SMX, re: your signature, where you list
diagnosed with ADHD,Anx/Panic D,Insomnia, Nightmares, Hoarding,Bipolar. Depakote Lamictal Xanax Iron.
First, are you saying that you and your difficult child seem to cycle through similar symptoms (like nightmares) at the same time? Just curious...
Also, how bad is the anxiety/panic disorder? I'm diagnosis'd the same (ADHD & Anx/Panic D). My doctor says that for
some folks (not all), those two disorders go hand in hand. Something about the fact that ADHD keeps your brain from properly processing all the stimulus from your environment, and Anx/Panic is a stress reaction to a real (or perceived) threat stimulus in your environment.
When your brain is pre-disposed to kicking off a panic attack, and you have ADHD distracting you, it's a recipe for constant anxiety (exactly what I had). Sometimes bad (as in go to a room and curl up in a corner for 30 minutes), sometimes low level (general nervousness and anxiety). But it was always there.
I am not a doctor, so take this with a salt shaker: my doctor told me to get the ADHD and PD under control, THEN see what's left to deal with. Those two items alone can cause more havoc with your system than a crack addict with an uzi.
For me, I'm on Klonopin and Xanax; Klonopin raises my stress reaction threshold (i.e. it takes more "stress" to actually push me over the edge). I also have Xanax to beat down any panic attack that actually happens (i.e only for those situations where things get so bad that I'm pushed even beyond the artificially high threshold from the Klonopin). Between that and a good ADHD medication (Focalin), most of my other symptoms have subsided.
After finding the right ADD medication and dosage, I had less insomnia and started getting much better sleep (except for when McW looses his friggin mind and acts out
). I now get a good night's sleep, and I actually have more energy (and am less depressed) because I'm not suffering from a constant, low-level anxiety attack.
Now, that's just me; in no way am I trying to "diagnose" you, but maybe you'll find some of this helpful. For me, I had two major players (ADD and anxiety) that keyed the rest of the other symptoms.
Just my two cents, for what it's worth...
Mikey