Bipolar child in inpatient care- urgent

[Losgann]

Can someone tell me what to expect?

It's something we're seriously considering but I can't find any information about what happens. i am fighting the urge to take him in right now. He's been screaming at me all day, he's threatening his teachers and the administrators and tormenting his sister..

I can't take it much longer..I can't handle this. But how do I just drop him off and drive away? He's my child..

[CrazyCatLady]

It all depends on the place that you take him. I was in and out of mental hospitals until the age of 18. Some are great, most suck. Many are full, so you'd have to call and even see if any beds are open first. Once inside, they will medicate him (a lot). If he refuses meds, they will consider him a danger to himself and force meds on him. There will be some therapy (not tons), some school, lots of down time (tv watching). You usually only see your actual psychiatrist once a day (or less) for maybe five minutes. That cycle will continue pretty much until your insurance doesn't want to pay for it anymore. Then they'll consider him ready to leave and it will be up to you to continue his therapy and find him resources outside of the hospital.

You have to do what you feel is best and all. But I just want to point out that these places can be really rough on kids. You are treated like nothing by most of the staff. They give you no rights, no voice, no respect, and no dignity. Not to mention, a large majority of the kids there will be from group homes or foster care. Some will be mentally handicapped and others extremely violent.

Because of that your son will hear language that he may have never heard before. He might see other kids do sexually inappropriate things. There will be yelling, screaming, crying, fights and outbursts of all kinds. Bullying and clicks are common. He will learn more about drugs and drug use then he ever needed to know. He may even get offered drugs that other kids had snuck in to them. Some kids are always trying to hurt themselves, so he may see kids who have cut themselves or who have od'd on other kids meds. Once I was in a home and a boy managed to hang himself with shoe laces and a belt (it was devastating to me, he was such a sweet kid).

I'm not trying to scare you or tell you what to do. I just don't think that this should be a rash decision. Make sure all other options have been exhausted first. Good luck

[kamilla626]

I don't know what is available in Texas, but you also may want to look into getting him enrolled in a PHP (Partial Hospital Program).

A lot of PHP's for kids offer classes, therapy, structure, behavior management, med evaluation, etc. during the day, but kids go home in the afternoon.

I work in the mental health field, and there is a PHP in my area that enrolls kids for 2-3 months, then they are typically discharged with a plan for either weekly therapy or in-home support services.

[CrazyCatLady]

That sounds way better. Becuase another issue with inpatient care is that it's easier to behave and manage your problems there. For one, there is the intimidation factor (the threat of being medicated, strapped to the bed, etc) Plus there aren't too many ways to get into trouble anyway. So you do really good while inside, so they release you. Then back at home you're in trouble again almost immediatly because being inpatient did nothing to help you learm to cope with your parents, school, siblings, etc.

I don't know what is available in Texas, but you also may want to look into getting him enrolled in a PHP (Partial Hospital Program).

A lot of PHP's for kids offer classes, therapy, structure, behavior management, med evaluation, etc. during the day, but kids go home in the afternoon.

I work in the mental health field, and there is a PHP in my area that enrolls kids for 2-3 months, then they are typically discharged with a plan for either weekly therapy or in-home support services.

[Mom2lilpeeps]

The pp had a really good idea with the PHP suggestion. However, depending on what's going on sometimes in-patient is neccessary prior to any out-pt treatment. If he is a true, immediate danger to himself or others then he may need to be treated as an in-pt. You can take him to the hospital to be evaluated. At that point the intake person and you can decide what the best course of action would be. Again, if he is having an acute episode that you cannot treat or handle at home then he very well may need to be admitted for a day or two to stabalize.

[Losgann]

Thanks, mamas.. I was sobbing when I typed that, I really had just taken all I could take. I've been holding it together for weeks now and it's finally just gotten to be too much.

He's swinging wildly. After screaming at me all day, telling me how much he hates me and how bored he is (nothing will entertain him long except video games, and he is SO ugly to everyone while he plays and afterward so we took them away), anytime I ask him to do something, it's screaming, and whining and arguing and backtalk. Then dh came home and we got out of the house for a bit and Ethan hit manic big time. Talking with no volume control, laughing uncontrollably and bouncing off the walls. It was a whole different kid..In the space of 2 hours he swung low again getting broody and mean and arguing and challenging anything and everything we said or did.

I like the sound of the PHP. Children's Hospital in Dallas has a bipolar children's program but I can't really find much about it. It's the only place I could think of.

Ethan's been verbally threatening fellow students, teachers and administrators at the school. He often raises his hand/fist to me and his father and he's tormenting the ever loving hell out of his sister. She often mimics his behavior when she's upset.. it's snowballing out of control.

We had OT/ST, we had behavior therapy, we were doing special needs gymnastics and music therapy, even equine therapy.. Finances didn't allow for us to continue, OT dropped him after the bipolar dx, and now the BPS program has said because he qualifies under the mental health umbrella and not the MR umbrella with the bipolar dx we have to start all over in the system and it's a 2 year wait. We've been going it alone since the beginning of last summer and I am really, really feeling it now.

He's on a dairy free diet (not gluten as he didn't test positive for Celiac but I have a suspicion he may need to be gluten free as well, god help us). We do a lot of the Feingold for adhd, we limit food colorings and no caffeine..

I'm going to look into the php program, it sounds perfect for what we need right now..

I just need a break from the fighting and the stress. It's not so much that I'm afraid that he's going to hurt me (or anyone else). I'm afraid I'm going to snap and hurt him. My patience is frayed that thin, there's just nothing left..

I fell asleep earlier for about 3 hours while home alone with the kids, I just shut down, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I never ever do that.. thankfully dh has the next two days off so I can rest up for next week..

[perl]

Sooo sorry you're going through all this! My sister works in mental health at Children's and it's a good program. The inpatient unit is usually reasonably calm, with many of the patients having eating disorders, some with bipolar, etc. I know they do have a PHP but don't know much about it, as my sister mostly does consult and inpatient work. I do know that you can call and schedule an evaluation, and from there they can recommend what level of care would be most appropriate for your DS.

If things get really, really bad you can always take him to the ER where he will be seen by a psychiatrist (usually a fellow). I'd encourage you to go ahead and call Children's to see what they can offer you. It's good to know that help is there if things get way out of control. If you have specific questions or whatever please feel free to pm me and I'll get in touch with my sister. Trust me, you're not the only one going through this. And don't worry about feeling like you're abandoning him if you have to take him to the hospital. The people that work at the hospital will not only help your DS, but will help the whole family learn about his illness and how to better function as a family in the face of it. Big hugs to all of you - please keep us updated on how you're doing!

[Shiloh]

hugs mama we've been there.
Finally finding a programme it was day patient care not overnight was a godsend for all of us. You don't have to drop them off but do talk to someone about it as its often the best choice. My dd's programme was 3 months long and I am so pleased to say that she's not self harming, violent to the extent that she was...she's not an 'easy child' but she's able to control herself drug free, she fits in at school now, has friends, no special programme at all. They did a behavioral approach that combined 'real school' with phychiatrists, psychologists, medical workups, family seminars, family counselling.... they saved her life. (and my sanity

we also did the therapy, play therapy, etc. It was too little and too much space in between. My dd benefited greatly by seeing how 'normal' her behavior was as she got to see other kids had her struggles, they cheered each other on and didn't react when someone lost control. That was one of the best parts to rebuilding her self esteem that she knew she wasn't 'bad'

It's not so much that I'm afraid that he's going to hurt me (or anyone else). I'm afraid I'm going to snap and hurt him. My patience is frayed that thin, there's just nothing left..

mama I know the strength it takes not to abuse a child that is so demanding, the fact that you haven't done it at this point I think you can take comfort in that you won't. I figured if I didn't hit this child then no one really ever could give any excuse for spankin on theirs. I think the only day I actually ever really lost it and yelled uncontrollably at her was when she told my mother I beat her.... the amount of restraint it takes to not hit a child like these.... I wasn't going to let her think she could accuse me of beating her that was the one thing I can take some solace in that I never did....a rapidly cycling bipolar child is a whirlwind rollercoaster at the best of times.....

good luck and you can PM me any time if you ever need to