed-checks to make sure difficult child stays in bed. And this was before the problems that escalated into his going to the psychiatric hospital.
And we have to get him to practice coping skills and anger mgmt. No-brainer there.
We'll know more on Thurs, which is his expected release date.
The good news is that the soc wkr said he was much better than most of the pts they get in there (like that's supposed to make us feel better?) and that they were not concerned about any sexual identity issues, just impulse control.
Crystal ball ... I foresee a future with-a defiant teen who gets his 17-yr-old girlfriend pregnant, history repeating himself just like his bmom ...
difficult child was happy to see us at the regular visit between 6-7. We played Clue and chatted a bit. We'll visit at lunchtime Mon.