First off let me say that it feels good to have found this forum because I know that I will get support from people that understand what I am going through rather than people trying to tell me that my sons actions are normal boy behaviors.
My son is 4 years old and very violent, disruptive of any activities he is involved in, disobedient, destructive of any property, and openly mouthy towards any adult/person he is around. I recently found a child psychiatrist in my area that would see him, and I am working to get help with his behaviors and some more parenting skills for me but the process seems like I am never going to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. I keep trying to keep up hope but it is hard. That is why I am turning to this group in hopes of finding other parents going through similar things that I will be able to talk to and work through some struggles I am having.
Ok so a little about me and my family history. I am Bipolar and my dad and all his side of the family have multiple mental health issues. So when I started having behavior issues with my son I was ready or so I though for the long road to dealing with him and finding help for him to ensure that he would have a easier time then I did in school and life. Well to my surprise I had a harder time finding a doctor that would entertain the though that my 4 year old had a problem than I thought I would. I was told that it was normal behaviors, or he was just acting out, or that I needed to be firmer with him. Well I knew that was not the case. But I finally found a doctor and he seems to be trying to help but to me none of the medications that we have tried have helped very much.
The doctor has diagnosed him with ODD and ADHD with some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) behaviors. Right now he is one Guanfacine (Tenex) ¾ mg 3 times a day and Methylphenidate (Ritalin)5mg 3 times a day. I was giving him Clonidine .1mg at bed time along with 3mg of melatonian but that was making him worse with sleeping so I stopped giving it to him and he seems to be sleeping a little better (when he does go to sleep). I have tried risperdal and that made him break out with a rash. I am going to ask the doctor about trying mood stabilizers with him when I go back because I dont think the ADHD route we are taking is working or the right thing.
Some of his serious daily behaviors are :
-Breaking his toys until they are completely destroyed and need to be thrown away
-Throwing toys at the walls or tv in an attempt to break something or put a hole in the wall
-Throwing tantrums for 30-45 minute where there is no calming him down
-He will go from sitting and watching tv to yelling and screaming at me in my face for no reason
-If I tell him no for any reason he throws a horriable tantrum and destroys he is room (putting holes in walls, throwing clothes and drawers across room, throwing toys all over and trying to break the window by throwing toys at it)
-If he has a good day, I will take him to the store to get a prize and he will throw a tantrum at the store and never end up getting anything because I have to drag him out of the store
-If I take him to the grocery store with me then he knocks stuff off shelves, pushes the basket into the shelves, yells and screams, until I just leave and take him home
-he tries to hurt our dogs(which I now keep him and the dogs separate) he chases them, or tries to hit or kick them
-he will try and sneak scissors into his room to cut up things( cut holes in his sheets, cut up posters on his walls or even cut up his DVD movies) I have since hid all sharp objects on top of the fridge
-He does not sleep at night, he will wake up and scream all night until I come in there, then he will start screaming 5 minutes after I leave, he never tells me what he wants other than he does not want to go to sleep he wants to stay up and play
-He will come into my room when he thinks I am sleeping and just stand over me(which is scary when you wake up to a child standing looking at you)
And there are a lot more behaviors that I deal with on a daily basis. I know this was a long intro but today has been an unusually long and bad day so I had a lot on my mind. Thanks a head of time for the support and helping comments.
Stacey
My son is 4 years old and very violent, disruptive of any activities he is involved in, disobedient, destructive of any property, and openly mouthy towards any adult/person he is around. I recently found a child psychiatrist in my area that would see him, and I am working to get help with his behaviors and some more parenting skills for me but the process seems like I am never going to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. I keep trying to keep up hope but it is hard. That is why I am turning to this group in hopes of finding other parents going through similar things that I will be able to talk to and work through some struggles I am having.
Ok so a little about me and my family history. I am Bipolar and my dad and all his side of the family have multiple mental health issues. So when I started having behavior issues with my son I was ready or so I though for the long road to dealing with him and finding help for him to ensure that he would have a easier time then I did in school and life. Well to my surprise I had a harder time finding a doctor that would entertain the though that my 4 year old had a problem than I thought I would. I was told that it was normal behaviors, or he was just acting out, or that I needed to be firmer with him. Well I knew that was not the case. But I finally found a doctor and he seems to be trying to help but to me none of the medications that we have tried have helped very much.
The doctor has diagnosed him with ODD and ADHD with some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) behaviors. Right now he is one Guanfacine (Tenex) ¾ mg 3 times a day and Methylphenidate (Ritalin)5mg 3 times a day. I was giving him Clonidine .1mg at bed time along with 3mg of melatonian but that was making him worse with sleeping so I stopped giving it to him and he seems to be sleeping a little better (when he does go to sleep). I have tried risperdal and that made him break out with a rash. I am going to ask the doctor about trying mood stabilizers with him when I go back because I dont think the ADHD route we are taking is working or the right thing.
Some of his serious daily behaviors are :
-Breaking his toys until they are completely destroyed and need to be thrown away
-Throwing toys at the walls or tv in an attempt to break something or put a hole in the wall
-Throwing tantrums for 30-45 minute where there is no calming him down
-He will go from sitting and watching tv to yelling and screaming at me in my face for no reason
-If I tell him no for any reason he throws a horriable tantrum and destroys he is room (putting holes in walls, throwing clothes and drawers across room, throwing toys all over and trying to break the window by throwing toys at it)
-If he has a good day, I will take him to the store to get a prize and he will throw a tantrum at the store and never end up getting anything because I have to drag him out of the store
-If I take him to the grocery store with me then he knocks stuff off shelves, pushes the basket into the shelves, yells and screams, until I just leave and take him home
-he tries to hurt our dogs(which I now keep him and the dogs separate) he chases them, or tries to hit or kick them
-he will try and sneak scissors into his room to cut up things( cut holes in his sheets, cut up posters on his walls or even cut up his DVD movies) I have since hid all sharp objects on top of the fridge
-He does not sleep at night, he will wake up and scream all night until I come in there, then he will start screaming 5 minutes after I leave, he never tells me what he wants other than he does not want to go to sleep he wants to stay up and play
-He will come into my room when he thinks I am sleeping and just stand over me(which is scary when you wake up to a child standing looking at you)
And there are a lot more behaviors that I deal with on a daily basis. I know this was a long intro but today has been an unusually long and bad day so I had a lot on my mind. Thanks a head of time for the support and helping comments.
Stacey