SPD with anxiety looking for advice

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

My daughter is in 3rd grade. She was diagnosed with mild SPD at 4yrs old and for the most part seemed to outgrow many things on her own. We saw an OT a few times but most things I did/helped on my own. K was fantastic. 1st was great with some little issues that were resolved with a few modifications (stress ball, chew topper on pencil) and 2nd grade started off well for a few weeks that. A month of school anxiety. Chalked this up to her teacher (who sucked and was type A ball of stress yelling teacher) but came into her own after encouragement and did great from Thanksgiving on. Still didn’t like the teacher but teacher loved her. Academics thru the roof. It was great to see her persevere. No ADD issues. The girl can seriously focus and anytime she doesn’t it is normal reasons.

This year she has the best teacher. It has been fantastic. Right after winter break, my daughter started to draw/write in the air for 3-5 seconds. Like a tic. Excited when she is telling something, thinking st school, occasionally nervous. She had an excited shake she outgrew around K and this seems similar to it but in different form. But now we are starting to get anxious again. Separation anxiety seems to dominate. Right after winter break as well, so I thought it was a small phase. But it has progressively gotten worse. Obviously the two are correlating with one another. I purchased the Worry book suggested by my ped about a month ago hoping that would help. But I feel like it has made her worse. Now she only wants to talk worries, gets anxious about school which was always easy until 2 weeks ago and it is becoming debilitating for her.

She used to BEG to stay home alone, has always been my independent fearless child. Bikes off with neighborhood kids, etc.. Besides the one month last year, this is such a sharp contrast. Now she calls to get picked up from play dates earl. Asks if I can pick her up from school. Wonders if I am okay if she is home with Dad and I am running errands. She does not know about the Florida shooting and nothing else in school or personal has changed her that I am aware of or she can verbally tell me. We talk nightly and she is very open. She is now aware her recent stomach pains are anxiety. She has some coping mechanisms but they are short term and she overides them with rationalizations.

Anyway, what next? I know she needs some help but it seems like the more empathy, help, and reading about it we do - the worse it gets. I am nervous therapy will do the same. OT, behavioral therapist, or something else? Our insurance covers none of this do I don’t want to go down the wrong path.

Has anyone been there done that have any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Child psychologist or LICSW for counseling.

[Anonymous]

Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like anxiety but has some features of autism (SPD, hand movements). See a child psychologist or therapist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

Disagree. Many kids have forms of PSD and or anxiety and don’t have a bigger picture or are on the spectrum. Calm down

OP, go to the elementary forum and ask about anxiety in mid ES grades. It is common for kids around 9yrs old to go thru a 2nd round of separation anxiety Everyone on this board goes zero to 60. They don’t know any better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

Disagree. Many kids have forms of PSD and or anxiety and don’t have a bigger picture or are on the spectrum. Calm down

OP, go to the elementary forum and ask about anxiety in mid ES grades. It is common for kids around 9yrs old to go thru a 2nd round of separation anxiety Everyone on this board goes zero to 60. They don’t know any better.

We've all been dealt the worst case scenarios, so yeah we are sensitive like that. But you are right, OP might want to compare our answers to NT parents and see which fits better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

Disagree. Many kids have forms of PSD and or anxiety and don’t have a bigger picture or are on the spectrum. Calm down

OP, go to the elementary forum and ask about anxiety in mid ES grades. It is common for kids around 9yrs old to go thru a 2nd round of separation anxiety Everyone on this board goes zero to 60. They don’t know any better.

This child had on going sensory issues for years possibly related to anxiety or learning issues or something else.

She’s obviously not typical. Little kids don’t need OT just because. “SPD” isn’t a diagnosis. Sensory issues that interfere so much with daily life and are ongoing, needs to have an evaluation. A neuropsch will diagnose anxiety.

[Anonymous]

I'd start with therapy for the anxiety. That can cause all kinds of behaviors that look like other things.

[Anonymous]

Op, the fact that it’s getting worse is worrying. ADHD and OCD fits a lot of what you describe. Therapy for OCD is very specific. I would get a comprehensive evaluation because you may need to consider medication and need have clear information.

[Anonymous]

Yes please go to the ES forum.

This child is showing no signs of ADHD or OCD from what the OP said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes please go to the ES forum.

This child is showing no signs of ADHD or OCD from what the OP said.

Did you read what the op wrote, eg

“I purchased the Worry book suggested by my ped about a month ago hoping that would help. But I feel like it has made her worse. Now she only wants to talk worries, gets anxious about school which was always easy until 2 weeks ago and it is becoming debilitating for her. ”

Regulation and sensory issues are very common in kids with adhd. OCD is often comorbid and often starts in childhood. Anxiety can go with either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

Disagree. Many kids have forms of PSD and or anxiety and don’t have a bigger picture or are on the spectrum. Calm down

OP, go to the elementary forum and ask about anxiety in mid ES grades. It is common for kids around 9yrs old to go thru a 2nd round of separation anxiety Everyone on this board goes zero to 60. They don’t know any better.

Never said or suggested ASD. That is your defensiveness talking. Also what is your source on number many kids have SPD and anxiety without there being larger issues?

Ongoing anxiety is a larger issue and the op needs if it stands alone, e.g.,
http://www.chadd.org/understanding-adhd/about-adhd/coexisting-conditions.aspx

[Anonymous]

Op, girls with ADHD tend to internalize. See Dr. Quinn's work on ADHD and girls, e.g.,:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=koxQ34hUh0c

Your kid is struggling with anxiety for a long time and developing coping mechanisms that aren't cutting it any more. Please get a neuropsych evaluation to find out what is really at the heart of this. More than likely the cost will be covered in part or in whole by insurance because ADHD is considered medical not educational.

Some parents balk at this suggestion. Please realize that their are people who refuse to get neuropsych evaluations because they fear an autism diagnosis. They let this bias bleed into their advice here. There's no reason to fear any diagnosis. Information is power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, at this age you need to get a neuropsch evaluation.

The OT was treating a symptom of something obviously bigger. SPD isn’t and has never been diagnosis. You need to get the big picture.

Disagree. Many kids have forms of PSD and or anxiety and don’t have a bigger picture or are on the spectrum. Calm down

OP, go to the elementary forum and ask about anxiety in mid ES grades. It is common for kids around 9yrs old to go thru a 2nd round of separation anxiety Everyone on this board goes zero to 60. They don’t know any better.

This child had on going sensory issues for years possibly related to anxiety or learning issues or something else.

She’s obviously not typical. Little kids don’t need OT just because. “SPD” isn’t a diagnosis. Sensory issues that interfere so much with daily life and are ongoing, needs to have an evaluation. A neuropsch will diagnose anxiety.

you don't need a neuropsych to diagnose or treat anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, girls with ADHD tend to internalize. See Dr. Quinn's work on ADHD and girls, e.g.,:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=koxQ34hUh0c

Your kid is struggling with anxiety for a long time and developing coping mechanisms that aren't cutting it any more. Please get a neuropsych evaluation to find out what is really at the heart of this. More than likely the cost will be covered in part or in whole by insurance because ADHD is considered medical not educational.

Some parents balk at this suggestion. Please realize that their are people who refuse to get neuropsych evaluations because they fear an autism diagnosis. They let this bias bleed into their advice here. There's no reason to fear any diagnosis. Information is power.

No, parents balk at the neuropsych because it's often expensive, overkill, and does not put the child any closer to what they need (therapy). Here we have a child whose main symptom is anxiety. OP should seek out a therapist for the anxiety and take it from there.