Does your ASD kid.............?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Does your ASD kid.............?
5
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 9:01pm

Have cycling moods?

I was just wondering if ASD kids did this or if this is a bipolar thing. Jacob has both bipolar and AS---so I just am trying to figure out what behaviors are BP or AS.

Today is one of those days.

Holly
Jacob--6y
Bipolar
AS
Anxiety

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 9:13pm
Holly,
Jake(2.5) is usually pretty layed back most of the time. The only time I see a real difference in his mood is when there is a change in his routine or if he's trying to do something he finds difficult but even then he's pretty easy to redirect.
HTH,
Teresa
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 9:30pm

When Jacob was that young he would scream for hours on/off. Every little thing would set him off. Just saying his name to tell him to come and eat---would set him off into a tantrum. He would get really violent. Throwing everything in his way or attacking the nearest person by him. At that age he also did self-injury. Biting or pinching himself to bruises.
Thank goodness those days are behind us!! He is better in a way. He doesn't hurt himself anymore. He still attacks people---more violently---hitting his little sister in the head over and over with his fists (because she's singing or talking and he doesn't want her to). Or---throws chairs, tips over tables, etc. At least he doesn't destroy his bedroom anymore.

Today is a semi-manic day. Hopefully not the beginning of mania. Not good at school at the end of day. Kicked a kids locker door shut as the kid was getting his stuff out. The kids locker door cut the kids head. Then--I got there and he took off running up stairs at school, down the hall and down the other stairs. I finally caught him and drug him back to the classroom. He was swinging at me and crawling under tables. I got him home finally. He found out his sister took his bike and he started chasing them down the rode. My 9y said she didn't see him or know where he was. I sent her and my neighbor out to find him. He had gone to the other side of the block (our "block" is 1/2 mile---and on the lake)----to a friends house. A 11yo boy who comes over alot to our house. His mom called me as soon as I send the kids to look for him.

I can't wait until tomorrow to see what happens!!!

Holly
Jacob--6y
Bipolar
AS
Anxiety

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 11:32pm
Holly,
Your day makes mine seem like a walk in the park. My sister has schizophreia and growing up with her at times was pretty tough because she was very violent when she was younger. I honestly don't know how my mother did it without going insane because she raised all 5 of us by herself after my parents seperated.If you could see my sister today you would never think she was the same person who kicked holes in walls, attacked one of us on a daily basis and who was generally very unpleasant to be around. She is actually now the calmest of us all as long as she's taking her meds!She's now married with 4 children and doing really well. I just wanted to let you know it does get better and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
((( HUGS )))
Teresa
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 11:37pm

I always worry that my baby boy won't be "normal" when he's older. I hope to survive the teen years. We just need to find a med combo that will work for him. My biggest fear is he will be unstable and commit suicide or get into drugs and criminal activity.
Most of those criminals have some mental disorder and are unmedicated.

Holly
Jacob

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 12:09am
Holly,
I completely understand where you are coming from. I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't hard to keep my sister on her meds at times because I do remember times my mom would have to put her tablets into her food because my sister would refuse it. The main reason my sister would refuse her meds was always because she said they made her feel out of it but that was 25yrs ago and the medictions has improved so much she dosen't mind taking it anymore.It did take her a while to realise she needed it and once that happened it has never been a problem since.My sister was never diagnosed until she was an adult because back then Doctors just didn't believe a child could suffer from schizophrenia at such a young age. So for years my sister was given medication for depression and anxiety which treated those problems because they are co-morbid but her schizophrenia was left untreated for years and that is why it got so bad.Jacob is lucky he was diagnosed so young because at least he can be treated correctly. If it makes you feel any better my sister and my father( also schizophrenic) have never been arrested, never attempted suicide, have many friends and live a pretty "normal life".I won't say try not to worry because I do it myself all the time. Just know you are doing everything you can right now and that in the future you will see the results of all your hard work. Keep your chin up!
Teresa