W
Wonderful Family
Guest
Great news - today is difficult child's 14th birthday. We have a nice day planned plus dinner at Medeival Times tonight. He's pretty excited about it; but much calmer than in prior years. difficult child reminded me on Friday night that it's only 1 year until he can get his driver permit - that's a bit scary. psychiatrist told us last week that he's the best he's ever seen him - husband and I agree. Almost verging on happy at times.
On his 11th birthday, he was so sick with the depression and mood swings, would sit in a catatonic state just wringing his hands for hours on end. I still can't imagine how we - let alone he, survived it.
People we turned to said it was a stage and would pass (forgetting the behaviors and problems we had before this and diagnoses). Trying to find a good psychiatrist was a nightmare, especially since we had recently moved cross country and were having to start over again.
It was a long haul just to get minor improvements, but all along - difficult child has "willingly" (with one bad period/exception when he was 12) tried the medications, lived with the side effects, gone to various therapists even if he didn't like it, since the age of 3 - all in the name of "help".
Now - I have a child that is functioning and doing good, dare I say it - "normal teen"? He's no superstar and still a difficult child, still immature for his age and a pain to live with, but I am very proud of what he has overcome so far.
On his 11th birthday, he was so sick with the depression and mood swings, would sit in a catatonic state just wringing his hands for hours on end. I still can't imagine how we - let alone he, survived it.
People we turned to said it was a stage and would pass (forgetting the behaviors and problems we had before this and diagnoses). Trying to find a good psychiatrist was a nightmare, especially since we had recently moved cross country and were having to start over again.
It was a long haul just to get minor improvements, but all along - difficult child has "willingly" (with one bad period/exception when he was 12) tried the medications, lived with the side effects, gone to various therapists even if he didn't like it, since the age of 3 - all in the name of "help".
Now - I have a child that is functioning and doing good, dare I say it - "normal teen"? He's no superstar and still a difficult child, still immature for his age and a pain to live with, but I am very proud of what he has overcome so far.