I am not sure I can live with my son anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us more about that genetic test?

Genesight.com. The test has to be done by a licensed psychiatrist. It involves a swipe inside the cheek, your doctor mails off the swab, and the results come back a week or two later.

Believe me, I was skeptical too. You may be familiar with the studies that say that most anti-depressants only work for 1/3 of people, and in many cases aren't more effective than exercise. However, DS' previous meds, and he had tried 4-5 different SSRIs, really didn't seem to be working. So I figured, when this was offered to us, that for $300-400 we might as well give it a shot. It did confirm that he was basically peeing out, for lack of a better phrase, the earlier meds. So the Dr. switched him to a different class of anti-depressant and so far the favorable change has been noticeable. It's only been one month, I need to tell you. But fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the pill pusher comment. Makes me sick. The amount of kids on Add ADHD meds....disgusted. I took my DC to a psychiatrist although warned against doing so, and within 20 minutes scrip ready to go. At Georgetown.. Truly amazing. Needless to say ,I confronted the Dr. For her reasoning...no answer provided. Bah bye. She said she did not have time to discuss.... Will find a harder yet hopefully better in the long run solution for my problematic tween...all answers do not come in the form of a pill, unless of course you work for Pfizer or Eli Lilly's...or. In this case....Georgetown psych! Hang in there op!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the pill pusher comment. Makes me sick. The amount of kids on Add ADHD meds....disgusted. I took my DC to a psychiatrist although warned against doing so, and within 20 minutes scrip ready to go. At Georgetown.. Truly amazing. Needless to say ,I confronted the Dr. For her reasoning...no answer provided. Bah bye. She said she did not have time to discuss.... Will find a harder yet hopefully better in the long run solution for my problematic tween...all answers do not come in the form of a pill, unless of course you work for Pfizer or Eli Lilly's...or. In this case....Georgetown psych! Hang in there op!

Let us know your solution, honey.... Agree that too many kids are medicated, and a CBT solution makes tons of sense. But some people really do suffer from chemical imbalances, and it's stupid to pretend that couldn't be true for some percent of the population, even your own kid. Unless you're a Scientologost or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us more about that genetic test?

Genesight.com. The test has to be done by a licensed psychiatrist. It involves a swipe inside the cheek, your doctor mails off the swab, and the results come back a week or two later.

Believe me, I was skeptical too. You may be familiar with the studies that say that most anti-depressants only work for 1/3 of people, and in many cases aren't more effective than exercise. However, DS' previous meds, and he had tried 4-5 different SSRIs, really didn't seem to be working. So I figured, when this was offered to us, that for $300-400 we might as well give it a shot. It did confirm that he was basically peeing out, for lack of a better phrase, the earlier meds. So the Dr. switched him to a different class of anti-depressant and so far the favorable change has been noticeable. It's only been one month, I need to tell you. But fingers crossed.

To be clear: Outward Bound did wonders for DS' attitude and for our relationship with him. It didn't solve the depression issue, though and isn't really designed for that. They teach resilience, goal-setting and, basically, "how to disagree/argue productively" through various lessons and just everyday interactions with the other kids. We had to address the depression and anxiety separately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the pill pusher comment. Makes me sick. The amount of kids on Add ADHD meds....disgusted. I took my DC to a psychiatrist although warned against doing so, and within 20 minutes scrip ready to go. At Georgetown.. Truly amazing. Needless to say ,I confronted the Dr. For her reasoning...no answer provided. Bah bye. She said she did not have time to discuss.... Will find a harder yet hopefully better in the long run solution for my problematic tween...all answers do not come in the form of a pill, unless of course you work for Pfizer or Eli Lilly's...or. In this case....Georgetown psych! Hang in there op!

Let us know your solution, honey.... Agree that too many kids are medicated, and a CBT solution makes tons of sense. But some people really do suffer from chemical imbalances, and it's stupid to pretend that couldn't be true for some percent of the population, even your own kid. Unless you're a Scientologost or something.

The first PP's message does not ring true to me.

It is incredibly difficult to get into Georgetown psych care. There are huge waiting lists because they are good and take insurance, a real rarity. You have to be very patient and persistent to get in. I find it hard to believe that someone who is not extremely motivated to do whatever they can for their kid--which does not sound like the case for PP--actually waited it out for Georgetown. Also, no initial meeting with a psych is 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the pill pusher comment. Makes me sick. The amount of kids on Add ADHD meds....disgusted. I took my DC to a psychiatrist although warned against doing so, and within 20 minutes scrip ready to go. At Georgetown.. Truly amazing. Needless to say ,I confronted the Dr. For her reasoning...no answer provided. Bah bye. She said she did not have time to discuss.... Will find a harder yet hopefully better in the long run solution for my problematic tween...all answers do not come in the form of a pill, unless of course you work for Pfizer or Eli Lilly's...or. In this case....Georgetown psych! Hang in there op!

Let us know your solution, honey.... Agree that too many kids are medicated, and a CBT solution makes tons of sense. But some people really do suffer from chemical imbalances, and it's stupid to pretend that couldn't be true for some percent of the population, even your own kid. Unless you're a Scientologost or something.

The first PP's message does not ring true to me.

It is incredibly difficult to get into Georgetown psych care. There are huge waiting lists because they are good and take insurance, a real rarity. You have to be very patient and persistent to get in. I find it hard to believe that someone who is not extremely motivated to do whatever they can for their kid--which does not sound like the case for PP--actually waited it out for Georgetown. Also, no initial meeting with a psych is 20 minutes.

Yup. Not to mention that any licensed psych at a reputable institution would at least run through the short form ADD screening test before prescribing meds. Don't get me started on PP's serial misuse of ellipses....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the pill pusher comment. Makes me sick. The amount of kids on Add ADHD meds....disgusted. I took my DC to a psychiatrist although warned against doing so, and within 20 minutes scrip ready to go. At Georgetown.. Truly amazing. Needless to say ,I confronted the Dr. For her reasoning...no answer provided. Bah bye. She said she did not have time to discuss.... Will find a harder yet hopefully better in the long run solution for my problematic tween...all answers do not come in the form of a pill, unless of course you work for Pfizer or Eli Lilly's...or. In this case....Georgetown psych! Hang in there op!

Why would you go to a psychiatrist if you were not open to the possiblity of trying medication. I don't understand why people blame psychiatrists for doing their job. If you want a therapist, find a psychologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, I'm so sorry. You've gotten some really great advice here and I'm glad to see so much support. It's excruciating. Ignore the ignorant trolls.

You mention a recent medical diagnosis. Epilepsy? Some anti seizure meds can help with mood stability so you may want to discuss with his neurologist. I second CBT but know first hand it's hard to get them to 1) attend and 2) participate. The thing that judgmental people don't understand is that many types of mental illness are nearly impossible to diagnose in teenagers because teenagers are often moody and difficult. They are often officially and properly diagnosed in their 20s after the families have suffered for years.

We are in a similar situation. We continue to encourage (and even bribed with no success) CBT, supplement with B vitamins, probiotics, vitamin D and fish oil- all proven to aid in mood disorders. I have blood work checked occasionally to make sure we're not overdoing it. We made some lifestyle changes that reduce the amount of change in DC's life. DC did receive a diagnosis of anxiety and depression but refused medication for some legitimate reasons which I respect. We will reconsider if things get worse. I also second summer camp. Only those of us who live it understand- these issues have all caused my own health to suffer and i now have my own stress-induced medical problems to manage.

If you do CBT, be sure to find someone who does real CBT- many therapists say they do, but they don't. Talk therapy doesn't do it.

Wishing you peace,
Someone who really understands

Thanks very appreciated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mental illness my ass. Stop making excuses. Mental illness doesn't only happen at home. Mental illness isn't a switch that he turns on at home only. It is a parenting fail that can be fixed but first, start by getting yourself some mental help.

Why do idiots like you so eager to give advice? Just read and learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of a summer sleepaway is for the parent to have some breathing space, recharge, take stock... And the rest of the family to get a break. It's called respite. We do the same for elder care. Does that mean it "sending away" my 93 year old mother in law? No, it means once every 3 months my brother in law, primary care giver, has a weakened to recharge.

You are comparing elderly care to and out of control teen? Wow, just wow!

Just go away already. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The unfortunate reality is that if you are the parent of an unstable, explosive, violent child, you need to make choices about your priorities. From speaking with other parents of such children----who are now grown---the consistent theme with such parents was regret that they had allowed the explosive child to dominate the family dynamic to the detriment of their other children.

Listen to the bolded part.

My friend's older son is like that, saving the physical violence. Her second son, a sweet boy, became depressed and suicidal last year.

[Anonymous]

You summed up your problem yourself. You walk on eggshells around him. This tells him he can do whatever he wants and so he does it. What other issues there are, certainly explore treatments for that. Basically you are allowing him to do this by your own description. I found when my teen starts being nuts about things, and he does have an anxiety problem, the best things to say or even text is that you have no time for his hysteric and to get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mental illness my ass. Stop making excuses. Mental illness doesn't only happen at home. Mental illness isn't a switch that he turns on at home only. It is a parenting fail that can be fixed but first, start by getting yourself some mental help.

Why don't you give Tom Cruise a call? I hear he is looking for wife number 4, or is it 5?