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So I left off with finding the doctor and having to wait a few months to see her. This pediatric psychiatrist had come highly recommended so I felt comfortable going to her. It was pretty different when I met her in person. She was a hippie throwback from the 60's. I wasn't quite sure how to take her. I had had to fill out lots of paperwork and questionnaires to help determine what was going on with B. She was first thinking ADHD which bipolar is often mistaken for. We talked at length about using medication and getting parenting training. The idea of giving her medication when she was only 3 really disturbed me. It was controversial to say the least. I was desperately worried about possible side effects like stunted growth among other things. But home life had gotten worse than ever. So I relented and started her on a form of ritalin. It only served to make her angry and moody. I was very upset and opted to keep her off medication. Of course this meant continued tantrums and violent mood swings. The doctor didn't have much insight and basically wanted to try other drugs. But I wasn't willing to let her be a guinea pig.

So life went on this way for another 2 years before we went back to this doctor again. It was only then that she mentioned bipolar disorder. It wasn't anything I would've thought of in a million years. Because B. was starting kindergarten full-time I was concerned that it would affect her in school. I reluctantly agreed to put her back on a new medication, Abilify. This medication was very new and showing excellent progress treating BPD.

I will talk tomorrow about B.s reaction to the Abilfy.

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