Diagnosis VS Behavior

[katiekat]

How do you know the difference? My husbands solution to Sean's behavior is increase his meds. However the things that have become a problem lately have nothing to do with the reasons we took him to a psychiatrist in the first place. The things that concerned us and ultimately led to a dx of ADHD and Bipolar were for example-not sleeping, nightmares, self injuring, crying for hours, inability to focus in school, hearing voices, talking about suicide etc. None of these things are a problem currently.Now we are dealing with totally different issues-lying, excessive arguing, backtalk, temper tantrums when he doesnt get his way, refusal to follow directions. It's like all of a sudden he has ODD now. Anyway, what are we supposed to do just medicate him until he's comatose? Arent some of these things just behavior? I think the meds help tremendously with the things they are MEANT to help with but they cant fix everything. Just because he has a diagnosis does not mean that everything he does is because of his diagnosis. I am all for finding a new psych and getting some input from a professional but dont think that upping the meds is the solution.

[bugsmom]

What a great question, KK. I've thought about this a lot over the years.

When I look at what you posted, all the things you went to the psych for were mostly bipolar behaviors, and yes your medicating for that. The behaviors your seeing now, are more add. Do you guys medicate for ADD. I can't for the life of me remember. I know Sean takes abilifiy, and I didn't think he could take stims because of his heart. I'm sorry...I'm having sometimers...hee hee.

I have felt like you often...when to you stop upping the meds and just make them accountable for their behavior? Well, we do a little of both. Now that Josh is older, I expect much more from him. He is accountable for his behavior, without excuses. But, he's had a lot of therapy and we've worked really hard on this. When he was Sean's age, there was no way he could do it. Now that he's almost 14, it's much better. I think what is so hard for you guys is that you suspect there is more going on, and rightly so, and you haven't gotten to all his dx yet.

I agree with you, meds won't fix it all. It is so frustrating. What does he do with the Therapist?

[jj]

Wouldn't the issues, lying, excessive arguing, backtalk, temper tantrums when he doesnt get his way, be the manic part of bipolar as opposed to the depressed side which is the not sleeping, nightmares, self injuring, crying for hours, inability to focus in school, hearing voices, talking about suicide?

In all honesty, the lying, excessive arguing, backtalk, temper tantrums sound like my sister, except in more of an adult way and I always thought that part of bipolar. I maybe dead wrong though.

[jill]

The talking back testing stuff is age too testing the waters as for diagnostic talk to his therapist or psychologist. I was told if my girl continues to do the same mistakes after being punished time and time again then it is diagnostic if she corrects it then it is behavior..