My last time writing here was Monday, May 23rd and I have been going absolutely nutty in the head trying to keep my thoughts and ideas in order and in line. There have been so many things I have wanted to share with you all, so many things I need to vent, and so many things I need answers to... not that I really expect my audience to give me the answers to my problems, but I know it is helpful to hear your feedback. Many of you sometimes send me feedback through email as well as commenting here. I have found quite a few bloggers out there have become some of my best friends (You know who you are). I love you all, and value your input! Thank you for your patience with me as I have been basically MIA over the last two weeks or so.
If only I didn't need to sleep, then MAYBE I would accomplish all the things I want to! It seems as if, when I focus on getting one thing done in my life, then everything else has to suffer and it sucks. Last weekend, I put all my stress and angst of the week into FINALLY finishing the repairs to my bedroom walls in order to paint them. I then put two coats of primer on, but have yet to get the color on. Unfortunately, just taking the time to do that left (in the rhythm of rest of my home) what could be akin to a hole the size of Mt. St. Helens after its eruption! The laundry piled up so high I just wanted to burn it all, the dishes in the sick were disgusting, and the kid debris left in the wake of their over-exuberant and unadulterated play while I worked was pyroclastic! Meh, Whatever! At least they didn't kill each other and there were only a handful of time outs and major issues that I had to mediate for the duration... It was a GREAT weekend!
The week before was fraught with untold measures of stress. Within the course of the week, both of my children were sent home from school due to their behavior, although on different days. I was called from the school daily regarding issues from medication to homework and behavior. Also, I had no less than six doctors appointments for the kids and two parent teacher conferences, yet it was only a four day week. In addition, the school bus driver was fired and the pet goldfish died (no joke), so what a roller coaster of emotions for my son who does NOT deal with change or loss well. Finally, we changed the medication yet again for my daughter, but she is still not stable. And lastly, I think I have come to some very important decisions about the treatment we have been following for my kids.
For those of you who do not know, both of my oldest children are being treated for symptoms of bipolar disorder (they have both actually been given this diagnosis).
- My daughter is very rapid cycling Bipolar I with a tremendous measure of anxiety, irritability, and anger along with ADHD.
- My son is identified as having Bipolar NOS but his ADD, Oppositional Defiance and Anxiety, along with growing up with his sister's unpredictable behavior, may well have brought out symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.
Up till now, we have been striving toward improvement through medication, behavior modification techniques, and a basic awareness of a healthy diet, exercise, and environment. Unfortunately, there are more intense factors at play for them that make me want to make some radical changes. I have decided to have the kids start seeing a homeopathic doctor who also practices massage, acupuncture, and has been a practicing school psychologist for the last 30 years. He retired, and is now practicing alternative medicine full time. In addition, I am waiting on the process for neurological evaluation for both of them and they have appointments to see an allergist.
I am CERTAIN that my daughter has food allergies of some sort, but I haven't the first clue how to determine what they are. She will sometimes have huge "patches" of missing skin on her tongue, but it is a mystery as to just what caused the reaction. Her behavior often changes dramatically after eating various foods as well, but keeping a record of what she eats and when is a huge struggle as she sneaks food, lies, and sometimes binges on things that she knows she should stay away from. Maybe if I have HER keep track of what she eats and double check her notes so there is a measure of empowerment there? We'll see.
My son craves cereals and is very particular about the textures of foods that he will eat. If it doesn't meet is specifications for looks, smell, and texture then he gags, whines, complains, and ultimately eats (or is forced to eat) like a TINY bite or none at all. You can imagine what that does to his diet... He won't eat soup, pasta, tomato sauce, rice, beans (except garbanzo), most vegetables, and many many other wonderful culinary delights I've tried. I am a good cook. The vegetables he'll eat are so few (like corn and broccoli) I really worry. He does enjoy fruit, so at least his digestion is "working". Sometimes I wonder if it is a subconscious need for control in that what he puts in his body is the only thing he feels like he can control... His life and his behavior is frequently so out of control that maybe this issue with food gives him some measure of empowerment. On the other hand, what if it is a serious nutrient deficiency that is causing all of this behavior and all of these problems?
The more I read about the symptoms both of my kids display, the more I am becoming aware of the fact that their behaviors align with known issues related to a severe lack of nutrients essential to the human body and healthy brain development! I feel SO guilty. Not that I was unaware of the significant impact that food has on mood and the development of the human body. I fully believe that we ARE what we eat. I think I have just been in denial about my own children and my own parenting. I have provided the proper nutritional meals, but have not wanted to make food an issue of psychological control as it was in my family of origin, which led to my own eating disorder (but that's another story). In other words, I haven't forced my children to eat all their meals; you know, clean your plate before you leave the table kind of thing. I have insisted that they taste or try things before they decide whether they don't like it or not. I guess I need to really have them EAT 2 bites at least before they can leave, no matter what. There will be no spitting it out, no excuses. I am NOT giving them anything poisonous or repulsive, just healthy food! OY!
One of the books I have been reading is, Better Health through Natural Healing: How to get well without drugs or surgery
, written by Dr. Ross Trattler N.D, D.O. and Dr. Adrian Jones N.DI highly recommend this book for not only is it highly affordable, but it is extremely user friendly, and it's concise explanations of various symptoms and their etiological considerations are extremely easy to understand. This work can be used much like a dictionary, yet is an effective dietary guide, as well as an educational manual. In researching symptoms, a reader can effectively understand how nutritive deficiencies in the body can contribute to multiple problems evident in the way one feels, the pain one experiences, and in the behavior one displays. I think this is a valuable resource for everyone's personal library.
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