Child with ADHD and Emotional Disturbance
I have a child with ADHD and Emotional Disturbances. Everyone at school bothers him. He has been struggling since the age of 5. He is now 12 and is in the seventh grade. I have tried everything to help him achieve and to get him ahead in life but everything is so hard. He has an IEP with his current school which allows him to get help and also he is involved in many afterschoolactivities. I'm worried for him since he hasn't found a way to control his behavior and is so unorganized. He is easily frustrated and at times makes the wrong decisions on situations he is faced with. He has been on medication from the age of 5. I have him going to a Therapist and Psychiatrist to help him cope with his ADHD and Stress, but he does not seem to get any better.
He just started the seventh grade and everyday I get either phone calls from school or notes complaining about his behavior and incomplete assigments. He's a bright kid but his emotions and ADHD are getting the best of him. From the age of 5 through 7 he was using Ritalin and anti-depressants. I took him off the Ritalin since he was having trouble breathing and had hallucinations. From the age of 7 to 10, he was on Strattera and Abilify. He was so upset all the time and almost commited suicide at the age of 10. He didn't want to belong in this world and was being teased in the bus on his way to school and during school by students. From the age of 10 until current,I
have him on Vyvanse and Prozac. He is a straigh A student but needs constant reminders which gets him very frustrated. He has been in t-ball, cub-scouts, township plays, basketball, boys scouts and loves to play the piano, electric guitar and drums hoping to have his own band someday. He also sings and writes his own music. But he just does not seem to feel accepted and everyday he struggles with different attitudes from students, teachers and has lost many friends. I would like to know what I could do for my son so I won't loose him. I would do anything to get help for him. I cannot put him in a private school because they are too costly. I have been saving up for him to hopefully someday go to college and I only need to know if there is some type of school or after school program that helps children that have ADHD and Emotinal Disturbances for my son to attend and for me to have hope that there is help out there. I am a concerned and dedicated mother who is trying to help her son.
Posted by:
learntoaccept
Reply from:
Laura Compian
Date: Sep 24, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Reply from:
t12hughart Date: Sep 25, 2008 at 4:39 pm
well i think that you should be as good to your child as you can ask him to be honset and get him to tell you what happened at school today and you can fix the problem and get the students to stop making fun of him and get him to go to the guidence concler 1 2 maby 3 times a week and maby that will help i hope it does cause i really hate to see people being made fun of and stuff bc they have special needs and is he in a special issuses class my daughter goes to that kind of a public school although she doesnt have any special issues
Reply from:
Kathleen Schott
Date: Oct 6, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Well, all I can say is you sound like an outstanding parent and I know some of what you feel. I'm not sure how much help I can offer, but I can add support. My son is 10 and my daughter is 7 and together they sound like your son. My daughter has ADHD and is on vyvance. My son has terrettes, ODD, RAD and gets into the trouble. He does not deal with his issues like your son with depression, my son gets angry - hurts others and himself. Like your son he is bright and gets good grades. He also plays piano and guitar! He has not managed to write and sing his own music, but I think he will get there and he talk often of a band. He is so gifted in so many ways. Like you, my husband and I have tried to include our son in group activities like scouting, choir, football, but he is unable to get along with his peers. Because of the RAD we have problems with our son stealing and lying (he was adopted at four). We are currenlty in therapy and finding it helpful.
Like you we considered private school. We also found the cost a challenge and we were not confident that it was truly the solution. Unlike a public school that could offer an IEP and "had" to work with us, a private school could ask my son to leave. We have turned to Charter Schooling. This may not be an option for you but if it is an option at all, I recommend it. I can say, however, that it has made a world of difference. My son did not like the idea at first. He felt it was another punishment. I approached it from the other side and focused on only the rewards. He is experiencing learning and success in school without the hardship of peer issues. He is getting confidence from these successes. He still needs to work on peer relationship and he does attend the charter classes on two days of the week. Like you, I love my son and want the best for him. Schooling him at home is not easy, but every once of effort, financially, emotionally, and time-wise seems to be paying off.
The other success we have had for our son is individual sports. He is now in fencing - which is expensive, so perhaps not an option for you. But the individual achievement is good for his moral. He does well one on one. Yet, he can still be a part of a team. Other sports based on this concept are tennis, swimming, golf.
I would like to help you more, and I think perhaps you might have suggestions for me. If I'm way off, I won't hear from you, but please feel free to contact me.
Reply from:
KellyT Date: Oct 22, 2008 at 2:15 am
My 15 year old son sounds very similar to your child. He went down the same road. He finally refused to take his medicine, started failing school, ran away from home, and started breaking into homes. I had him put into a residential treatment facility for a short time in order for me to figure out what to do. After a long talk with my mother, I decided to allow him to move to a much smaller town and live with her so that he could be monitored 24/7. (I have to work, she is retired). He is still failing in school, but he is staying out of trouble. He has managed to make friends...they are older, since he doesn't seem to be able to make friends with kids his own age. My sister and her husband have been putting him to work clearing land and working heavy construction equipment, which he seems to love. So, things have been going ok...well except for the school thing. I drive up every weekend to see him. Hopefully, I will be able to get him through highschool with at least an occupational diploma.
I wish you luck with your child. Just hang in there!
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