My 11 year old is not coping anymore.
Up until a week ago I had the most loving and caring and mature (ish) 11 year old but after coming back from the school Sydney Canberra trip now he isn't coping. He was getting good marks at school never had any problems at school always got what a caring well behaved boy and now He is violent towards his siblings, getting into fights at school, cries at the drop of a hat, has soo much anxiety about everything it's breaking my heart. He came home bawling today with another warning card he threw his drink bottle across the classroom and screamed at kids and the teacher and one more warning and it's a suspension!! He plays sports and at the moment soccer is the only time we see him smile. He says he isn't being bullied, he is having 10+ hours sleep and is still tired. I'm petrified as I'm bipolar 2 rapid cycling and I'm hoping like crazy I haven't passed it down to him.
11yo Not coping anymore
11yo Not coping anymore
Posted in:
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression, Parenthood Guilt, Behaviour, Kids
5 Replies
Sounds like maybe something happened on the camp. Will he open up if it did?
I would assume something happened at camp too. Maybe a psychologist is a good start. I'd book a paediatricians appointment just in case too.
What happened on the camp? Psychologist for sure, but you could also ask to talk to the guidance officer at school as well in the interim.
Contact CAMHS child and adolescent mental health service. Don't take him anywhere else. They can assess and make sure the issue isnt onset of Bipolar if it was something that happened on camp they can check if it is just puberty and hormones they will let you know.
They are quite thorough and they will eliminate all the small stuff.
Do not take him to random counsellors gp or a paediatrician.
The bad news is if something traumatic did happen at camp not only is he dealing with a traumatic eperience but it may have triggered onset. Although it is early days yet. Simply due to the family history and the risks associated with antidepressants and bipolar disorder do not take him anywhere else. Only CAMHS has the ability to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder in children in this country and even where necessary they are very reluctant to do so and only do in the most acute cases. To take him anywhere else risks misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments because it simply isn't amongst their options.
Oh also.....phenergan 10mg a night will reduce the violent outbursts we had to use it for 8 weeks while we got through wait lists and assessments. It didn't stop the mania but it did stop her attacking people and erupting. It is an exceptionally mild antipsychotic (even more mild than thorazine) it has a HUGE safe dosage range and as a bonus it also treats anxiety exceptionally effectively and you can pick it up over the counter.