Which losing hand would you take?
SS8 has always been VERY difficult to deal with. We have taken him to many therapists at this point but to little avail. We have moved on to a new doc this year. The doctor hasn't determined an exact diagnosis. Upon further testing, later this month, it will determined what his exact ailment is and how to best deal with it.
We will be dealt one of three lovely hands. Bi-Polar Disorder, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) or DMD (Disruptive Mood Disorder). If any of you have experience with these please advise which is the best worst case scenario or lesser of the evils.
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I have had experience with
I have had experience with Bi-Polar, Paranoid Schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. Also depression and anxiety, ADD and ADHD. Ekk gads, it sounds like my family just checked out of the nut house!
By far the Bi-Polar is the most understood and the easiest to medicate. The medication takes the high and low off of the emotions so the patient often complains of feeling nothing. They are used to the intense highs and lows so the middle gound feels boring and deadened. At 8, he might not fight the medication so much.
The mood disorder and the ODD are newer to the list of diagnoses so I would question how much data that is available to understand the effectiveness of medications, particularly for an 8 year old. My friend had a kid with ODD and it was not easily treated. After all, the basis for the diagnosis is defiance so the patient will battle all attempts to medicate or treat. This disorder can destroy a family as it did for my friend.
By far, the hardest for us was the Borderline Personality disorder. Diagnosis was at 18 and refused all meds or therapy. With a disorder that robs the person of any empathy or sympathy for others, there was no playing on any desire to please the family nor was there any concern that their behavior was painful or destructive to others.
Good Luck - you will need it.
He was initially diagnosed
He was initially diagnosed with ADHD. Well, he is a tiny little guy and can't take the stimulant meds. We struggle to keep his weight up. I mean the kid is 41 lbs and eight years old. I think BM did some serious drugs while she was pregnant but of course DH swears she didn't. We found out he was misdiagnosed as he has no trouble paying attention if he wants to and makes excellent grades. It is strictly his behavior. He believes himself the alpha male of our house. No matter what DH does to punish him or tell him that SS8 is not in charge SS feels it is his duty to disagree and flat out tell all adults NO. If that doesn't work he yells, screams, cries, beats on things.
Hopefully, they can figure him out because I sure as heck can't understand one single thing about the kid. He is the farthest thing from a normal kid I have ever had to deal with.
SS8 will run by and just
SS8 will run by and just punch his older sister in the stomach. I can understand kids defending themselves or even getting carried away playing but to just hit somebody for the sake of watching them suffer. I don't understand that in any way.
My worst fear is that we will be getting him out of juvie soon and then jail shortly after that.
Everyday it is something, the school is calling or he is being so disruptive at home that I don't even enjoy being there. It breaks my heart but it also makes me mad as heck!
I understand. Definitely not
I understand. Definitely not any fun at all, to have to be around an ill mannered, mean and disrespectful child.
disruptive mood disorder - I
disruptive mood disorder - I will sort that out with some harsh punishment..
sorry Rayray - I have no advice for you.... just sending you strength...
Thank you all for the
Thank you all for the insight. I believe a lot of his behavior issues are from Disney Dad syndrome and just plain being a bully. He had spent his life up until I came along getting whatever he wanted by any means necessary. He has assaulted so many adults and screamed profanities at them just to get his way. I feel defeated because the only progress I seem to have made with the kid is that he sleeps in his own bed finally and he rarely hits me anymore. His aggression seems to be aimed at his peers at school now.
I would never just write a kid off but dang I think he may be as mentally ill as his BM. Maybe some people are just born messed up and there is little anyone can do to correct what is inherently wrong with them.