I am new to this site, and I am happy to make my first post! It is late, so I will get right to the point. We have anxiety/depression/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (and possible bipolar and ADHD) that run on both sides of our family. I myself have moderate depression/anxiety that isn't being managed very well at this point (just went off my medications because I didn't think they were working and plan to see my doctor this week for something new). I have 2 sons whom I love tremendously, age 8 and 2.
My 8 year old was diagnosed by our family counselor in 1st grade with ADHD and dysthemia (we filled out tons of papers with a million questions, and his teacher had a form to fill out as well). He shows signs of anxiety (can make himself throw up when he worries) and he also was evaluated for Sensory Processing Disorder due to fears of loud noises, is sensitive to touch, and some other quirks. He has so many issues we are dealing with that I don't know where to start....the big ones are the ADHD, anger, defiance, arguing, and stubbornness. He leaves a mess everywhere he goes, loses things, breaks things because he is too rough with them, gets mad when he can't find his things....will argue constantly with me, is unhappy and very very very irritable, has mood swings every day, is very bossy and demanding with others, is mean to the dogs (if they look at him wrong he yells or will try to hit or kick them-has consequences but nothing lasts long), follows me around and wants me to help him with little things he can do for himself and if I don't help he gets angry, seems to have seperation anxiety with me, can be disrespectful to me and tell me things like "be quiet" and "you don't scare me", will push or grab his brother if he is mad, will hit or kick walls....there's more but that's a good chunk of it.
He can be sweet, gentle, kind, very funny and loving (maybe 25% of the day?), and something will set him off and he is the opposite. It is like 2 different kids. He holds these things in at other people's houses and pretty much at school too(although the ADHD was becoming an issue in class)-I see all of it at home. My husband also sees it, but my son is able to turn it down a notch with him or something. We tried to work with him on behavior at home and didn't try medications until this past December. His first medication was wellbutrin, which made the temper tantrums and anger worse, so he went off of that. Prozac made him HYPER and extremely silly and he had trouble sleeping (and the Prozac took effect overnight with the very first pill). He tried Adderall and Intuniv-both weren't working either. Tried Depakote and it didn't do too much for him. He is currently on a low dose of vyvanse, and just started a low dose of Zoloft. His mood swings are MUCH better-and he seems happier and not bouncing off the walls. But, it seems like he has lost some of his personality-he is very quiet and doesn't really want to play as much with his friends....but it varies throughout the day. he is seeing a psychiatric nurse practitioner for the medications, and we haven't done counseling since last winter, so I have an appointment to start therapy again in august.
My 2 year old shows a lot of the behaviors that my 8 year old had at that age (crying, tantrums, anger, fears)....all stuff I thought he would outgrow. I am overwhelmed, and completely exhausted. I feel like I am failing and have a lot of guilt-I realize he has real issues, but I have to take the blame for at least some of it. I feel like I fall short as a mother, and I TRY SO HARD and love them so much. With all the issues we are dealing with, I don't know where to start. Thanks everyone.
My 8 year old was diagnosed by our family counselor in 1st grade with ADHD and dysthemia (we filled out tons of papers with a million questions, and his teacher had a form to fill out as well). He shows signs of anxiety (can make himself throw up when he worries) and he also was evaluated for Sensory Processing Disorder due to fears of loud noises, is sensitive to touch, and some other quirks. He has so many issues we are dealing with that I don't know where to start....the big ones are the ADHD, anger, defiance, arguing, and stubbornness. He leaves a mess everywhere he goes, loses things, breaks things because he is too rough with them, gets mad when he can't find his things....will argue constantly with me, is unhappy and very very very irritable, has mood swings every day, is very bossy and demanding with others, is mean to the dogs (if they look at him wrong he yells or will try to hit or kick them-has consequences but nothing lasts long), follows me around and wants me to help him with little things he can do for himself and if I don't help he gets angry, seems to have seperation anxiety with me, can be disrespectful to me and tell me things like "be quiet" and "you don't scare me", will push or grab his brother if he is mad, will hit or kick walls....there's more but that's a good chunk of it.
He can be sweet, gentle, kind, very funny and loving (maybe 25% of the day?), and something will set him off and he is the opposite. It is like 2 different kids. He holds these things in at other people's houses and pretty much at school too(although the ADHD was becoming an issue in class)-I see all of it at home. My husband also sees it, but my son is able to turn it down a notch with him or something. We tried to work with him on behavior at home and didn't try medications until this past December. His first medication was wellbutrin, which made the temper tantrums and anger worse, so he went off of that. Prozac made him HYPER and extremely silly and he had trouble sleeping (and the Prozac took effect overnight with the very first pill). He tried Adderall and Intuniv-both weren't working either. Tried Depakote and it didn't do too much for him. He is currently on a low dose of vyvanse, and just started a low dose of Zoloft. His mood swings are MUCH better-and he seems happier and not bouncing off the walls. But, it seems like he has lost some of his personality-he is very quiet and doesn't really want to play as much with his friends....but it varies throughout the day. he is seeing a psychiatric nurse practitioner for the medications, and we haven't done counseling since last winter, so I have an appointment to start therapy again in august.
My 2 year old shows a lot of the behaviors that my 8 year old had at that age (crying, tantrums, anger, fears)....all stuff I thought he would outgrow. I am overwhelmed, and completely exhausted. I feel like I am failing and have a lot of guilt-I realize he has real issues, but I have to take the blame for at least some of it. I feel like I fall short as a mother, and I TRY SO HARD and love them so much. With all the issues we are dealing with, I don't know where to start. Thanks everyone.
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