Medicating Children For Mental Disorders: Is It Right? Kids on Pills | Only Human

In North America, children diagnosed with bipolar disorder show the same characteristics as children in Europe who are diagnosed with ADHD. What are the differences between the treatments? And how will these children’s brains fare in 20 years? This documentary offers deep insight into the controversial current debate regarding children’s mental health.
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From: Kids on Pills
Content licensed from TVF International to Little Dot Studios Network. Any queries, please contact us at: [e-mail]

[@sirenasummers2599]

Kids on lithium blows my mind. I saw the long term effects of Lithium, a patient who's kidney failed and she had hyperthyroidism. The idea of kids on this just turns my stomach. They do not give Lithium to children where I am, they are cautious with adults.

[@cs5384]

Lithium is supposed to be last resort but it's one of the most effective for true bipolar disorder and if levels are checked consistently there's really no need to worry about kidney disorder.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?...

[@janetdonald9801]

And the pharmaceutical companies just make more money from the diseases caused by the initial medications $$$$

[@candace3493]

@@cs5384 My liver failed on Lithium. There's absolutely grounds to worry.

[@aimstea2305]

I got put on lithium when I was 13 years old after being on only 2 other medications. I’m 19 and I was only on lithium for less then 6 months but it’s left me with permanent damage. It’s crazy what psychiatrists will do to push kids through the system

[@JuleeChristensen]

I'm not anti medication by any means but for a child as young as 3 it's not right. Terrible twos and traumatic threes is something every parent knows about. This is the time when we teach our children how to appropriately express emotions and to behave in an appropriate manner. Medication along with cognitive and behavioral therapy for kids.

[@sngray11]

Agreed. 90% of a child’s brain development happens between birth and turning five years old. So at a bare minimum, I feel like psych meds shouldn’t be prescribed before that age. And it is important to have therapeutic treatment along with medicinal treatment (when necessary) for children that do have mental health issues.

[@chrissytorres6546]

I agree my daughter been in therapy for years before I decided medication was necessary and it worked and she’s grown now and takes no medication.therapy is key.

[@darkmax612]

Underdeveloped bodies shouldn't be on drugs. Humanity doesn't learn it's lesson after past horrors. Now by the person being 21+ and using high potency doses that Dr.s so willingly prescribe, then that's their decision to indulge or not indulge, not a human that doesn't have concent on the risks vs benefits.

[@bunglejoy3645]

The brain isn't fully grown until age of 25 years that's why they won't diagnosed bpd while then and rarely diagnosed schripionia until teenagers I started with depression at age 14 years and was on meds depression is now thought not just to be a brain chemical issue but wiring issue and damage to brain as well it was described to me as lime a bus station and all the buses backing out at once and colliding because nobody's directing them sometimes children gave to be medicated my mental health's been do bad that since age 14 I've only been off antidepressants 4 years and now am on 200mg of antipsychotics since last year the brains very very vomplex there's a lot we don't understand about the brain

[@mabelsue123]

Bipolar and ADHD are NOT the same thing.

[@beng4647]

According to modern doctors they are. It just means they won't treat ADD.

[@lindseyroy1629]

Who said they were? I heard her say, “Bipolar, also called manic depression.” They aren’t even treated with the same type of medication.

[@Isisbridge]

They're the same insofar as they're both made-up psychiatric disorders.

[@ttv.viaggy]

Agreed, I keep seeing what should be ADHD be called Bipolar

[@darajoyce5514]

what if they're just misdiagnosed and it's actually ADHD

[@devons9043]

I developed severe anxiety and panic attacks as a child and was put on my first SSRI at age 8. The effect was immediate and I was able to have a happy, normal childhood. The problems started when my psychiatrist started changing them up on me throughout my adolescence. At one point I was on 400mg of Wellbutrin at 14 years old. I cycled through a bunch of psychiatrists and a bunch of meds over the years. I started having less benign meds, such as benzos and antipsychotics, prescribed to me with the promise that they would help me. At times I’ve lost months at a time due to size effects of bad meds such as insomnia and chronic dizziness. Do I blame my parents for putting me on meds as a kid? No. My anxiety was out of control and they did what the professionals said would help me. Would I love to go back in time and get good therapy and learn coping skills, rather than relying on drugs? ABSOLUTELY. Going on an SSRI when I was a kid didn’t ruin my life, but it sent me down a path of being over medicated and missing out on so much of my life. I’m 26 now, and I’m basically non-functional at the moment due to psychiatrists mismanaging my meds.

[@kmydesire12]

@@yamiletsoler3464 I’m praying for my son. He’s 12 and on rispidal, fluoxemine, adderal clonodine at night to sleep. He wakes up at 3 demanding food. Pre diabetic

[@N0p3er5]

@kmydesire12 can you do anything more than just pray? Like actually help him get off those meds? There are ways to taper. That kid has no chance at life on those meds.

[@LucielStarz123]

" didn't ruin my life " ---> "I'm basically non-functional..." Clearly took a hefty chunk of IQ with it too

[@MonacoBlast66]

Please do research on this. Mad In America is an excellent site for an alternate view.@@kmydesire12

[@mhtxi9486]

How do mean non functional? Please give example

[@AmberMcQuaker]

As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at 15, I wish I would have been diagnosed & had access to medications sooner. Within a week of started Vyvanse my life changed. I went from Fs to As in school, I was able to focus and actually pick up info. I 100% support giving the meds to kids who have ADHD.

[@deborahstone9696]

My son was diagnosed with ADHD at 3.he went from f to a+.i so totally agree hun. I'm now raising my sons daughter my grand daughter. She was the very same. She is finally out of her uncontrollable behavior. 9 years old she takes vyvanse. She now is such a pleasure to be around. Even joined a girls group... So glad you🍀 had someone to believe in you. And you have my support. 🤩

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@InTheSkyGirl]

Schools give letter grades to three year olds? And what would those grades even mean?!

[@amberfalvey7476]

It helps my brother a lot is working doing’s everything every one dose so proud of him

[@blondecat666]

@@deborahstone9696 Grades at 3??? Stop the bs.

[@0585ccook]

I can't speak for other people's children, but it helped mine tremendously. I'm just grateful to have found a combination of therapy and meds that works for her. It's not what I'd prefer, but it is what was needed. I don't think it is something to be taken lightly though and it should definitely be a last resort. Medication still isn't a cure and it can't fix everything so don't have that expectation.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@0585ccook]

@@genjamescmcconville7294 I mind.

[@dorabolick9275]

If you give these drugs to kids you should be arrested. Long term movement disorders are unforgiveable.

[@foulbone]

I had severe anxiety and emetophobia as a kid, to the point I was afraid to eat Incase I’d get sick. They finally put me on an anti-anxiety medication, and I finally felt like I could live. I stopped having midnight panic attacks, huddled in my bathroom, getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night. I could function, and it felt amazing. I cannot speak on everybody’s experience, but I’d say if your child doesn’t want medication, don’t force it on them. If they don’t feel good taking them, allow them to come off it. But if it’s helping and they are willing to try it, let them try it.

[@aimstea2305]

As someone who was heavily medicated as a child I don’t think at the end of the day it should be an argument about meds to worry about. It should be an argument about the psychiatrists prescribing these meds to children because they will do anything and everything to ignore the root issue and push you through the system. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar, ODD, and major depressive disorder at nine years old. I was put on over 30 medications from the time I was 9 until I was 16 and I was basically given a new misdiagnosis every year. It was never about my mental health or finding what was wrong and helping me. It was about money and pushing me through the system. The medications I was on have left permanent damage to my body that I have to be reminded of everyday of my adult life. But if it wasn’t due to the carelessness of many psychiatrists just giving me a diagnosis for insurance or just have me numbed out with meds that didn’t work I wouldn’t have had to deal with the damage today.

[@treeyellow4627]

I'm so sorry. What are the permanent damage meds have done?

[@crimsonclover9871]

The little boy with the horse... "He loves me..." 🥰🥰 Bless! Medicating a three year old?! Poor Raul...I feel for him *and* his elderly parents.

[@morrismalice9094]

I've been medicated since I was 12 years old, I'm not proud of it but I'm also not ashamed, medication saved my life.

[@Sluggii]

I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD til I was 20, half way through my first degree, the difference taking my medication for my classes made was jaw dropping, I can't help but wonder how much better I coulda done K-12 and in my first two years of college had I gotten treated sooner

[@beng4647]

Same here. But they won't give me meds because I'm a man. I've been homeless for 20 years.

[@LucielStarz123]

amphetamines does that to everyone. It's when they're abused above 20mg/day is when problems start. There's a reason why it's the best sellign drugs in silicon valley and walls street

[@narnylukan165]

Taking my medication for my classes ? Gives the impression your using your medication just for studying,

[@LucielStarz123]

@@narnylukan165 yeah there’s a reason why Adderall‘s and other pharmaceutical drugs derive from amphetamines are the best sellers on every college campuses

[@LittleRayofSunshine69750]

As someone with bipolar, this makes me feel sick. The drugs they are giving these kids are no joke, they are serious and have many many side effects. I had symptoms as young as I can remember but the doctors refused to diagnose and medicate until I was 18 and for good reason I believe. To me people want quick fixes and children taking meds at 3 the parents are out of their mind.

[@aylauittenbosch1055]

same here diagnosed with bipolar 1 and also had symptoms for as long as i can remember the medications can be dangerous especially for children that are so young...

[@godsend877]

YES EXACTLY. i have many symptoms but until 18 I cannot get a formal diagnosis. i think some of these children have asd (autism) rather than bipolar as many of the symptoms overlap and really shouldnt be diagnosing young children like that as their brain hasn’t fully developed.

[@candace3493]

My parents hid my autism and I had an adverse reaction to most psychiatric medications. Got diagnosed with bipolar, and am now dealing with debilitating dyskinesia. I was 13 when it all started and its been traumatic enough. Not everyone should be medicated. These poor children.

[@8luvbug]

@@candace3493 what is dyskinesia?

[@uniformitydubliner9691]

So you'd rather the children are miserable than they'd have medication that helps make their life immensly better?

[@susiefairfield7218]

Next Episode: Kids Withdrawing off Psychemeds

[@albagubrath9073]

Then adults with drug addictions after being medicated as kids :(

[@somewhitedude8897]

Ding, ding, ding! 💯

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?.

[@evidenceincreation9520]

The love of money is the root of all evil.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@blondecat666]

And organised religion.

[@hellobot67]

@@blondecat666 you cant say that about every single religion

[@blondecat666]

@@hellobot67 And you are right, I stand corrected. I was mainly thinking of monotheist religions. Judeo-Christian-Muslim. Polytheist religions are a lot less aggressive, ruthless and a lot less power and/or money-hungry

[@Justme-jf9dn]

It’s extremely risky to have such strong psychotropics. This is a lifetime of medication that can obviously change the course of development in their brain. I personally know a 12 year old who unalived himself in a terrible way on psychotropic meds. He could not sleep. All night long he would be tormented. Many Doctors and meds and treatment and still took his own life at 12. Personally I would not consent to that. Adults are greatly helped but children , I don’t think so. Why then are these children still so troubled on meds.

[@ariatheroyal6733]

I have ADHD. I was not diagnosed before I moved schools so my teachers had an excuse to yell at me constantly. Yes, I do have PTSD, but it would be so much worse had I not received medication. It would have gone onto my next school. Thanks to meds... my four years there were amazing. I didn't feel like I needed to hide or run. I think medication can very much improve a child's life, but it shouldn't be given in too high doses or below the age of five, in my opinion. These things can be great for us. Mental disorders are not simply labels- they are a guide in the right direction for treatment. ADHD may just be 'hyper' in the eyes of the outside world, but it really impacts our lives more than you can imagine unmedicated. Just my two cents- all opinions are valid!! If you decide to or to not allow your child medication, that's YOUR choice.

[@alleycat616]

Thank you for this. Our young son is on Ritalin for this reason, he behaves in ways where he can get severely hurt or even killed because of his severe adhd and yes that is on top of having to be constantly redirected (jumps on his brother etc) which I’m sure wears on him too. We don’t like having to medicate him but for now it is the best option. We are hoping he can better regulate himself in the next few years where he can get off it. But thank you it’s good to have other’s testimonies such as this and I’m glad it worked well for you. I’m a teacher and have had my fair share of adhd students as well and they almost always are so much better and even seem mentally healthier when they are on their meds.

[@ladydaisy9818]

Before even watching this video I want to say that medication should be the last possible option, especially for children. There are many ways to deal with these issues other than medication and not until those options are exhausted should medication even be considered

[@ManufacturedCrises]

Agreed. Especially with the new data showing that SSRIs don’t work for the reason they said they did

[@beautyforashes2230]

I completely agree with this!

[@twstd.2044]

Agreed. The “European way of thinking” 🤔

[@celestialcircledance]

Its a good sentiment but our society is set up for expediency rather than a low and gentle approach .This is especially true for poor parents who may lack the time , money and transportation to take there kid to this specialist and that program .

[@ladydaisy9818]

@@celestialcircledance I understand it can be difficult and some peoples circumstances make it extremely difficult, but it’s not impossible. Our kids are important enough to figure it out. I think the bigger issue is doctors not giving enough information about the other options and going straight to medication.

[@adrianrocha1101]

Giving Seroquel to a child is criminal. This is so sad.

[@ToXiCBlaze]

I take seroquel for insomnia. The only adverse effect I have noticed is dry mouth and drowsiness during the day. you do't know what you are talking about. It's not that bad.

[@adrianrocha1101]

@@ToXiCBlaze I do happen to know

[@ladyfluffsy1700]

Attention problems can be caused by many things. Anxiety, trauma, abuse.

[@anonemoose1695]

I wish I was diagnosed adhd as a child because I know I would’ve had an easier time growing up. I was diagnosed adhd at 43 and meds have changed my life.

[@sngray11]

Better late than never. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager and meds and therapy were a total game changer for me.

[@franny5295]

I have ADHD. If you can manage the destructive parts long enough to grow into it, it's actually advantageous. I'm not tired when everybody else is. Because I don't really focus on anything in particular I notice everything so kids are safer with me than most. There are skills we can learn to manage the impulsivity and frankly chaos that our lives can easily descend into without the structure we need to stay on task. Which basically starts with knowing exactly what those tasks are and that's what gets people. There's nothing "wrong" with us. We're just not wired for the society we live in right now. On a farm or in a warzone, which home with little kids counts as a warzone in my opinion, we thrive. That's where we shine. If your kids are little monsters bouncing off the walls put them outside! Put things on the walls so they can climb them. Let them rip and run on their bikes. And keep their lives very, very structured and they'll be fine.

[@LucielStarz123]

Literally the man who came up with ADHD denounced it after his research that was based on low IQ, highly emotionally reactive mentally challenges children were sold to big Pharma’s in the 70s so that they have a reason to keep amphetamines on the market. ADHD isn’t a real thing. But no one can deny the effects of amphetamines.

[@Rat_Queen86]

I don’t know how I feel about this. On the one hand, it’s good that diagnoses and ailments are being diagnosed earlier, so that treatment and therapy can be more helpful as the brain develops. But, as I said, the brain is developing and if there is a misdiagnosis, the consequences can have life long effects and that is scary. Also, what happens when they eventually build a tolerance to these meds?

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@emmy.vosper]

In my opinion, if a child has bipolar or adhd, there should be more done to retrain their behaviour rather than treating symptoms with meds…

[@Rat_Queen86]

@@emmy.vosper I totally agree Medication is so harsh and should be used sparingly. It shocked me to my core to hear about kids being put on lithium.

[@Belenshares]

@@emmy.vosper Their behavior is caused by their brain chemistry. Unless you change that root cause, the behavior will continue. Usually medications and therapy go hand in hand. Patients need both therapy to gain skills to deal with their difficulties and medication.

[@fisharefriends598]

How can they compare and confuse adhd and bipolar, they are distinctly different

[@twstd.2044]

Exactly. And so are the medication being used to treat both (and not talking about the ,only approved in America, Adderall). But imagining giving Seroquel to a young kid seems real bizarre to me.

[@0585ccook]

@@twstd.2044 They gave it to my daughter for bipolar disorder and it didn't effect her in the least. I've taken it and was practically comatose, but not her. I was shocked. They ended up switching her to other meds eventually bc I still didn't care for the idea and it wasn't really helping her.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@Belenshares]

They both have emotional disregulation, and you can have both conditions as well of course.

[@alleycat616]

We have our 5 year old on adhd medicine, but not because we want to. But because he would get badly hurt and cannot function properly in school without it. I’m hoping he will improve in the next couple years (they say if you start it earlier they typically learn to function/regulate themselves better and sooner) so we can take him off of it. But his adhd is so severe he is a literal danger to himself and we are worried all the time he will get a brain injury or even get killed due to his actions. So sadly medication is the better alternative for now.

[@LucielStarz123]

ah yes. the 'let's give my hyper-active kid meth so he can be more manageable and not worry about the neurotoxic effects that will definitely makes it worse for his life over all." classic.

[@drkarenbukharibukhari9931]

social isolation paternal illness divorce bullying and racism all contribute along with bereavement and poverty to increased mental illness in innocent kids in uk 2023

[@ingridakerblom7577]

Something is really wrong when the answear to the question to why start a kid on severe medication is "we are unsure about the diagnosis" SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO MEDICATE THEN?? Wtf?!!!? 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@jemieculp6847]

I used to be an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, and I will tell you, the first hurdle I had to get over with parents getting them to trust me. A lot were terrified I was going to refer their child to the psychiatrist right away or label their kid with a mental illness. This is a scary topic for parents. In my 9 months as a consultant, I only referred a small handful of kids (age 4+) to our clinicians. The rest of the kids I saw, we worked on behavior strategies for attachment, initiative/attention, and self- regulation skills. I also worked with parents to help provide coping strategies for them on how to manage their child's issues and just provide general support. I also worked with children in school based settings. I would be very hesitant to encourage a parent with a child under the age of 4 to seek out a mental health diagnosis except in the most extreme circumstances or where there are high risk factors, and instead point them towards consultation services if they are available where they live (they are generally free as consultation is not yet an insurance billable service, so consultants tend to be grant funded and in partnership with a local mental health organization). In the state where I live, we're actually seeing IECMH consultants become part of clinical teams working along side psychiatrists, psychologists, behavior interventionist, and counselors to help kids and families struggling with mental health issues in young children. Usually, we've spent a lot of time with the child at home, school, and other natural settings as well as conducted valuable screenings to help narrow down the types of further assessment and treatments that would work best for the child and family. My thoughts on the matter are to stave off medication as long as possible by using therapeutic strategies and providing family supports. However, this has to be looked at on a very initialized basis. It is possible a very young child could engage in harming behaviors (self or others) to a degree that needs to be dealt with right away. It is also possible for a very young child to engage in/show signs of other behavior that require immediate intervention by a clinician. It's important when making the decision about medical interventions for children that as much information on the child's personal history, family history, medical history, intervention history, and social history is gathered as well as information on how much the child's behavior impacts his/her ability to function. There is a lot more that goes into the decision on medication than just what I've listed, including risk vs benefits analysis but these are some of the basics of how once diagnostic criteria is met (and sometimes even when it's not) how the decisions about medication can be made responsibly. I'd also like to point out that a lot of clinicians will not diagnose children under the age of 4 with a mental illness nor will they provide therapeutic services to children under that age. There are some out there that will, but they are few and far between.

[@2DarkHorizon]

Your approach sounds sensible. However 5 years ago a study came out that said 1 out of 6 Americans take some kind of psychiatric drugs. Problem is probably worst now. Maybe 1 out of 5 or 4 or less. Parents have real reason to be even more concerned now. Yet in the same study Asian Americans only 5% of them take some kind of psychiatric drugs. Yet Asian Americans have the highest average income in America. They take the less amount of drugs but at the same time most economically functional people. Maybe scientist should invent a drug that induces stress into the individual. By doing this the human body may adapt to the stress. Instead of the opposite way of thinking of removing the stress were by over time the body tries to adapt to the lack of stress.

[@jemieculp6847]

@@2DarkHorizon I personally don't think that's the best approach to take. Stress can cause serious issues to the body and we know children that are exposed to toxic stress in utero and in early childhood are at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes. There's a biological component of stress and a behavioral component as well, so just creating a medication to incite smaller stress responses in hopes of training the body/mind to handle stress is more complicated than you're making it seem.

[@bexter107]

As one of those kids who didn’t get the right diagnosis as a child. This approach is not helpful we are still bullied and seen as less then without any support and stability of a diagnosis. We can’t show proof to future employers as to why we would struggle in the workplace making it difficult to hold down work because you are just seen as lazy. It’s so much easier to diagnose children than adults and build them a stable upbringing where they understand that they are not broken but have a disability and it is not their or their parents fault

[@jemieculp6847]

@@bexter107 I'm not sure where you got the idea I was talking about denying children a diagnosis or NOT advising that in appropriate situations clinicians need to be involved. I fail to see how my advice and explaining how consultation works is "not helpful". I talked extensively about how assessment works, when we get clinicians involved, and services that are provided in concert between consultants and clinicians. Not real sure what your disagreement is with what I said. Also, if you want to talk about personal experience. I have a mental health disorder that I've had since I was VERY young and went my entire childhood without a diagnosis. Would it have helped? Possibly. However, it was the 80s and much less was known about child psychology than there is today. So yes, I am a proponent of getting kids help and a diagnosis (if appropriate). I just don't think medication is always the way to go in cases where behavior modification and other supports work for the child...or work well enough that medication can be delayed until a child is older. And as I mentioned there are a lot of factors that go into deciding what supports (and who provides the supports) are appropriate for a specific child/family. I don't believe in a one size fits all answer when it comes to mental health (or any health) services.

[@yamiletsoler3464]

@@bexter107 Medicating children is a crime. It should be illegal. If knew earlier all that I know now from big pharma and the horrendous side effects of this meds, my life would be completely different.

[@tandysaysyoucandoanything6758]

As a baby psychologist, we’re taught to suggest medication as a LAST resort. Whatever behavior that can’t be controlled through therapy/habit forming MAY need medication. I’m just concerned about parents who choose to medicate their kid because THEY can’t deal with normal rowdy behavior.

[@ihatekarens6163]

There was a lot. I have ADHD and I’m trying a new medication tomorrow

[@avavavaa]

i agree, medication should be the last option. i almost think it’s unethical to give such serious mediations to child as young as 3. obviously every kid is different, but everything should be taken in account before jumping to medication. Just to say, i have adhd and i wish i was able to be medicated much earlier, rather than 17 years old. I was out on a bunch of SSRIS and even mood stabilizers, which made me feel worse. But being a girl it’s much harder to get an adhd diagnosis.

[@CatBrash]

my daughter was forced on adderal at 6. 6 years old. I wish i could go back and fight the school but i was young and didn't know better, didn't know i could. My daughter is 24 now and an addict and alcoholic and I know it is from me having to force drugs, mind-altering drugs into her for the 12 years of school life because teachers are not educated to deal with hyper-difficult children so they push drugs into their little brains altering them forever..

[@beng4647]

I didn't take them. I have been homeless my entire life.

[@N0p3er5]

@@beng4647 okay and? go away.

[@N0p3er5]

You are still a good person. You didn't know. Thank you for learning and acknowledging the abuse us kids suffered.

[@katieh890]

Actually, it’s more likely that she’s an addict because ADHD causes impulsive behaviors and folks with ADHD are more likely to deal with addiction. I have ADHD and depression and have been on antidepressants since I was 13 and I’m not an addict, even though addiction runs strongly in my family. You gave her meds that likely helped.

[@N0p3er5]

Hugs to you, mama, I'm that daughter and we can heal!

[@abigail607]

I love the comments about brain growth and development from people who most certainly are not experts in the subject.

[@Brixham0Bird]

Being put on antidepressants at the age of 13 most likely saved me. I had a massive breakdown before this and stopped being able to function as a person. I don’t think there is anything wrong with medicating children because it could change their life, like it did for me.

[@missmilliej]

It will be very interesting to see what the long-term side affects will be on the children as they become adults.

[@amadiamarie4036]

Ive been on spyche meds since I was 10 years old and now, at the age of 37, I will actually DIE from stress without them. when a brain is developing altering thier chemestry in my expereance, can be a very bad Idea. just like how you build a tolerance to some legal and iligal drugs, these medications also alter your brain chemestry and can actually have lifelong bad side effects if used on a childs brain that is developing.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@asirenfromthedeep]

This! Recent studies have shown that antidepressants actually alter the chemestry of the brain, making it dependant on the meds rather than to help battling depression... Antidepressant do help against depression at start... but it alters the chemestry of the brain. Where at first there is almost no inbalance of serotonine, but the meds actaully cause the inbalance they are said to cure...

[@amadiamarie4036]

@@genjamescmcconville7294 I’m pretty much on my death bed. How do you expect to have this friendship and does it involve sending you some of my monitory ssdi benefits monthly? I can’t send you money cuz I actually donate it to my local food banks.

[@devons9043]

I’m in a very similar situation 😞

[@elliecallahan5874]

Some kids and adults need to be medicated in order to function. I have autism and ptsd and my meds have helped tremendously.

[@dianemorrell9638]

At some point most psych drugs will cause the very problem it was initially prescribed for. Paradoxical reactions happen every day and the doctor will never admit to anything other than the worsening of the initial diagnosis.

[@ohiosbestpeach770]

Over here in America, lots of kids are born with drugs and alcohol in their system. I’m including the psychiatric medications that their momma was taking while they were pregnant. No wonder the parents think that the kids need medication. Plus nutrition is horrible. Parenting skills are terrible.

[@libbykline3049]

If my Autistic daughter wasn't treated with medications, she'd be dead. She was suicidal and needed help. We couldn't go on like we were. We see a child psychiatrist and she now takes zoloft and abilify. It has saved her life. She is thriving, healthy, and doing well in 6th grade now. She was ready to take her own life before the medications. Unless you are in that place with a child who desperately needs help, you don't truly understand and shouldn't speak on it.

[@dianemorrell9638]

A kid desperately needing help won't ever be treated with psych meds. Control symptoms but not treat the cause.

[@phoebelouise9804]

as someone who got diagnosed with bipolar at age 6 because i was highly dysfunctional and incredibly suicidal, and even started self harming at age 4. i was medicated at age 6 which even despite my severe problems, i think is unethical. i understand that bipolar worsens the longer it goes untreated but i feel like the medications i was on were too harsh for a young persons body. honestly i would advice people try to wait to medicate their kids until they at least turn 12 years old. elementary school is too young and adderall just shouldn’t be prescribed to children period. i was also diagnosed with adhd at age 6 and i honestly don’t think there is any reason children with adhd should be medicated. in middle school, sure, but in elementary school, absolutely not

[@N0p3er5]

I almost died at 66 pounds, and they refused to take me off of it.

[@LucielStarz123]

why do you sounds like a case of child abuse

[@madelynh3946]

My experience with medication growing up wasn’t always positive. Some had side effects that were too much for a child to handle. I think that things need to progress and the way we approach giving child medication should change. I think it is completely helpful and good that it is an option for children.

[@mayramolina3852]

I feel sad 😢for this kids. I been on most of the drugs name and they have given bad side effects. Lithium gave me diabetes and high thyroid. Seroquel raised my prolactin level. Risperdone made me produce milk.

[@enough1494]

BTW, turn off the TV, computers, cells….let them fly, let them play, take the time and supervise them, get off your cells!!!!

[@TheThesassysisters]

I wonder if there is any correlation between medications for kids and the increase in suicide and shootings in the US. Also wondering how these issues can be treated without building a lifetime dependence on medication.

[@loliwemoyo5680]

There is but nobody is paying to study that cause the US politicians take money from big pharma. Parents want fast fixes and meds are just that. If you get on drugs your brain gets dependant and thus lazy to produce the Neurotransmitters you need. In their 20's they get knocked off parents insurance so loose access and go craze or resort to suicide coz they can't self regulate. Age 25/26 is when your brain stops shifting and growing.

[@loliwemoyo5680]

Raul may have fetal alcohol syndrome. Lots of patients and love is what he needs. He lost his ability to self-regulate feelings. Stop numbing and trying to make these kids normal there beautiful minds are explore rs.

[@sngray11]

I’m definitely not anti medication because medication has been a godsend for my mental health. But starting kids so young on meds is troubling to me. I feel like medication for mental health issues should be a last resort for young children. 90% of a child’s brain development occurs between birth and turning five years old, but the brain isn’t fully developed until they turn 25 years old. So at a bare minimum, I feel like psych meds shouldn’t be given to children under five years old (unless nothing else is working and the child is in danger of harming themselves or others). And even then, medication should only be a part of the child’s mental health treatment, along with therapeutic tools like CBT and other methods that a psychologist can teach them.

[@oliviahope3728]

I just think other therapies should be considered before resorting to putting kids on drugs that they will be dependent on for the rest of their lives. They don’t mention the negative side effects that all drugs cause… Diet, nutrition, herbal medicine, meditation, exercise… these treat soo many health conditions including depression and ADHD.

[@michellebower]

yes it is i am on it it has made such a better difference in my life, i am autistic and have adhd and ritalin is a life saver for me

[@The_River_Tourettes]

ADHD isn’t a mental illness, it’s a neurodevelopmental condition. And ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are very different things.

[@RR-us1lt]

It's a shame when parents seem desperate to seek a diagnosis rather than let their developing brains be. These are the same people who, 100 years ago, I could convince to put drops of snake oil in their kids ears to alleviate *childhood hysteria*

[@marcopeel]

Some kids are depressive, some have audial thoughts, some are not coping ….what do u suggest as the solution

[@LucielStarz123]

@@marcopeel no kids are "depressive", they're traumatized or neglected in some way. An average toddler 2-6 truly believes Santa is real and their tea-party chatter is very real. It's not the kid who's not 'coping', its the adults.

[@SeanConneryPimpShlap]

I was prescribed an SSRI because I was withdrawn for a summer as a teenager. The SSRI made me irritable, which then led to a false diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 2. I was then prescribed more drugs which kept me in a drug-induced haze which ruined my life. Eventually, I discovered the book Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker and other critical psychiatry books and realized what was happening to me, so I slowly tapered off the psych drugs with the help of my psychiatrist. I lost 16 YEARS of wages and a social life to these drugs. There has been no justice for what was done to me. Psychiatry and pharma are overdue for a reckoning. If you don't believe me, read the work of Dr. Peter Breggin.

[@ladyfluffsy1700]

This video p....s me off. Day to day fluctuations is borderline personality disorder. Bipolar disorder lasts weeks. so a person is depressed / manic for weeks on end. I does NOT fluctuate day to day or hour to hour. The treatments are differentand treating for bipolar when they are borderline is deadly. Literally!

[@kjpaints261]

Yep, you are right

[@milliejay1451]

Children this age can’t be diagnosed with BPD. BPD, unless there is extreme symptoms and multiple suicide attempts, is not diagnosed before 18.

[@Belenshares]

Not necessarily.

[@uniformitydubliner9691]

The miother said ''One week she's drawing rainbows the next week she's destroying it''. Not ''the next day'' or ''the next hour.''

[@andietams9324]

Is the raise in the numbers in diagnoses and use of medication perhaps because of better understanding, more education and the ability to talk about it more and better knowledge about medication? Not just overmedicating because parents are lazy? This is a genuine question.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@avavavaa]

possibly, but a lot of children and adults are misdiagnosed and put on medications that could have lifelong side effects. i think the problem is that every person is different. there are a ton of things to be taken into consideration before using medication. Therapy or other alternative treatments should be the first option, or alongside medication.

[@fisharefriends598]

It should be used, but the American system was dishing them out like candy. There anti phycotics are real toxic

[@cs5384]

Have you ever had to deal with a child with severe PTSD with psychosis? I have for the past 17 years. You should see my son without those "toxic" anti-psychotics.

[@fisharefriends598]

@@cs5384 I have experience with both. And more. They drugs can be useful. But it’s a fine balance when dispensing to a child. The USA system and European is very different. The European is far more cautionary. Often anti phycotics are dispenses to patients with out phycosis. They are just using them for the sedating effects It’s seems like The Usa market is led by pharma giants paying doctors, encouraging dispensing drugs, k could be mistaken. The U.K. is more centred around the patient. Assessment of the patient mentally then dispense if the basic non pharma results don’t work, unless the patient is acutely unwell. Obviously is a person is suffering from phycosis .. they need anti psychotics, toxic or not.. it’s life saving The question is.. does the USA correctly diagnose the disease ? In respect to this program, if it’s not bipolar with phycotics features, there may not be a need for anti phycotics. Me saying it’s toxic isn’t a blanket statement for saying it’s toxic it’s bad.. but it’s specifically about this program. Is diagnosis correct. Does the medication match diagnosis

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@yamiletsoler3464]

@@cs5384 So the problem is that you don't know to deal with him, it's you not wanting to be around him without him being drugged and controlled, and they ARE toxic, it's just that they're making your life easier. Not trying to offend you or anything, I don't know your situation. But don't be defensive about the truth, just because you don't want to feel guilty.

[@twstd.2044]

Giving such heavy medications to children is bizarre! Even kids with epilepsy can grow out of it when they get into puberty. Let their bodies and brain develop fully first before you diagnose and decide to drug them for life. Shouldn’t even be allowed when there are no studies on children in the 1st place..

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?..

[@sammyjo8109]

About 20 years ago my grandsons elementary school advised his mother he could not return to school unless he was on medication. I accompanied her to the school to disuses the issue and I kid you not children were lined up at the office door to receive their daily medication. He never attended another day at that school as she immediately enrolled him in another school. She never received a call from the school about him having disruptive behavior.

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?

[@SDS-ee9js]

Omg that is quite disturbing! Good thing you didn’t listen to them and got him out of there.

[@catherinebirch2399]

I was admitted to an adolescent psychiatric unit in my early teens because of school phobia. The first thing they did to me after they'd searched my belongings and given me a bath, was to give me a big dose of Largactyl which knocked me out. This was their method of discipline if I dared to disobey or talk back to a member of staff.

[@coffeecat086]

Not certain how to feel about this. As someone with Asperger’s, I believe that there is an over diagnosis of it. I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but it seems to me there are two reasons why this is happening. 1. It is more widely understood . Or 2. Because awareness of these conditions are causing normal behavior and pathologizing it in an over zealous attempt to fix things that might be fixable with cognitive behavioral therapy.

[@Lacilove1991]

Three years old???? I mean I started my son on Ritalin last year he was 10 and his grades improved but I really use it for the school year. I’m not trying to experiment on my kid.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

If it’s necessary, that’s one thing, but generally I don’t think kids should be medicated if it can be helped. If there’s another solution, I’d prefer those to be taken for children. At least while they’re young especially when the medication isn’t a solution, only a treatment. It always depends on the particular case and sometimes medication is unavoidable. It’s up to the doctors along with the parents to decide what is best for the child. If the pros outnumber the cons. Though perhaps I’m biased. My issues couldn’t be solved with medicine. My childhood seizures were resistant to medications. Even still, I took a myriad of medications and it was horrible. Some doctors questioned who was treating me in the past and why they thought it was a good idea to have me on so much medication at such a young age. Medications the doctor would sometimes expect wouldn’t work, but they thought they’d just try it. Only keto helped me and ended up being my cure. I only took meds for 1 month and then for the rest of the 3 years I spent on Keto, it was all diet. I also only had 1 seizure on diet maybe 6 months in. It was a larger one, but way better than having several hundred a day. I haven’t had a seizure in about 18 years. Edit: Just to clarify, I’m not anti-medicine. I have no problem with medications. Over the counter or under the counter. I just don’t think they should be used on young kids if it’s not absolutely necessary. It should be a last resort. Particularly if the medicine isn’t a cure and the child will be medicated for long periods of time.

[@laurieberry4814]

I believe that I had binge eating disorder as a young teenager. I was skinny and I exercised a lot after I graduated. I was all muscle.

[@amberpixie8550]

This is conflicting.. I was diagnosed adhd last Yr I read about it because my son is that typical hyper boy I relised wow I have these issues.. I thought it was a hyper boy thing.. after my seccond child my daughter I relised how much I don't cope .. I'd trash the house constantly looking for stuff.. couldn't listen to my kids very well .. would zone out mid discussion with my partner.. much like in school but as a adult eith 2 small kids I couldn't cope anymore .. medicated for a yr n overall am less stressed.. not depressed as often n don't cry as much .. I'm kinder to myself more.. I thought how can I help my son if I can't help him cause I was a mess.. sometimes I doubt my diagnosis but iv had 3 days off my meds n my chaotic brain comes back.. Idk if I'd medicate my son but his doing much better because am better but not perfect.. I think adhd isn't nesserly bad traits .. we all learn diffrent n it's a blessing.. but dieing of stress isn't ideal

[@et1016]

What’s being done to these children is criminal. If parents can’t handle children, they shouldn’t have them. Absolutely criminal!!

[@cloudedcolour5329]

theres a differnce between bad behaviour and mental illness, its not a case of not being able to handle it

[@marywynne7931]

That's easy for you to say until you have a child with a genetic mental disorder.

[@et1016]

@@cloudedcolour5329 Unfortunately you’ve been sold a bill of goods.

[@28sk8masturb8]

I kinda agree but its not a one size fits all type thing, every child is different and has different needs.

[@N0p3er5]

@@28sk8masturb8 you're a lazy f*ck.

[@recreationalknittingpodcast]

As difficult as it is for people to hear, kids can be mentally ill. I worked with them. Over diagnosed? Of course but not every child is normal.

[@uniformitydubliner9691]

And , what is ''normal''?

[@gigilove2246]

What does Dr Riccio propose? No meds would be the ideal. What happens when other means of treatment fail?

[@barbaradolby2929]

This is incredibly sad😢

[@jizheng1224]

Without the diagnosis for these children, there can be huge impact on the services, medication, hospital visits one child can receive and have it covered through insurance.

[@Heresheis0818]

Traumatised brains are just way too sensitive to be fixed by pills and that’s how we invent cognitive therapy, understanding the mechanisms through dialogue or drawing. # No cure to the “UNKNOWN” factors 😅

[@geminiwaypower]

Wow , I'm so sad ...how terrible !!! I think to get drugs for mental illness you should try lots and lots of coping mechanisms that actually work and of course a family /couples therapy first ,once you get drugs for mental illness there is no way out and with the time increasing the amount of it causing so much damage and risk to other parts of the body is just so painful to watch this video , I have people around my circle with kids with mental problems which comes as a result of the adults way of living and instead of trying natural resources they just go to the fast ones and easy for them which are drugs, I personally suffer from anxiety/panic attacks/depression and eating disorder , supposedly I should be in a hospital medicated like zombie but I say to myself till the time that I've been trying everything and the last natural way to deal with this I'm not taking those drugs and yes every single time I want to give up I find different way to cope with my problems and feel better but of course is a lot of work and now on days people don't want that , they want the easy way like example instead of change habits for healthier diet they just get pills or surgery ... I'm really sad for these little kids 😢

[@mandibailey9104]

Special thanks to all the psychiatrists that kept me on psychotropics that turned me into a zombie as well as keeping me from receiving a true diagnosis of actual neurological disorders. My brain chemistry doesn't allow for me to stop taking antipsychotics without suicidality

[@O_g_]

I have ptsd and I’ve seen psychiatrists since i was 11, there was a time when I was like 13 and I was on 8 different psych meds

[@O_g_]

They don’t help at all I stopped taking them cause they make me sick and I feel better I was numb asf on them especially anti psychotics I was literally drooling I started hitting the gym that is my therapy

[@-whos.rei-]

My mum told me, that in grade 2 my classmate would threaten to push me down the stairs on tiem tried (maybe succeeded idk) but he takes meds now

[@hollow.one1]

it was indeed showing in america, will :D

[@jizheng1224]

With Bipolar, medication is not an option. Even ADHD there is a spectrum, one child may be fine with behavioral intervention but the other child may struggle so much they can't function.

[@jennifer7648]

Have any of these parents ever thought of disciplining their children??? I'm not talking about punishment, that is a completely different thing. What ever happened to actual discipline? Real consequences for the child's actions? I mean consequences that match their actions. Some are just letting them suffer the natural consequences of their actions such as if that boy throws something and breaks it or the thing he is throwing the object at, then they just don't get another one. Over the years of working with and having friends who have mental illnesses and their kids having mental illnesses, just letting them suffer natural consequences (as long as they aren't life threatening) has been an extremely powerful teaching tool for them. I and my friends believe if more parents of children with mental illnesses would allow their kids to suffer even just natural consequences, there would be a lot less of them commiting crimes.

[@reihitchens1202]

Why are people desperate for labels. Let kids be kids, be there for them, support them, but don’t ply them with symptoms and labels. They’re kids.

[@shabanatasleem3532]

The labelling theory leads to a self fulfilling prophecy, whereby the victim (usually innocent) internalises the messages sent out by so called “professionals,” then the victim lives up to this label as those messages have penetrated through the mind, consequently, the victim lives up to these as it’s “expected!”

[@sherrylleclerc9848]

Are these kids even receiving counseling?

[@adrianrocha1101]

Trauma begins in the early stages of pregnancy and every single thing you feed yourself also feeds the baby you're carrying. Parenting is such a big responsability and medicating kids it's an abomination.

[@leonslionessnz4867]

Many children grow out of ADHD when they reach teenage years. My son was what would be described as ADHD when he was a child, an over energetic little boy. I refused to medicate him and he turned out ok. I hate to think what would have happened to him if I had stuffed him full of medication. In NZ we don't like to medicate kids under 18 years old if we can help it.

[@SDS-ee9js]

ADHD is a neurological disorder and it’s more than just being hyper. Based on what you’re saying, your son probably never had ADHD, it is lifelong and most likely he was just a typical energetic little boy who, like most boys, matured after he reached puberty.

[@JunaidWolf3]

I don’t think anyone really knew I had mental disorders unless learning disability r a type of mental disorder cus I do have dyslexia

[@genjamescmcconville7294]

Hi I'm Gen James McConville from Quincy, Massachusetts, I'm here to seek for a friendship hope you don't mind ?....

[@JunaidWolf3]

@Freja Lindberg that’s amazing with me I see numbers and words backwards but I’ve gotten much better and I can read pretty well but still stuggle with spelling

[@pandabun2053]

Behavioral issues are directly linked with our modern diet...our modern diet is absolutely TOXIC ! Unless we change to an all natural unprocessed food diet....the rise of me tal and physical ailments will continue to rise

[@dawnsylvester2725]

Boston medical oh brother tells me all I need to know allot of people have mood swings

[@TheDenizxo]

If my parents were cuddlers and kept me inside everytime I trantumed I never be the stable person I am today. Or they keep me locked in with pills.

[@suneblommie4549]

So many of these kids who are adopted may actually just be dealing with trauma.

[@SDS-ee9js]

Yes or fetal alcohol syndrome which is also pretty common in adopted children.

[@HiroshimaMS]

Those who can't handle children shouldn't have them. I know that it is extremely difficult to work and educate children at the same time, especially because children are no longer under the control of their parents all day, but are influenced by addictions and bad behavior at school and on the street. But if parents don't have patience or don't know how to deal with their children, instead of medicating them, they should rebel against the system that forces parents to be separated from their children all day. But it's easier to give a child a pill than to fight, isn't it?

[@dorabolick9275]

Parent have ruined their kids future with these drugs! Sad indeed! Movement disorders forever.

[@shabanatasleem3532]

Agree, there’s a widespread agenda to immobilise and incapacitate certain children!!!

[@emmaedelmann3027]

I take Zoloft

[@lo9761]

Horrible parents so uneducated it’s crazy I was giving these awful drugs and as a kid for many years and it broke me

[@shabanatasleem3532]

Avoid drugs, if you can!

[@madamemims8370]

I started taking drugs as a 6 year old

[@mcgirlletsgo7135]

I’ve started meds in 5th grade but never really got properly diagnosed and medicated until a few years ago! I have bipolar II, OCD and anxiety.

[@N0p3er5]

Diagnoses are the new cool thing to own now. And you all eat up the learned helplessness.

[@melissaspahr3810]

I had one kid on an antipsychotic for years and unless my kids absolutely had to be on it I would not do it (she was violent and non functioning off of it), as soon as she matured enough we reduced and she is off antipsychotics. They have HORRIBLE side effects, it is awful and I felt guilty when she was on it even though she absolutely did need it at the time.

[@N0p3er5]

Too bad. You still abused her. No excuses. I have challenging kids like that, and I don't torture them with drugs. You horrible monster.

[@butterflygirl3359]

Do they have any information on what these drugs do to the developing brain? These are strong substances. Perhaps some of these children are emotionally delayed or immature and need special education. These chemicals are likely having permanent interfering effects on the brains of these individuals. Does anyone have any data on the adult outcomes of the children who were given Risperdal or Seroquel?

[@Reree-gz5bg]

Very insightful questions and I,too, would love to know the answers to these.

[@yamiletsoler3464]

Seroquel is from the devil.

[@Margot_Lazarus]

Risperdone isn't some evil medication in all cases. It greatly helped lower the amount of tics I had from tourette's syndrome. I wasn't made messed up by the medicine my PTSD was caused by the bullying from having tics in the first place. You have no clue what you're talking about because I was not in need of special education. I was in need of medicine for a neurological disorder. Not being given it would be like denying medication to someone who had epilepsy.

[@41yearoldnewdriver]

I wonder how children can be on medication for mental illnesses at such a young age. I am not sure if there is a reason children are taking psych meds.

[@emmaedelmann3027]

And ptsd

[@missmaresz7632]

Poor kids! 🤦‍♀️

[@tsukinamiamv9215]

I got Bipolar 2

[@MVBNov]

Maybe the first thing we should remove from the whole picture is television, second unhealthy meals in overproportion, third we should add a lot of time out of the house (parks, nature). I also think parents should be psychologically treated first (one of the interviewed mothers had such strong ticks herself 😮😮) so they do not project and foster their own traumata into their children. As parents we are more and more isolated from social-life and this stress us out, there is no family around, social contacts, no life-work balance and things go worse from there in a spiral of quick but bad in long term solutions. 😢😢. A healthy human can just come-out from a healthy society....and there us where we have the problem.

[@jasminward5716]

I just got diagnosed with adhd at 21 a couple months ago and this is fascinating. I disagree with the stat that said 80% more boys have adhd though. Sadly I think up until recently, most adhd research has overlooked how the symptoms present in girls, often leading to misdiagnosis in childhood like I went through (my child psych believed i had borderline but was "hesitant" to diagnose it so just labelled me with depression and anxiety disorder).

[@Literallyarealhuman]

We don’t even have or know exact treatment for these things and regardless,no it’s not right

[@Polecat-qz5om]

I am adopted on add / adhd meds. I never want to have kids because of this ‘ issue.’

[@canadagirl408]

I'm an elementary school SpEd teacher and once had a student who had severe ADHD and TBI, he originally just had ADHD but his mother refused to medicate him even though he literally was running around everywhere and couldn't sit still to even play a video game or watch a 22 min. tv show (sans commercials). He had 0 disregard for his own safety (impulse control) ran out into the street and got hit by a car, broke a couple bones but ended up being okay...mom still didn't want to medicate and said she thought he learned his lesson. Maybe a year later, ran out into the street and got hit by a car AGAIN and got traumatic brain injury and lost a lot of skills he had to regain (which he never fully did but also, sadly, knew he didn't and remembered that he used to be able to do certain things). Very, very sad story.

[@FlowerItzel18]

What is going on with these doctors? I understand if full grown adults need meds to deal help with these type of disorders, but kids are still developing and I find it VERY unlikely that the diagnosis they’re getting are really there. I understand the parents are trying their best but meds are not the only way out, talking to your children but also therapy is a better way to deal with those feelings in my opinion.

[@mabelsue123]

Poor Raauul

[@susanazarhov1985]

I hope Anna and Will didn't get the disease from their father. Otherwise it is very unfair to them.

[@Reree-gz5bg]

don't quote me but I thought bipolar was genetic. so if the father had it, there's a likely chance of having it passed onto kids.

[@susanazarhov1985]

@@Reree-gz5bg so unfair and cruel