Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 1/8/2007

Question
MEAGAN HAS AN IEP SET UP. SHE IS CURRENTLY TAKING WELBUTRIN,CONCERTA,LITHIUM IN THE DAY TIME AND ABILIFY,LITHIUM,TINEX, AND CLONIDINE IN THE EVENING. BELIEVE IT OR NOT SHE CAN FUNCTION GREAT ON ALL OF THESE MEDS. SHE CANT SIT IN A CLASS ROOM. SHE GETS ANXIETY, LAZY SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DO THE WORK. I DONT KNOW IF IT IS TOO EASY SHE IS IN SPECIAL ED. BUT IN REGULAR CLASS ROOM SHE CANT KEEP UP.SHE IS EXTREMELY SMART. I AM WONDERING IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SHE GETS SO BORED IN THE CLASSROOM. SHE LOVES COMPUTERS. DO YOU RECOMMEND ANY COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO HELP HER. SHE HAS ALREADY FAILED 6TH GRADE(AGAINST MY WISHES, LONG STORY) BUT SHE JUST GETS IN THIS MOOD IN THE WINTER AND WILL NOT WORK WITH THE TEACHERS. I THOUGHT IF THERE WAS SOME SPECIAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE IT MAY HELP HER LEARN MORE AND NOT BE SO LOST IN SCHOOL. KINDA PREPARING HER FOR THE DAY. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND
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MY DAUGHTER IS 13, WOW!!! I JUST GOT HER DIAGNOSED AFTER A LONG 4 YEARS. WITH THE INTERFERENCE OF HER DAD, I FEEL THIS HAS BEEN A LONG HARD TRIP FOR MEAGAN. FOR SHE WAS PUT ON ABILIFY OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND I FELT IT WAS A CHARM. BUT VISITATION WITH DAD AND HIM NOT THINKING ANYTHING WAS WRONG LEAD TO OVER 7 TRIPS TO HOSPITAL IN ONLY ONE YEAR. SHE WAS NOT GETTING HER MEDS AT DADS AND CAME HOME MANIC. ANYWAY AFTER THIS VERY LONG ROAD I NOW KNOW SHE IS TRULY BIPOLAR. SHE GOES TO A THERAPIST AND A PSYCHIATRIST. HARD TO JUGGLE AND TO WORK. TWO QUESTIONS. DO MOST PARENTS STAY HOME AND NOT WORK TO TAKE CARE OF BIPOLAR CHILDREN. THE BOOK BIPOLAR CHILD IS MEAGAN TO A T. ITS HARD TO GET PROPER MEDICAL HELP AND KNOWLEDGE ON WHAT WILL HELP HER BEST WHEN I WORK SO MUCH. ALSO, SCHOOLING. SHE GETS SICK AND VOMITS IN SCHOOL FROM HER ANXIETY. DOCS DON'T HELP ME WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HER BIPOLAR AT ALL.WHAT IS THE BEST FORM OF SCHOOLING. MEAGAN HAS HER HEART SET ON BEING A CARDIOLOGIST. BUT I CAN'T GET HER THROUGH A DAY OF THE STRESS OF SCHOOL. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN SHE  BECOME THIS. HOME SCHOOLING I CAN DO, BUT HOW. ITS VERY HARD TO GET THE PROPER INFORMATION AND ACTUALLY RESEARCH THIS. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND WORK. MEAGAN TAKES UP SO MUCH TIME. HELP!HOW DO I GET THE BEST FOR HER I WANT HER TO SUCCEED. MY BROTHER IS 42 AND CAN'T WORK AND IS AN ALCOHOLIC. I WANT HIM TO GET HELP BUT ITS ALMOST LIKE HE CAN'T DO IT. I SEE SOME OF THIS IN MEAGAN AND I WANT TO GET THE BEST EDUCATION AND HELP FOR HER SO SHE DOES NOT BECOME ANOTHER ONE LIKE MY BROTHER.
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Hi Tracie:

Homeschooling does wonders for bipolar children, but that is not always an option.  As a single mother with three kids, you need to work.  It is possible to work and still provide what your daughter needs.  It is not easy and will take some major adjustments for the whole family.

Try, first, to find a job that has you working during school hours.  This will help free up the time your daughter is home and you can schedule appointments then.  Most mental health programs will work around a child's school schedule.

Another thing, and you didn't mention whether Meagan is in regular or alternative classes, is to set up an appointment with the school and explore together what may be causing your daughter's anxiety.  Finding the cause can make finding a solution easier.  While academically most bipolar children can handle regular classes, most require at least a partial emotional support (ES) classroom.

As, in writing, for the school to work with you on setting up an IEP for Meagan.  This will help put in place a program that will meet her needs more readily than a regular program.  

You might also want to talk to her psychiatrist about adding an anti-anxiety medication for the school hours.

This gives you a few places to get things started.  I won't tell you any of this is going to be easy, but in the end, it'll be the best.  Meagan has every chance of doing well in life, she just may need some alternative ways of getting there.  The above steps will help.

Please do not hesitate to write again should you have more questions.
         Joyce A. Anthony

Answer
Hi Tracie:

Many bipolar children are highly intelligent.  It is very possible the work is too easy and your daughter is bored.  Have you checked into TSS services that might be available in your area?  Her psychiatrist may be able to help here.  They could sit with her in regular classes and give her the support she needs to work through the anxiety.

I'm afraid I can't suggest any computer programs.  What works with one child may not with another.  My sugggestion for this would be to allow her to choose some programs with you.  Set the limit that they need to be educational and then allow her to follow her interests.  That will do better in the long run than having her try and sit through something she has no interest in.

         Joyce A. Anthony