Dear Annie: I am a single mother of a seven-year-old son who has a lot of anger problems. When "Ryan" was three, his dad and I split up. My ex just left in the middle of the night.

It was a month before Ryan saw him again, and when he did, Dad was sporting a new girlfriend. When Ryan was six, my father died unexpectedly, and I allowed my son to go to the funeral, but not the graveside.

Then Ryan and I moved in with my mom to help her out, but shortly after, my younger sister and her two girls moved in, too. That was a difficult time, and it's when I started to notice a change in Ryan's attitude.

My son is very aggressive and violent with everyone. (He hits, kicks and punches.) Ryan was diagnosed with ADHD when he was young, and now the doctor thinks he may be bipolar. He is seeing a home-based counsellor and is on medication for ADHD.

I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the loss of the men in his life. Should I have let him go to the graveside to say goodbye to his grandfather? Is there something else I should be doing? – Worried Mother in Florida

Dear Mother: There has been a lot of upheaval in Ryan's young life. Grandpa's death was a loss, but it is not the source of all this anger.

His father leaving was likely the most damaging event, especially if Dad hasn't been particularly active in Ryan's life since the divorce.

The next would be having cousins move into his home, disrupting whatever fragile stability he had.

Good for you for putting him in counselling. It should help. Right now, your job is to be a source of total security, utter dependability and loving reassurance. Be his rock.

Dear Annie: I read the letter from "Choosing Happiness", who is leaving her bipolar husband who refuses treatment. I, too, am bipolar.

I've attempted suicide four times and was institutionalized once. In manic fits, I've driven across the country, leaving friends and family panicked. In depressive episodes, I've become catatonic, not speaking and barely moving for days.

I am now married with two young children and have a job I love. I have these things because I take six medications daily, go to therapy and accept the help of my friends and family. Without those things I would not be able to maintain this life that I've come to treasure.

Bipolar disorder can be just as hard on loved ones as it is on those of us who have it. It's not fair to expect them to simply deal with it. Why would you want your loved ones to experience that kind of heartache?

I still have bad days and mood swings. But my quality of life, and that of my husband and children, has improved so greatly that I know I did the right thing. If "Choosing's" husband won't get help, she should leave. – Better Now

Dear Better: Your letter is testimony that getting help can make a world of difference. Kudos for recognising what you needed to do.

Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, PO Box 118190, Chicago, Illinois 60611.