K.G.

from Plymouth Meeting, PA

I want to thank you for this report on kids with bipolar mood disorder.  My boy’s father has bipolar mood disorder and about year and a half ago, I began seeing similar symptoms in my six-year-old son.  He was immediately evaluated and treated, and we feel terribly fortunate to address this illness very early on. So often, kids do not get diagnosed until much later in life, as reported by the teens of this program, and as a result, additional problems set in.  We have no idea what is in store for our son.  To the best of our knowledge, there is no data on what happens when kids are treated at the earliest sign.  Our hope is it will retard the progress of the illness and he will not have to struggle with its secondary costs to the same extent as a later diagnosed child.  I am always hungry for more information on this disorder so I am best prepared to help my son. 

Looking back, what could have been done at the time to improve the situation? Treatment, medication, a different approach, or understanding from others around you?

I work in the therapy community, so I have had a lot of support and know how to reach out for it.  I do not share the information of my son's illness or his taking of medications with his school; it is the fear of the stigma that still lingers.  I do not want my son to be seen as a "troubled kid."

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