Quote:
Originally Posted by LuciaMomof6
Yes, I am mostly worried that it will get worse. If it continues I will end up bringing her to a counselor. She has no issues in public or at school, infact she has been tested as a "gifted" child since the 1st grade.
I am actually afraid to leave her home alone when I go to class at night because a couple of times when I got home the boys said that she was screaming and cussing at them, and I was afraid someone might call the cops..
I told the boys to lock their doors when I'm gone so that she doesn't go into their rooms to pick fights with them.
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I am so sorry. It sounds like this is possibly more than teenaged hormones.
Was this child a collicky baby? Has she been known to pitch "tantrums" or cry uncontrollably as a toddler when she didn't get her own way?
I ask these things b/c psychologists are now saying that often, bipolar children showed these kinds of behaviors - and things escalate during adolescence.
The good thing is - a counselor may be able to figure out what is going on and give you all some good coping skills and help your daughter set goals for herself w/ self control. In addition, if she is exhibiting bipolar symptoms, this would be the time to start working on a regimen so she can stay more evened out w/ her ups and downs.
I don't think I would put things off if it has gotten this difficult for the rest of your kids. They should not have to lock their doors and be concerned with phone calls to the police b/c of her out of control behavior.
I have a bipolar sister who was not diagnosed til late in life. Your daughter sounds very much like her and the biggest mistake my parents made was that we all were to try to de-escalate things with her and "keep her from getting upset." That shifted responsibility to us rather than making her responsible for recognizing and controlling her own behavior.
Of course, we are all doing arm-chair diagnoses here, lol - so perhaps this is just a passing phase. But hearing about your family being terrorized at times by your daughter's behaviors makes me want to encourage you to see if there is something more to all this.
Don't get discouraged. This is definitely something that can be addressed, explored and managed!
PS> My sister was a gifted student through high school and graduated suma c um laude from college. She made us all pretty miserable, even tho she excelled at school. I only wish she could have gotten some help at an earlier age - she would have been so much happier and our family would have been much happier, as well. When in an "up" phase, she was sunshine and light.