I found this site 7 or 8 years ago. it was a life saver. my son had issues-diagnosis ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, ODD, just pick the day! He was on many medications over the years, Depakote, Adderal, Strattera, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyrexa, etc, etc, etc.
We spent 15 years in 'hell'. Constantly changing the medications, therapists, Special Education, juvenile hall, jail, etc. etc, etc.
Around 18 or 19 he took himself off of all medications, unbenounced to me. he now tells me his childhood is a blur. He doesn't remember much of anything, good times or bad.
He's now 23. He moved away from home just a couple of months ago, to a town a couple of hours away. he's living with his girlfriend of the last 5 years (don't know how that's going to play out), but he is doing 'okay'.
His employment history was sketchy at best, 3 or 4 months on the job and he either quit or got fired. So I set him up with a satellite of my business, I sell flowers to florists, bought a second truck and he sells to the florists in the new town. he's been at this for 7 months or so, and loves it. There is something to be said for self-employment for these kids.
as I read through the posts, it was like a trip down memory lane. those times were absolutely terrible. I know what you are going through. My son was in juvenile hall for assault with a deadly weapon (me the target), and he was in jail for assault with a deadly weapon (again, me the target).
If i could pass on anything to all of you from my experience?
A quote that I read here -"I am my child's best advocate, sometimes his only advocate". That has stuck with me through all the years.
Don't be too trusting of the medication cocktails. If i had it to do over again? I would question more, be more resistant to more medications. I feel bad that my son doesn't remember his childhood. Don't get me wrong, he was out of control!
If you take anything away from this post?, just remember that it can and will get better. These difficult child's can grow up to live productive lives, out of jail, out of the criminal justice system, it might just take them a little longer than the average duck.
hugs to all of you,
joey
We spent 15 years in 'hell'. Constantly changing the medications, therapists, Special Education, juvenile hall, jail, etc. etc, etc.
Around 18 or 19 he took himself off of all medications, unbenounced to me. he now tells me his childhood is a blur. He doesn't remember much of anything, good times or bad.
He's now 23. He moved away from home just a couple of months ago, to a town a couple of hours away. he's living with his girlfriend of the last 5 years (don't know how that's going to play out), but he is doing 'okay'.
His employment history was sketchy at best, 3 or 4 months on the job and he either quit or got fired. So I set him up with a satellite of my business, I sell flowers to florists, bought a second truck and he sells to the florists in the new town. he's been at this for 7 months or so, and loves it. There is something to be said for self-employment for these kids.
as I read through the posts, it was like a trip down memory lane. those times were absolutely terrible. I know what you are going through. My son was in juvenile hall for assault with a deadly weapon (me the target), and he was in jail for assault with a deadly weapon (again, me the target).
If i could pass on anything to all of you from my experience?
A quote that I read here -"I am my child's best advocate, sometimes his only advocate". That has stuck with me through all the years.
Don't be too trusting of the medication cocktails. If i had it to do over again? I would question more, be more resistant to more medications. I feel bad that my son doesn't remember his childhood. Don't get me wrong, he was out of control!
If you take anything away from this post?, just remember that it can and will get better. These difficult child's can grow up to live productive lives, out of jail, out of the criminal justice system, it might just take them a little longer than the average duck.
hugs to all of you,
joey