Hi emmebee
I bet your heart dropped when you read about the difficulty in getting a diagnosis -- especially in that you've been working on it for 3 years.
What the pros don't usually tell parents is that it's common for kids with-neurological disorders to have coexisting conditions. As Fran says, it's kind of like peeling the layers off an onion.
My son doesn't have bipolar disorder, but he displays some of the symptoms you've expressed concern with.
This is flagging me as potential sensory issues. While sensory issues typically are associated with Pervasive Development Disorders, Sensory Integration Disorder can stand alone (highly unusual) or coexist with a multitude of other disorders.
I highly recommend The Out of Sync Child by Kranowtiz also.
My son was very similar to yours in the areas you mention + other areas. What it boiled down to though was that he couldn't stand to be touched. It's not personal -- though it's hard to remember that when a child appears to reject your love. Luckily, there is real treatment for Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) via pediatric occupational therapists.
I am not in favor of seeing only a mental health professional. It's my opinion that their evaluations are too narrowly focused. I feel the same about seeking out just a Diagnostician for Learning Disability (LD) evaluations, etc.
It's my opinion that a parent will get the best results from a competent team of professionals from various professions, hence, I favor a multidisciplinary evaluation approach. You'll find more info about MDE's on the FAQ Forum.
Welcome to the site.
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I forgot to add that with appropriate therapy, my son's sensory issues are much, much better.
