sickofbeingtired
New Member
Hi-
New to site (and all of this, for that matter) but feeling blessed that I found this right now. Earlier this week, I contacted the mental health provider in our area that specializes in child psychology (and is the only one referred by my health ins.) I've had my hands full with my 6 yr old son for a long time, but has been much more pronounced over the past month or two. I've chalked it up to transition: he started 1st grade recently and I married my long-time boyfriend this summer.
That said, this week alone 1) teacher called because he "hates school," as he announced to her one morning and only does well when he has her direct attention, 2) had several instances of hurting his 3 yr-old brother, and 3) told me he wants to be dead and he is always miserable, even when he looks happy. While discussing the need for me and other adults to keep him safe, he went off on how he would kill anyone who tried to make him go somewhere, and he would "get me fired" if I ever tried to stop him from doing what he wants. Little bugger even had a plan how to do it.
I am VERY concerned about the hateful threats (not the first but getting worse) and the fact that a 6-yr old talks about wanting to die. I called the agency mentioned above, who said a therapist can meet with us (set up for next week) but a child psychiatrist would be several months. My mom sent me a link last night to info on the criteria for ODD and I cried. He doesn't exhibit some of these behaviors; he exhibits all and frequently. I have honestly been thinking I should consider placing him with someone else because I am doing such a lousy job parenting him (although little brother doesn't seem to have any behaviors outside of what I see with other of his peers). The possibility this actually is a disorder, and not just spoiling him, etc (as my dad will suggest) was oddly liberating.
Question: I've been reading thru many posts (thank you!) and see alot about getting evaluations. I'm generaly a bit leary of licensed therapists (in our state, MSW's who have had little or no clinical education can be licensed), but it may be best to keep the appointment. Or should I skip and do an evaluation first? I worry that if he has ODD (and my guess would be ADHD), a therapist may try to suggest behavior mod that's appropriate for a "normal" 6 yr-old, which would just be frustrating for my difficult child. Trust me, we've had tons of reward & punishment methods thru the years, not very effective...
Thanks for any input you can provide!
New to site (and all of this, for that matter) but feeling blessed that I found this right now. Earlier this week, I contacted the mental health provider in our area that specializes in child psychology (and is the only one referred by my health ins.) I've had my hands full with my 6 yr old son for a long time, but has been much more pronounced over the past month or two. I've chalked it up to transition: he started 1st grade recently and I married my long-time boyfriend this summer.
That said, this week alone 1) teacher called because he "hates school," as he announced to her one morning and only does well when he has her direct attention, 2) had several instances of hurting his 3 yr-old brother, and 3) told me he wants to be dead and he is always miserable, even when he looks happy. While discussing the need for me and other adults to keep him safe, he went off on how he would kill anyone who tried to make him go somewhere, and he would "get me fired" if I ever tried to stop him from doing what he wants. Little bugger even had a plan how to do it.
I am VERY concerned about the hateful threats (not the first but getting worse) and the fact that a 6-yr old talks about wanting to die. I called the agency mentioned above, who said a therapist can meet with us (set up for next week) but a child psychiatrist would be several months. My mom sent me a link last night to info on the criteria for ODD and I cried. He doesn't exhibit some of these behaviors; he exhibits all and frequently. I have honestly been thinking I should consider placing him with someone else because I am doing such a lousy job parenting him (although little brother doesn't seem to have any behaviors outside of what I see with other of his peers). The possibility this actually is a disorder, and not just spoiling him, etc (as my dad will suggest) was oddly liberating.
Question: I've been reading thru many posts (thank you!) and see alot about getting evaluations. I'm generaly a bit leary of licensed therapists (in our state, MSW's who have had little or no clinical education can be licensed), but it may be best to keep the appointment. Or should I skip and do an evaluation first? I worry that if he has ODD (and my guess would be ADHD), a therapist may try to suggest behavior mod that's appropriate for a "normal" 6 yr-old, which would just be frustrating for my difficult child. Trust me, we've had tons of reward & punishment methods thru the years, not very effective...
Thanks for any input you can provide!