Brent

by Lisa B
(Gastonia, NC)

My son is currently 12 years old and is going through a very rough time in his life. He was diagnosed at the age of 8 when he tried to murder his brother. He was admitted into the hospital where they took him off all of his meds that he was on for ADHD. This is when we noticed that he was bipolar. While in the hospital, he busted a light bulb and started cutting himself with it. He would take his fists and beat his legs to the point that he had about 30 bruises on them.

Since being diagnosed, he has been isolated from most of his friends and even his family. His father has abandoned him, he doesn't do well in school, and he has a very difficult time making friends. He doesn't seem to fit in with anyone. He is constantly picked on by his classmates, and just gets really depressed about the entire situation.

I try my best to have him involved in every possible thing there is to be in. He is active in sports, plays in the school band, and is in charge of a lot of chores at home. This responsibility is teaching him that he has to overcome his illness and move on in life. Life isn't fair, nor does it give you a good hand when it is dealt.

The good thing that I can say about the bipolar is that it has allowed him to open up to me and talk to me about more things that other kids wouldn't dare share with their parents. I have to remember that God made him just the way that he is. We are not all perfect, and I try to remind myself of that daily.

The best advice that I could give, is to hang in there, talk to your child, make them feel like they are important, but at the same time, you must teach them right from wrong behavior.