I am new to this forum. I have a 5 year old daughter who has had a few issues since she was born. It seems like we were always taking her somewhere to get diagnosed, evaluated,etc… She was found to have a learning disability, because she was much older than other children when she reached her milestones as a baby. She has been in speech therapy since she was 2 1/2. She was even evaluated for autism, but all the psychologists could determine is that she has a pervasive developmental disorder, but is not autistic.
When she was 2, she started pulling her hair out. So, back to the psychiatrists and psychologists we went. They all told us that in small children it is usually a habit,much like thumb sucking, and that most likely she’ll stop. I read everything I could find on trichotillomania. She did stop in January of this year, but started up again after she started Kindergarten in August. However, she loves school, and can’t wait to go every day, so, not sure why she started again.
Now my husband and I wonder if she has ADD too. I have not asked her doctor to diagnose her because she is so young. But, weekends have become rather hellish around here. My daughter is fine if she is home with either me or her Dad, but if all 3 of us are here, it’s like she is off the wall sometimes. It’s almost like she feels like she has to have all the attention all the time, and interrupts if my husband and I try to have a conversation. We give her a lot of attention, and feel like she should not have to have all the attention all the time. She can’t sit still, her teacher says she has trouble sitting at school too.She sometimes gets very angry, and slams her bedroom door. Just trying to get her to listen is sometimes impossible. She is also so routine oriented that if something happens that throws off the routine, she gets very upset.
Her teacher is going to have the school psychiatrist observe our daughter in class for the next two weeks, to try to get her imput.
I am a seasoned parent, I already raised two children. But, sometimes my 5 year old is quite the challenge.I love her to pieces, but some days are rough.
Re: My 5 year old
Hang in there Sunnie. Sounds like you are doing the right thing trying to get to the root of the problem. What did they determine the hair pulling was related to? It’s good that you have the teacher and school trying to help!
Re: My 5 year old
Is there any history of bipolar in this family? If so, be wary of trying any stimulants or antidepressants with this child.
Re: My 5 year old
[quote:26ec22e7e7=”Anonymous”]Is there any history of bipolar in this family? If so, be wary of trying any stimulants or antidepressants with this child.[/quote]
There are no official diagnosis in my family, and my husband is adopted, so who knows with his family, but he isn’t bipolar. I wonder if my mother didn’t have depression problems, and maybe other problems. She had a hair trigger temper, I know that. She also ended up with a drinking problem for many years. She hasn’t drank since 1978, but her alcoholism did a number on her brain. Her short term memory is very bad. She was recently diagnosed as having dementia, and depression. She is now 79, and my brother(who she lives with) is taking steps to put her in a nursing home or assisted living facility. As far as I know, there are no relatives that have been diagnosed as bipolar, but it’s not something that comes up during the family reunion, you know?
Sunnie...welcome! No personal experience, but...
have picked up a few tips. Try reading ‘The Explosive Child’ (sorry, can’t remember the author) this is recommended often for children with similar issues. Apparently the techniques in this book are excellent for managing behaviour in children who have a need to ‘run the show’ and have highly volatile temperaments.
Family history of alcoholism IS a marker for un-dx’d bipolar — however your child is very young, so you need to learn all you can about the various difficulties children can have and then decide where your focus should be — basically, to decide which professionals can best advise you, and then to be educated enough to ensure their opinions are accurate.
Check out ‘www.conductdisorders.com’ — they have a board for parents of really young kiddos and there are some excellent parents with lots of experience that may give you advice about your daughter’s behaviours and difficulties. Definitely you need a full neuro workup if bipolar is even suspected — I have heard that you should make sure to see a psychiatrist or neurologist who speciializes in childhood disorders — do NOT see an educational psychologist if bipolar is even a remote possibility as they simply do not know enough!
I think a full workup is a good place to start no matter WHAT problems your child is experiencing — you need to know as much as you can about what is going on, to ensure that she gets appropriate treatment.
Once again, welcome!
Re: My 5 year old
Thank you, Elizabeth. I checked out the site you posted about. It’s great! I am gathering everyone’s imput,and info about my daughter so that I have written proof about incidents and behaviors to show her Pediatrician, who will probably then refer us to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Thanks for your advice.
Not sure why I wasn’t “signed in”, but the post about the 5 year old is mine(Sunnie1959).