How to balance child being triggered and talking about bad grades

[Anonymous]

Op again, she's had a neuropsych eval. At the time, she was severely depressed and anxious. Now, she also has clear signs of ocd. She does see a psychiatrist and is currently on zoloft and sees a therapist. She also has sensory disorders.

I can see a lot of benefits to meds (not depressed, not nearly as anxious, much easier time socially, behavior at home is improved, hitting is rare now...used to happen often for long stretches). For one quarter this year, she was doing well in school too and working independently. I'm not sure what has changed.

I wonder if a new med would help, but I don't really want to change, since I've seen some benefits. She also has some side effects, which although manageable, I'm worried they'd be worse if the dose increased.

[Anonymous]

Get ahead of it. Log into all her school accounts, and set a schedule for her to do the work. She can earn freedom and flexibility when she shows she can handle it.

If she refuses to do the work, dig in to why -- is it too hard? Too boring? Did she fall behind and can't catch up?

[Anonymous]

She sounds as if she has way more than anxiety, OP. Hitting and yelling are not OK at 11!

Please see if she has ADHD: since she's not finishing or turning in all assignments, it seems indicated. The shame/guilt which she's clearly exhibiting by lashing out could easily be due to knowing she's missing stuff but being unable to do anything about it, since she's not medicated and is not receiving organizational help. People often treat anxiety as if it's a cause, instead of a consequence of another issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again, she's had a neuropsych eval. At the time, she was severely depressed and anxious. Now, she also has clear signs of ocd. She does see a psychiatrist and is currently on zoloft and sees a therapist. She also has sensory disorders.

I can see a lot of benefits to meds (not depressed, not nearly as anxious, much easier time socially, behavior at home is improved, hitting is rare now...used to happen often for long stretches). For one quarter this year, she was doing well in school too and working independently. I'm not sure what has changed.

I wonder if a new med would help, but I don't really want to change, since I've seen some benefits. She also has some side effects, which although manageable, I'm worried they'd be worse if the dose increased.

Sensory disorders and OCD are often associated with high-functioning autism. Just so you know. But the missing assignments could be ADHD.

My son has ADHD/ASD. His psychologist told us that 80% of all autistic kids she sees have comorbid ADHD and OCD.

[Anonymous]

If she’ got ocd or possible I would talk to the therapist abt whether the acting out is related to ocd rather than general anxiety. If so the therapist should help you come up with an organized way to increase her tolerance. (Exposure to something that isn’t “just so” is very commonly a trigger for ocd-and reminders of schoolwork or gradebook imperfections is a common sticking point.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she’ got ocd or possible I would talk to the therapist abt whether the acting out is related to ocd rather than general anxiety. If so the therapist should help you come up with an organized way to increase her tolerance. (Exposure to something that isn’t “just so” is very commonly a trigger for ocd-and reminders of schoolwork or gradebook imperfections is a common sticking point.)

Can you explain this a little more?