I am in a relationship with the mother of a 10 year old, male difficult child diagnosed with ADHD and ODD (diagnosed long before I came around). He is on multiple medications (don't know which ones by name, I know a stimulant, a meth, and a couple others). The issue I have is that he displays symptoms that seem outside the realms of the typical adhd/odd diagnosis. I come from a family riddled with mental disease (bi-polar, borderline, manic, etc.) so I am familiar with many aspects of mental health. What I want to know, and from my research I cant determine, is, are these symptoms that are regularly seen with ADHD/ODD or should these symptoms be treated as in addition to his other issues?
He will get something in his mind and is relentless until he gets his way (usually causing an episode of ODD and fighting, tantrum, etc.). What I mean is if he gets it in his head that he is hungry (even though he just got done eating 2 plates of food) he will not give up until he gets more food (usually cereal or some treat like ice cream). He found out I have a handheld gaming device and at my house and when ever they visit he asks to play it, even though I have told him over and over it doesn't work, doesn't have a charger, etc. After I told him there was no charger he began search through my house, garage, shed, closets, trying to find the charger. Every visit he asks to play it, trys to enter my bedroom to retrieve it, searches more for the charger, and every time I tell him the same thing, that he will never have a chance to use the device. In his own home he goes on searches when he thinks of something, tears through the house ripping open drawers, emptying them on the floor, dumping storage tubs in the garage, etc. until he finds what he is looking for. When he cant find what he is searching for he gets frustrated and begins destroying and throwing things. I call this behavior "obsessive" but he doesn't display any "compulsive" behavior. he is not clean or neat, at all, in fact quite the opposite. Does not organize anything. does not worry about dirt or disease, to a fault (i.e. eating food off a dirty driveway).
At all times he is very selfish, self-centered, narcissistic, etc. For example, he and his brother were given a broken down bike. I spent an afternoon with them driving them around sourcing parts and assembling the bike and getting tubes patched, etc. As soon as the bike was up and running he got on it and started riding. Both his brother and I asked to have a ride, and eventually this turned into a huge tantrum. We all spent time, money and effort to get the bike ride able and in the end he staked claim and wasn't giving it up no matter what kind of reasoning we tried.
In the months I have been around I have seen how his behavior effects the rest of the family (older sister moved out so as not to be around, younger brothers learning his bad behavior, i.e. punching walls, slamming doors, cursing, throwing fits) and it doesn't seem the medications are doing anything to curb his behavior. he has several tantrums a day, ranging in severity. I have read that some of the other symptoms should be treated with medication before treating the ADHD/ODD. For example the stimulant he is taking may exasperate his obsessive behavior, creating anxiety and nullifying the effect and causing tantrums. I have suggested his mother talk to his doctor about this, see about dropping the other medications and putting him on an SSRI to address the anxiety and obsessions before putting him back on stimulants, but his Dr doesn't address these issues, only the ADHD and ODD
Does anyone out there have similar issues with their child? What has worked for you? She has talked about finding another Dr, but is hesitant.
He will get something in his mind and is relentless until he gets his way (usually causing an episode of ODD and fighting, tantrum, etc.). What I mean is if he gets it in his head that he is hungry (even though he just got done eating 2 plates of food) he will not give up until he gets more food (usually cereal or some treat like ice cream). He found out I have a handheld gaming device and at my house and when ever they visit he asks to play it, even though I have told him over and over it doesn't work, doesn't have a charger, etc. After I told him there was no charger he began search through my house, garage, shed, closets, trying to find the charger. Every visit he asks to play it, trys to enter my bedroom to retrieve it, searches more for the charger, and every time I tell him the same thing, that he will never have a chance to use the device. In his own home he goes on searches when he thinks of something, tears through the house ripping open drawers, emptying them on the floor, dumping storage tubs in the garage, etc. until he finds what he is looking for. When he cant find what he is searching for he gets frustrated and begins destroying and throwing things. I call this behavior "obsessive" but he doesn't display any "compulsive" behavior. he is not clean or neat, at all, in fact quite the opposite. Does not organize anything. does not worry about dirt or disease, to a fault (i.e. eating food off a dirty driveway).
At all times he is very selfish, self-centered, narcissistic, etc. For example, he and his brother were given a broken down bike. I spent an afternoon with them driving them around sourcing parts and assembling the bike and getting tubes patched, etc. As soon as the bike was up and running he got on it and started riding. Both his brother and I asked to have a ride, and eventually this turned into a huge tantrum. We all spent time, money and effort to get the bike ride able and in the end he staked claim and wasn't giving it up no matter what kind of reasoning we tried.
In the months I have been around I have seen how his behavior effects the rest of the family (older sister moved out so as not to be around, younger brothers learning his bad behavior, i.e. punching walls, slamming doors, cursing, throwing fits) and it doesn't seem the medications are doing anything to curb his behavior. he has several tantrums a day, ranging in severity. I have read that some of the other symptoms should be treated with medication before treating the ADHD/ODD. For example the stimulant he is taking may exasperate his obsessive behavior, creating anxiety and nullifying the effect and causing tantrums. I have suggested his mother talk to his doctor about this, see about dropping the other medications and putting him on an SSRI to address the anxiety and obsessions before putting him back on stimulants, but his Dr doesn't address these issues, only the ADHD and ODD
Does anyone out there have similar issues with their child? What has worked for you? She has talked about finding another Dr, but is hesitant.