My daughter who is 5 years old has always been different, more of everything is how I've often described her. As an infant she never slept. She cried so much I used to think I'd simply go nuts. She would get frustrated with rattles and scream endlessly. As she got older nothing changed, just more of it. At the young age of 1 she would throw things and lay on the floor crying until she lost her voice or fell asleep, which ever happened to come first. She is spoiled everyone would say, I was just a young inexperienced Mom. Nothing changed, just more. She started becoming physically aggressive towards me. She would run around the house screaming and jumping and being so silly only to turn so angry the next minute. Why was a such a bad mommy, how could I not control this little person? Nobody could or would answer these questions for me. At the age of 4 she tried twice to jump out of a moving car. My arms were black and blue from being bitten so many times. Nobody could help me. My pediatrician suggested a behavioral disorder, and said to physically restrain her. This made the situation much, much worse. I had to have my 4 year old daughter admitted to a locked psychiatric floor. This was the most devastating choice I'd ever had to make. There, finally I got my answer. My daughter was Bipolar. Yes, at 4. It is called Early Onset Bipolar Disorder. She was medicated and after a little trail and error we were on the road to a "normal" life. It was not meant to be that easy for us, however, that doctor soon moved away and we had to find a different doctor. Others do not believe in this disorder. I got ADHD, ODD, alphabet soup is what we call it. Just recently I have been blessed to find another doctor who believes in this disorder. My daughter is now being treated successfully.

Just know this disorder is real and there is help. It is a hard road to follow, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can contact me for support anytime.

Ashli

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