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    Understanding a Bipolar Child
    Understanding a Bipolar Child
    Understanding a Bipolar Child
    Ebook64 pages40 minutes

    Understanding a Bipolar Child

    By Tara Nicole Scott Brunson

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    About this ebook

    By the time Jay was about a year and a half old, it was not unusual for me to wake up at any hour of the night to find eggs dumped all over the floor of the kitchen or even see the entire refrigerator emptied onto the living-room floor. Through the eyes of a toddler, eggs have an uncanny resemblance to baseballs. Jay would take an egg from the refrigerator just to throw it against the wall while yelling Ball, ball!

    Before her son turned two years old, author Tara Nicole Scott Brunson knew that little Jay did not act quite like other children his age. Inquisitive, agile, and very active, Jay struggled with behavior problems, and Brunson wanted to know how she could help her son thrive. This memoir follows her ten-year journey of gaining a medical diagnosis to explain Jays unusual actions.

    Understanding a Bipolar Child narrates the stories of Jays young life. In it, Brunson tells of the familys interactions with teachers and the school, as well as the creation of individualized education plans. She describes doctor visits, intense tests, the trial of more than thirty different medications, and the eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

    Brunson delivers her personal story to help guide other parents who are experiencing the same issues with their own children. She demonstrates that there are ways to seek and find both diagnosis and treatment in order to help the children gain more control over their lives.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateDec 7, 2011
    ISBN9781462069156
    Understanding a Bipolar Child
    Author

    Tara Nicole Scott Brunson

    Tara Nicole Scott Brunson is the mother of four children, the oldest having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD. She earned a degree in psychology and is working on a PhD in clinical psychology. She currently lives in California.

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      Book preview

      Understanding a Bipolar Child - Tara Nicole Scott Brunson

      Contents

      Introduction

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Appendix

      This book is dedicated to my son Jay—I would not be the person I am today without you—thank you, my love; to my wonderful family, for all your support and unconditional love; and to all the people who are struggling with ADHD, bipolar disorder, or both.

      Introduction

      It’s the hardest thing in the world to see your child in pain, whether it’s your two-year-old who has an owie or a ten-year-old, who has just experienced a broken heart for the first time. Sometimes, no one can find what ails your child from within. Parents often reach their wits’ end trying to spare their child from his or her pains; some give up everything to find a remedy. I wanted to tell my story to help others learn to cope with child diagnosed with ADHD or bipolar disorder.

      Chapter 1

      Stories of a Bipolar Child

      I was awakened in the middle of the night by a loud thud, followed by a horrifying cry. It was my baby! My little son Jay started climbing at a very early age; he climbed on everything within his reach. Even before he could crawl, he could climb. Initially it made me very nervous, especially his early endeavors.

      Now, that anxiety had jolted me awake. Jay, a little scamp of just nine months, had crept out of his crib and made his way over to the dresser to begin his climb. I could imagine how he had climbed slowly, with wobbling steps, until the dresser suddenly toppled over his little body. When the dresser gave a huge bang, I sprang out of my bed, threw the dresser off my baby, and pulled him into my arms. I embraced him for a few moments and then examined him for any bruises on his tender body. Fortunately, I saw no visible signs of injuries; in my trauma from the incident, it appeared I was the only casualty.

      Jay could swim before he could walk. Water is very dangerous for small children, especially those as curious as Jay. Understanding the importance of water safety is crucial, so I worked with him every day to teach him how to swim. When we would go out to the community pool, people would stare, dumbfounded, at my tiny son swimming like a fish. Jay could go across any part of the pool. He would go underwater and pretend to drown until he came up gasping for breath; this was just a trick to fool people.

      Jay was about fifteen months old when Kevin, Jay’s grandmother Corrine new boyfriend, decided he wanted to show his girlfriend what a loving and caring person he was. He told Corrine, that he would take Jay on his errands with him. The first stop would be the bank.

      Kevin hadn’t realized Jay wasn’t wearing a diaper, only underwear (he was being potty trained). While Kevin talked to

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