Hi, this is my first time posting. I have 2 boys - difficult child 1 who is 13, ADHD, but pretty stable and easy to deal with. Then I have difficult child 2 who is 10 and has been difficult from the get-go. He has all the classic behaviors that would define ODD. Have been seeing psychologists off and on since 1st grade (he is in 4th grade now). He has been suspended from school twice. Once in 2nd grade for hitting a girl and once in 3rd grade for an incident that involved a group of several boys and was classified as bullying. This year he has not been suspended. The first half of the year he seemed to do relatively ok. In January things seemed to take a turn for the worse. He started saying inappropriate things to girls (which has happened in school in the past). He says things like "I like boobs." He also started saying he wanted to be home schooled and started talking out more in class and being disruptive. He now has a chart that he brings home everyday regarding his behavior and he gets rewards or consquences based on his behavior.
We saw a psychiatrist about 6 weeks ago. Since then he has been on 10mg Celexa. We also filled out a bunch of behavior forms (my husband and I each did a set and his two teachers each did a set). The forms all seemed to indicate some level of depression/anxiety. Only one (a teacher) of the 4 sets of forms seemed to indicate ADHD. Had also done this in 1st grade and ADHD did not come out from the forms. But the psychiatrist did not rule it out because of the behaviors we describe and the comments on his report cards, etc. We also did not start any ADHD medication, because at that point he had only been on the Celexa for 2 weeks.
I think the Celexa has helped his mood. He seems happier and less argumentative at home. But, school is the same or worse. Talking out in class and often getting kicked out for being disruptive. And being inappropriate. Said the f word Monday. Today was saying "I am doctor" and raising his eyebrows and saying "suck my tooth." When people (usually girls) ask him to stop he does not. Everyone at school is pretty fed-up with him. The principal has been great and has yet to suspend him. Because he has said he wants to get kicked out of school. His reading is great. His math is really poor. He is fairly smart, but does not apply himself. He does have days here and there (and sometimes 2 in a row) where he does great and has no issues.
He can be loving and warm. He can also have tantrums and call me names and swear at me (and his dad (my husband)). Although that has lessened recently. I am just really worn out and discouraged by his behavior at school. When we ask why he does it and does not stop when people ask he says "I don't know" or "I can't help it." We have one more week of school left here. But the principal said today if he has a bad day on Monday he will likely have to miss the rest of the week which is all the parties, field day, etc.
I may have left some stuff out! Any support, help you can offer would be welcomed. Some days I just feel so beaten down.
We saw a psychiatrist about 6 weeks ago. Since then he has been on 10mg Celexa. We also filled out a bunch of behavior forms (my husband and I each did a set and his two teachers each did a set). The forms all seemed to indicate some level of depression/anxiety. Only one (a teacher) of the 4 sets of forms seemed to indicate ADHD. Had also done this in 1st grade and ADHD did not come out from the forms. But the psychiatrist did not rule it out because of the behaviors we describe and the comments on his report cards, etc. We also did not start any ADHD medication, because at that point he had only been on the Celexa for 2 weeks.
I think the Celexa has helped his mood. He seems happier and less argumentative at home. But, school is the same or worse. Talking out in class and often getting kicked out for being disruptive. And being inappropriate. Said the f word Monday. Today was saying "I am doctor" and raising his eyebrows and saying "suck my tooth." When people (usually girls) ask him to stop he does not. Everyone at school is pretty fed-up with him. The principal has been great and has yet to suspend him. Because he has said he wants to get kicked out of school. His reading is great. His math is really poor. He is fairly smart, but does not apply himself. He does have days here and there (and sometimes 2 in a row) where he does great and has no issues.
He can be loving and warm. He can also have tantrums and call me names and swear at me (and his dad (my husband)). Although that has lessened recently. I am just really worn out and discouraged by his behavior at school. When we ask why he does it and does not stop when people ask he says "I don't know" or "I can't help it." We have one more week of school left here. But the principal said today if he has a bad day on Monday he will likely have to miss the rest of the week which is all the parties, field day, etc.
I may have left some stuff out! Any support, help you can offer would be welcomed. Some days I just feel so beaten down.