Re: elmore’s list:
Same thing with ADHD. Put every possible childhood behavior on a list to create a blanket disease. Can’t have anything that shows energy, developing individualty, intelligence.

Do psychiatrists treat with anything other than drugs?

I put no valdity in what you have to say, and if you want some respect..try using your real identity when posting comments.

This Mom, will be forever grateful, to the parents, and reporters of press and Media. Keep the judgements coming… lives will continue to be saved

Life can literally be hell with a drug or alcohol exposed child. It is difficult to discuss this with friends and peers, because most people will usually dismiss what you say with, “Oh, boys will be boys,” or “Just wait, they will grow out of it,” “Maybe you don’t discipline them enough” or “Sounds like they are looking for attention.”

I don’t care about medical research or what a doctor or parent might say. I know what is best for my child. There ARE parents who medicate and overmedicate their children due to lack of parenting skills and structure, and they are too lazy to apply appropriate boundaries and discipline. However, most of the people I know who have medicated their children have legitimate reasons to do so, and I feel they would actually be remiss if they did not supply the adequate medical care that child needs.

Continually banging your head on the wall, hurling yourself against a shower door when your parent showers, slamming a telephone on the tile and breaking it when your parent is on a phone, waking a parent up by headbutting them, ripping a text book to pieces in front of a kindergarten teacher are not normal temper tantrums and should be dealt with appropriately with a treatment team (behavior and medical) who specializes in such behaviors.

If you have never had a small child viciously throw a family pet into a pond, threaten to burn down the neighbors’ homes, threaten to stab a caller who is taking your parent’s time away, smears feces on kitchen cabinets, urinates on kitchen counters, and gets pissed at their friend’s friend by threatening repeatedly to kill them and shoot them through the heart, then keep your judgements to yourself.

Yes, children CAN be diagnosed at very early ages. I have not had to medicte my children as infants, but in looking back at some of my child’s infant behavior, I would not be surprised if there are children and toddlers who need medication.

What really worries me is how many of these are traits of childhood, and how anybody could decide that a 2-year old with any of these–bossiness? silliness? is anything beyond a 2-year old.

Very Common Symptoms of Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder

Separation anxiety
Rages & explosive temper tantrums (lasting up to several hours)
Marked irritability
Oppositional behavior
Frequent mood swings
Distractibility
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity
Restlessness/ fidgetiness
Silliness, goofiness, giddiness
Racing thoughts
Aggressive behavior
Grandiosity
Carbohydrate cravings
Risk-taking behaviors
Depressed mood
Lethargy
Low self-esteem
Difficulty getting up in the morning
Social anxiety
Oversensitivity to emotional or environmental triggers

Common Symptoms of Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder
Bed-wetting (especially in boys)
Night terrors
Rapid or pressured speech
Obsessional behavior
Excessive daydreaming
Compulsive behavior
Motor & vocal tics
Learning disabilities
Poor short-term memory
Lack of organization
Fascination with gore or morbid topics
Hypersexuality
Manipulative behavior
Bossiness
Lying
Suicidal thoughts
Destruction of property
Paranoia
Hallucinations & delusions