Hi, my first post.
My 8yo son was diagnosed with Conduct Disorder a year ago now. Also, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder).
TBH the diagnosis made a lot of sense and explained behaviours that he has had since about 4yo.
Also, knowing has made how I deal with them more productive.
The one thing that I struggle with daily is that he doesn't have friends. Not one.
We have recently moved across the country and his new school is amazing. As part of his diagnosis, he has learning difficulties, specifically literacy. His school has a Learning Support Manager that has dealt with 3 other children in her 20 yr career that have CD so she (and his teacher) have been wonderful in programming his learning, but he can't make friends.
I put him in football at the start of this season but he just kept kicking the other boys (mostly in the crotch) and his coach couldn't cope so I took him out.
His psychologist has explained that he will eventually learn to mimic others' behaviour in social situations but at his age this is a long way away. He has also recently starting being violent with me. Hitting me, and once throwing a rock at the back of my head (he connected unfortunately).
I guess I just want to know if there are other parents dealing with the same insecurities as I am. I am terrified of him growing up to hurt other people. Being diagnosed with CD so young puts him at such a high risk of ASBD as an adult.
The other topic I'd love to hear from others parents regarding is the hurt involved in the general lack of understanding regarding the diagnosis of young children with mental illnesses (for want of a better umbrella term for these things). I say to my partner all the time, that people just view him as a 'naughty' kid. Autism is a perfect example. People GENERALLY understand if you tell them your child has autism, that that child won't behave like their child. Trying to tell people that your 8yo is a sociopath doesn't usually meet with any kind of understanding.
Thank you for letting me vent! I would really love to hear from other parents who are dealing with the same issues I am.
My 8yo son was diagnosed with Conduct Disorder a year ago now. Also, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder).
TBH the diagnosis made a lot of sense and explained behaviours that he has had since about 4yo.
Also, knowing has made how I deal with them more productive.
The one thing that I struggle with daily is that he doesn't have friends. Not one.
We have recently moved across the country and his new school is amazing. As part of his diagnosis, he has learning difficulties, specifically literacy. His school has a Learning Support Manager that has dealt with 3 other children in her 20 yr career that have CD so she (and his teacher) have been wonderful in programming his learning, but he can't make friends.
I put him in football at the start of this season but he just kept kicking the other boys (mostly in the crotch) and his coach couldn't cope so I took him out.
His psychologist has explained that he will eventually learn to mimic others' behaviour in social situations but at his age this is a long way away. He has also recently starting being violent with me. Hitting me, and once throwing a rock at the back of my head (he connected unfortunately).
I guess I just want to know if there are other parents dealing with the same insecurities as I am. I am terrified of him growing up to hurt other people. Being diagnosed with CD so young puts him at such a high risk of ASBD as an adult.
The other topic I'd love to hear from others parents regarding is the hurt involved in the general lack of understanding regarding the diagnosis of young children with mental illnesses (for want of a better umbrella term for these things). I say to my partner all the time, that people just view him as a 'naughty' kid. Autism is a perfect example. People GENERALLY understand if you tell them your child has autism, that that child won't behave like their child. Trying to tell people that your 8yo is a sociopath doesn't usually meet with any kind of understanding.
Thank you for letting me vent! I would really love to hear from other parents who are dealing with the same issues I am.