Anonymous wrote:My ADHD DS also got sullen and aggressive in HS. I don’t think it is strictly puberty hormones. Although that is definitely a contributing factor. There were a variety of things that helped.
First, and most important, was getting on an SSRI. Zoloft really helped. I think he felt the difference. He stayed on it through much of high school, and then stopped in college on his own. He had another period of depression in college, but he got through it without medication, and I don’t think he’s taken an SSRI since and he seems fine and happy. That’s just illustrate that taking an SSRI doesn’t have to be forever. I would definitely encourage you to go back to the psychiatrist who’s prescribing the ADHD medication and see if that needs to be adjusted. It would be quite common in puberty to have to adjust dosage or type of medication. There are options in addition to stimulants – SSRI or something like atomoxetine.
Another thing that helped was making it clear to him that I really thought he would like college both socially and academically, and that there are 1 million colleges to go to only a few of which require straight A’s. I explicitly said I thought that high school was going to be more of a challenge than college and that the trick was going to be to try and get through high school well enough that he had some choices about where to go to college. I really explicitly said that the same part of his ADHD that made high school really difficult was not going to be as much of a problem in college. In high school, kids with ADHD cannot rely on their motivation by interest because they’re obliged to take classes that they find uninteresting. They also have to sit in a classroom seat all day and manage 7 classes with homework every day. College, I promised him would be better. He could take only classes that he was interested in. He would only have four or five classes. He would be in the classroom for only like 10 to 15 hours a week.He would have probably fewer assignments overall. I really think part of his aggression in high school was a growing worry that he wouldn’t be able to move onto college like his peers and he was just incredibly frustrated. We encouraged him to try to navigate high school by selecting classes he was interested in and also acknowledging that if some of those were challenging, it would still be OK with us if he didn’t get A’s. We encouraged him to use his accommodations more in terms of extra time and renegotiating deadlines. And we stood up to teachers who refused to cooperate. We also encouraged him to select some classes that would fill his time without creating more of an academic burden – pottery, or doing a TA with a teacher in an area of interest.
I also shifted my parenting. I don’t think negative consequences were particularly helpful, even though that’s what you’re encouraged to do as a parent. What was helpful was in a calm moment saying in a non-shaming way that I understood that he was really angry sometimes, but verbal abuse and physical aggression or intimidation was never OK and that I did treat him that way and I expected him not to treat others that way. I said if he was getting angry I would always be OK to ask to take a break or if he yelled that he could apologize.
He also initially rejected therapy. He didn’t like the initial therapist I took him to. I had to have several conversations with him after that explaining that therapy was just one of many tools and and that as a parent, my job was to offer him the tools, but I couldn’t force him to use any particular tool. I also said it was a little bit like dating – you had to find someone that you clicked with, but you don’t want a person who’s just gonna tell you what you wanna hear. I also made it clear that whatever he discussed was private. I encouraged him to meet a few more therapists and see if there was somebody he felt more comfortable with. Eventually, he did do therapy. TBH, I don’t think therapy was as useful as the SSRI, and I also don’t think he could have participated in therapy without the SSRI.
His dad was not helpful in any way. He was not a role model in any way. I had to let that go and just accept that it was all on me. Fortunately, for us, dad had not been in the household for a long time. Had he been, I would’ve insisted on family/Parent therapy.
At this age, I really had to keep acknowledging that he was in control, that I couldn’t force him to do anything, but that as a parent, I did have a little bit more experience and knowledge about the benefits of psychiatry and therapy, so I hoped he would at least give it a chance and go and evaluate for himself whether it could be helpful rather than deciding in advance that it wouldn’t work.
I say this kindly, but I think you really have to let go of the “regressing right when it matters“ mindset. He can feel that you’re judging him and that you think he is ruining his life and that’s not helpful.
OP here and I can’t thank you enough for sharing your perspective and experience. This is so very helpful and yes I agree, I need to shift my mindset and have this discussion with him. Part of this is my issue, I recognize that. He does have so much potential and so many good qualities. I see it. Others see it. But he doesn’t see it. I hate seeing him get in his own way, and that’s what’s happening. He is self sabotaging almost every success and every thing he is good at. That’s what troubles me. Coaches, advisors, teachers, all want to see him succeed and all give him chance after chance, sometimes almost begging him to return (coaches literally called him to talk and almost begged him to return to the team bc he was such an asset player) and offering to give extra help, extra time, extra chances, But he rejects or disregards it all. Immaturity? Disabilities? Depression? Self esteem? Control issues? It’s hard to observe as a parent. If he was 5 I would wrestle him into his car seat and make him go. But now I cannot.
I have reached out to another counseling program I found online and hope that we can get him in or at least we can do some parenting sessions.
I am going to try again to talk to him. He has been rejecting my overtures but maybe a lunch date with mom will help.
I wish he could have repeated a grade in 5th or 8th. That extra year would have helped. But my husband rejected the idea and then DS did too. So in a way it’s almost easier when the difficult parent is out of the equation. At least you can call the shots.
Truly appreciate your time to respond. Thank you.