After two years of issues and parent meetings at school, my 13 year old son was diagnosed with bipolar and ADHD in December. For some time I had it in the back of my mind that he could be bipolar, since my husband is also bipolar, but I didn't automatically want to jump to that conclusion.
Now my son is taking Depakote, Risperadol, and Strattera. I also (finally) got him to agree to see a therapist and have just found one that he loves.
But he continues to have a really tough time handling anger - he cycles up really quickly and breaks things around the house, throws furniture across the room, and gets physical with me and his younger siblings.
He is constantly pushing boundries. He lies compulsively, has ditched school, and recently took a train with his friends into the city without my knowledge/permission. I have also found out that he has drank on several occasions and has also smoked weed numerous times. I believe he was much more easily irritated during the times that I suspect he was high.
I try to give him consequences for his behavior, but he runs away from the house when I try to ground him. I give him only small amounts of cash when I know specifically what it will be used for.
I'm at my wits end with this kid. I'm trying to do all the right things, but I'm seeing only small amounts of improvement in his impulsiveness due to the medications and not much improvement in the rest of his behavior.
I'd love any ideas on what to do next. Or can anyone reassure me that with time this process will work???
Now my son is taking Depakote, Risperadol, and Strattera. I also (finally) got him to agree to see a therapist and have just found one that he loves.
But he continues to have a really tough time handling anger - he cycles up really quickly and breaks things around the house, throws furniture across the room, and gets physical with me and his younger siblings.
He is constantly pushing boundries. He lies compulsively, has ditched school, and recently took a train with his friends into the city without my knowledge/permission. I have also found out that he has drank on several occasions and has also smoked weed numerous times. I believe he was much more easily irritated during the times that I suspect he was high.
I try to give him consequences for his behavior, but he runs away from the house when I try to ground him. I give him only small amounts of cash when I know specifically what it will be used for.
I'm at my wits end with this kid. I'm trying to do all the right things, but I'm seeing only small amounts of improvement in his impulsiveness due to the medications and not much improvement in the rest of his behavior.
I'd love any ideas on what to do next. Or can anyone reassure me that with time this process will work???