Moving a bullied kid back to public school

[Anonymous]

My 8th grade ds was bullied badly in public school in 4th and 5th grade. It was at the point that he heard that newer kids to the school were being told by other kids that they shouldn’t be friends with him. My ds has severe adhd and has reacted badly to every medicine we’ve tried for him and we have tried several.

We moved him to Fusion Academy for middle school. We can no longer afford it and it’s honestly not been a completely great fit for him. He’s a bit too hyper for the environment.

We are thinking of moving him back to public for high school. We would obviously get him an IEP, which he had in elementary. The public is a large regional. Some of the bullies would be there, but lots of new kids would be there too. I can’t think of any alternatives, other than homeschooling. That seems a bit lonely and difficult.

Do you think that going back to the public high school could work out? He’s still very hyper but he has matured some. He’s in therapy and I try to coach him in social skills. Interested in hearing people’s thoughts

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. I don't have experience, except that I have noticed behavior changes when DD eats MSG, or foods with pseudo MSG, or food coloring, sugar. I avoid MSG and food coloring. For a while we gave her supportive vitamins too. Not herbal supplements, just certain vitamins were helpful.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know, OP, but it sounds like it could go ok, and if it doesn’t, it seems like maybe you could still try home schooling. It seems worth a shot to me.

How does your son feel about it?

[Anonymous]

Is he able to join any town or regional activity/rec sport groups this spring/summer? It may help if he goes into high school knowing kids already vs being the kid who knows no one already struggles socially.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know when get last time you tried medication was but if it was last three or four years ago may be time to try again.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to tell us what you are doing to address the ADHD right now. You say medication hasn't worked, but what have you tried, been unwilling to try, and what else are you doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to tell us what you are doing to address the ADHD right now. You say medication hasn't worked, but what have you tried, been unwilling to try, and what else are you doing?

He had horrible and uncontrollable anxiety when on stimulants, to the point of paranoia. He’s in therapy now. Has had lots of OT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does your son feel about it?

He wants to give it a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to tell us what you are doing to address the ADHD right now. You say medication hasn't worked, but what have you tried, been unwilling to try, and what else are you doing?

He had horrible and uncontrollable anxiety when on stimulants, to the point of paranoia. He’s in therapy now. Has had lots of OT.

Have you tried non-stimulants? The med thing is hard -- we finally found success on our 9th med. We also had to layer it with anti-anxiety and antipsychotics (for mood, not psychosis).

[Anonymous]

He tried Strattera and it caused bad anxiety. Guanfacine did nothing.