I'm a single mom of two boys, the oldest is out on his own. My difficult child, son 16, was just diagnosed with severe ODD. It's just me and my difficult child. Until March, my difficult child was my easy child. I thought we had a good relationship, could talk about anything but his romantic life. He did well in school planned on going to college, was interested in several colleges and was contemplating a couple study areas. He was a excellent athlete, with possibility of scholarships. In March everything changed. His peer group changed. He quit his sport, quit talking to me. In April he asked to drop out of HS. I begged, pleaded, wheeled and dealed to try to keep him in school. He didn't keep any of his agreements. He walked out on a job he loved and where he'd just received a promotion. (He hasn't worked since, tho he's supposed to). He started flying into rages when I'd tell him no. He's threatened running away, suicide, accused me of not caring. He's dangled the carrot of finishing school to manipulate me. Everything negative thing that happens to him he blames on someone else, usually me. He's smoking cigarettes. He became so angry with me and foul-mouthed, in public, that he was thrown in the juvenile detention center. The judge ordered him to go to school. He followed the judge's orders for about a month before he was skipping again. He ended up flunking every class. I decided to send him to a boot camp. difficult child then said since he now realized there were consequences to his actions, he'd straighten up. He agreed to a CHINS (child in need of supervision) in place of the boot camp. Once the boot camp deadline passed his behavior has plummeted. If I say something he doesn't want to hear he is foul-mouthed, kicks furniture, punches walls, and storms out of the house.
I had him drug tested when all this first occured and he was clean. In May we discovered he'd started smoking pot. He's tested clean for the last month.
He started seeing a psychiatriest in April, and a youth crisis couselor since May. He's supposed to start anger management classes this week. We'll be starting family counseling soon. I don't see any improvement. He's getting worse. I hate to say this about my son, but I'm starting to worry that he could become physically abusive.
I've read the postings on here. It sounds like most kids' negative behaviors start young and gradually escalate over time. My son was more on the side of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He changed so quickly. Has anyone experienced this or heard of it before?
I had him drug tested when all this first occured and he was clean. In May we discovered he'd started smoking pot. He's tested clean for the last month.
He started seeing a psychiatriest in April, and a youth crisis couselor since May. He's supposed to start anger management classes this week. We'll be starting family counseling soon. I don't see any improvement. He's getting worse. I hate to say this about my son, but I'm starting to worry that he could become physically abusive.
I've read the postings on here. It sounds like most kids' negative behaviors start young and gradually escalate over time. My son was more on the side of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He changed so quickly. Has anyone experienced this or heard of it before?