Help!! My 8 year old is out of control!!!

First, it's hard but try to remember that a mental health disorder is as real as a an physical disorder. This aggressive behavior is not her choosing to be a bad kid, it's the chemicals/wiring of her brain that is not processing the world around her the way 'normal' people do. My eldest also has mental health issues and first began to show signs of it at about 8 too. Their body is approaching puberty, for most kids it's hard to process their emotions at this time; for a child with mental health issues it's even worse. I do not recommend that you spank her. Police officers are not mental health or child development experts. Keep working with her doctors. If she's on a new medication & your seeing a negative change in behavior, treat it like an allergic reaction to the medication. Get her back into see the doctor, adjust the medication or change it. Also consider activities that redirect some of her energy, boosts her self-esteem and teaches her self-control. Activities like karate (I know that may not seem wise for a violent kid, but karates focus is on self-discipline) or horse back riding (being around animals can be very positive for people with mental health issues) swimming or other physically active hobbies. Teach her coping skills for her feelings, meditating, praying (if that's part of your beliefs) journaling, banging on a drum or actual punching bag etc. And teach her how to recognize when she is just beginning to feel out of control. Talk about what situations trigger these behaviors for her & what is she feeling at each stage. Also when you punish her by grounding/sending her to her room and she screams like that, ignore it. I know it's embarrassing but secure the window so she can not get out of it and let her yell.

All that from an 8 year old? Oh boy, she scares me. I think you should seriously think about disciplining her. Spanking sure works but be careful not to hurt her so much. Do just enough so she could remember such actions won't go unpunished. Consulting experts on this field like psychiatrist might be necessary. Cheers!

Honey I feel for you. Maybe you need to go to counsiling as to how to cope with her. What does the doctor advise? Hitting isn't going to help, just relieve fustration on your part. Good luck dear.

That is scary, I know of parents who have bi-polar children, children who have pi-polar parents, and parents and children who are both bi-polar. I am not sure exactly what can be done, but I am happy that you are able to recognize that your child has a problem. Some parents would simply deny it.

I honestly don't know what to tell you except to make sure that she is on the correct doses of medication. Medication is one of the key elements in controlling bi-polar disorder. She also sounds like she needs some help with coping skills. The physical abuse may be due to anger and she may need some separate help with anger management from a therapist. You also could use some support so try to find a support group in your area for parents of children who have disabilities. Hang in there as there is help out there for you.

You really have all my empati, what a nightmare this must be. I do not have any personal experience with bi-polar children, but we do have scizophrenia in my family, and allthough, I know this is not the same I have had mental illness so terribly close all my life. I think the worst thing about your situation, of course besides the fact that your child has bipolar, is that you must feel absolutely out of control in this situation. I honestly do not think that this is a disciplining problem, and as Eden suggested above any physical punishment is likely to fail, if not make the problem worse. Do you get any financial support for medical issues, and physchiatrists? If you do not already have an excellent therapist for your daughter, my first advice would be to find the best that you can possibly afford. As a single mother, I am sure money is a huge concern, and here I would suggest that you seek out help from charity organisations, churches etc. You must find funding to get your child the help that she need, both for her and your own sake. Can you get any help with caretakers for her, while you are at work, afterall it cannot be in the publics best interest that she is violent. Again, I am by far an expert in this area, but seek financial help. Go to your local social services, community groups, churches, seek out organizations online, bi-polar organizations, mental health organizations, children's organizations etc. No matter what I really do wish you and your family all the best of luck, and I hope that you will be able to get the help that you need, as noone should be left alone to handle such a serious disease.

Wow! You have your hands full. I noticed you said she has been hospitalized for a week at a time. That is not long enough for the doctors and technicians to observe her behavior. She may need to be taken off meds for a while to see if her behavior gets worse or improves. Kids react differently to medications than adults. It would probably take 3-4 months to get a good idea of her behavioral problems. Then they may be better able to determine her needs. As for spanking, if she is bi-polar spanking probably won't work for her. The child has to be able to have some control over their actions for spanking to work.