Janna
New Member
We held our one week review today. therapist/psychiatrist/myself/D and our MH/MR worker.
D is doing MUCH better, thank God, with his initial anxiety of being placed. The first few days were very, very rocky, but the last several have been good. His spirits are much better, much happier - many gripes, but hey, that's part of the package.
Team initial goals (which will probably change over time) are good. Work on verbal/physical aggression, expressing feelings openly (coming to a peaceful resolution instead of anger/aggression), weekly individual counseling and weekly group therapy (to include anger management and stress management). Several others - some geared more toward socialization (Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified stuff) and others geared toward the anger/aggression/explosive behaviors.
Axis has been tweaked a bit - still carrying Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified primary, and the Bipolar is gone, changed to Intermittent Explosive Disorder (we've had this before). No mention of the ADHD, but concerns with the Anxiety Disorder-not otherwise specified (not sure if that's actually sticking on the Axis). Asperger is ruled out because of the Borderline Intellectual Functioning. The Asperger part, again - is all in who you ask LOL! At this point, it doesn't much matter, he's on the Spectrum for sure. Always knew that.
We're going to wean off the Seroquel due to massive concern of obesity (weight gain of 36 lbs in 4 months, he is in the 10th percentile for height, very short, and 160 lbs). Keeping the Buspar, for now (10 mg. AM/10 mg. PM). It's gonna be a whole new world with no AP in place, I think LOL!
The psychiatrist, again, mentioned Zoloft. Now, by everyone's judgement thus far, there doesn't seem to be an issue with depression in D. They also don't see mood swings or severe irritability. Thinking, I don't know that he's actually *irritiable* or if he's just intermittently explosive LOL! Really - he doesn't seem happy one minute then sad the next. Never weepy, crying incessently, etc. He is a very happy go lucky kid - with the exception of the anger side (and I do know the anger can present as depressive in kids - and it's only been a week - I just don't know how I really feel about the possibility he's depressed and they just don't see it).
So, people - tell me about your experiences with Zoloft. I think they are looking at this moreso for anxiety - which baffles me (I haven't looked at their website or prescribing info yet), but per psychiatrist - it is good for anxiety.
I know I have read here several people saying about their children having a "manic" reaction. Would you, if it's not stepping boundaries, please tell me *WHAT* you saw. Because, really - I'm very confused about what manic reactions should look like. You read about it from one person then read another's and they aren't even close to being the same LOL! So, if you say "my difficult child had a manic reaction" or "my difficult child spun into hypomania"....please tell me what that means. Hyper? Non stop talking? Like, what?
And if you've had good - I'd love to know that too. How about ages, doses, weight of difficult child?
I know, I know that every child is different, I'm just looking for opinions and facts from other people.
Overall, though - week 1 was positive! The thing I really like about their goals is, the goal must be met for a CONSECUTIVE amount of time. Meaning, say - 4 WEEKS STRAIGHT of "no anger and no aggression toward peers" to say, yes, we've seen change. So, if he does good for 3 days, LOL, because he can hold it together - that doesn't mean change. Which is good, because the last Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) said, "oh, he did great this weekend - he's ready to come home"!
Sheesh.
Hey, thank you!
D is doing MUCH better, thank God, with his initial anxiety of being placed. The first few days were very, very rocky, but the last several have been good. His spirits are much better, much happier - many gripes, but hey, that's part of the package.
Team initial goals (which will probably change over time) are good. Work on verbal/physical aggression, expressing feelings openly (coming to a peaceful resolution instead of anger/aggression), weekly individual counseling and weekly group therapy (to include anger management and stress management). Several others - some geared more toward socialization (Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified stuff) and others geared toward the anger/aggression/explosive behaviors.
Axis has been tweaked a bit - still carrying Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified primary, and the Bipolar is gone, changed to Intermittent Explosive Disorder (we've had this before). No mention of the ADHD, but concerns with the Anxiety Disorder-not otherwise specified (not sure if that's actually sticking on the Axis). Asperger is ruled out because of the Borderline Intellectual Functioning. The Asperger part, again - is all in who you ask LOL! At this point, it doesn't much matter, he's on the Spectrum for sure. Always knew that.
We're going to wean off the Seroquel due to massive concern of obesity (weight gain of 36 lbs in 4 months, he is in the 10th percentile for height, very short, and 160 lbs). Keeping the Buspar, for now (10 mg. AM/10 mg. PM). It's gonna be a whole new world with no AP in place, I think LOL!
The psychiatrist, again, mentioned Zoloft. Now, by everyone's judgement thus far, there doesn't seem to be an issue with depression in D. They also don't see mood swings or severe irritability. Thinking, I don't know that he's actually *irritiable* or if he's just intermittently explosive LOL! Really - he doesn't seem happy one minute then sad the next. Never weepy, crying incessently, etc. He is a very happy go lucky kid - with the exception of the anger side (and I do know the anger can present as depressive in kids - and it's only been a week - I just don't know how I really feel about the possibility he's depressed and they just don't see it).
So, people - tell me about your experiences with Zoloft. I think they are looking at this moreso for anxiety - which baffles me (I haven't looked at their website or prescribing info yet), but per psychiatrist - it is good for anxiety.
I know I have read here several people saying about their children having a "manic" reaction. Would you, if it's not stepping boundaries, please tell me *WHAT* you saw. Because, really - I'm very confused about what manic reactions should look like. You read about it from one person then read another's and they aren't even close to being the same LOL! So, if you say "my difficult child had a manic reaction" or "my difficult child spun into hypomania"....please tell me what that means. Hyper? Non stop talking? Like, what?
And if you've had good - I'd love to know that too. How about ages, doses, weight of difficult child?
I know, I know that every child is different, I'm just looking for opinions and facts from other people.
Overall, though - week 1 was positive! The thing I really like about their goals is, the goal must be met for a CONSECUTIVE amount of time. Meaning, say - 4 WEEKS STRAIGHT of "no anger and no aggression toward peers" to say, yes, we've seen change. So, if he does good for 3 days, LOL, because he can hold it together - that doesn't mean change. Which is good, because the last Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) said, "oh, he did great this weekend - he's ready to come home"!
Sheesh.
Hey, thank you!