Newbie: son has turned to violence | ADHD Information

Thank you so much for all your replies, he is seeing an ADHD specialist who has prescribed him Strattera and Equasym XL, he also gets Melatonin to help him sleep, we are just starting to see a psychologist so there is no alot to report on that situation,  he is also self harming then going to school and telling the teachers that me or my husband hit him, thankfully the school understands the situation and doesn't believe him, but I worry about the day when someone does, we have asked for respite help from Social Services aswell but no luck there either, apparently we are not high priority.  I have always been given the impression that the violence was part of the illness but have always had a feeling there was something else but doctors don't seem to like to be told how to do thier job so that was another dead end, Again thank you for all you advice and words of support, you all are amazing, Thank you

I would seriously dump the ADHD Specialist, who obviously doesn't know anything beyond ADHD. Straterra can cause some kids to go ballistic, especially if they have mood disorders. I'd see a Psychiatrist (and forget a specialist of any one disorder--they'll see THAT and only that in everything). Violence is not part of ADHD. Check the DSM. It's more than that if your child is setting fires. Please, please do your child a favor and take her to a Child Psychiatrist who will take a look at other disorders as well as ADHD. My layman's guess is that the Straterra is inflaming whatever is going on. It's known to do that. You may well be able to stop your child from needing to be in a residential treatment center. Straterra is an antidepressant, much like Effexor, and those types of meds can cause mania/rage/violence in kids who DON'T have straight ADHD. Good luck!MomWI38909.1924768519Any kid that sets the house on fire and is physically violent has A LOT more going on than ADHD and perhaps the meds for the ADHD are actually making him worse. Before I sent him to RTC, I'd have him see a Child Psychiatrist to see if he has early onset bipolar, as these kids do tend to be violent without the proper medication, and stims make them worse. If mood disorders or substance abuse is on the family tree, those are big red flags for bipolar, but so is his behavior. That is over-the-top for ADHD. A note: Adderrall and Straterra are two of the worst meds for kids who may have mood disorders. No ADHD meds are good for kids who get violent, but those two are the most horrible. Is he on either? I do wish you luck. (For the record, nowhere in the DSM is "violence" listed as part of ADHD--it's more a bipolar trait).MomWI38908.7786574074Hiya, my son is 11 years old and he has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 6, but it seems as he gets older he is using his illness as an excuse for violent behaviour, he has already set the house on fire 3 times this year (taking the batteries out of the smoke alarms before he sets the fires) stabbed my 3 year old with a fork,  been expelled from school for threatning to stab a teacher and charged by police for beating up other children, he is now waiting for a date to go to a childrens panel and the matter is totally out of my hands and I am really scared he is going to be taken away, sounds strange but I hope someone understands what my family are going through and can give me some support, thank you in advance.

My son is only 5 but he has the violent side of ADHD as well i have to hide everything from him like lighters and things like that our fire guard around the fire is paddocked to the wall and its to high to get over, i am prepared for it to get alot harder. Sorry i don't have any advice for you. But just hang in there. if my son is still really bad when he gets in his teens we will be looking at sending him to boarding school, i know this sounds bad but it may teach him some things. His father is ADHD to and his really bad his always in trouble with the law, so i am hoping that my son doesnt get this bad!!!!

 

Hang in there luv

Thank you so much for replying, i hope it all turns out ok for you, i know it sounds silly but this is the first understanding words I have heard and it makes me cry, thing is I am usually such a strong person but I feel I having everything that makes me myself ( hope you understand) taken away from me. It doesn't sound bad that you may send your son to a boarding school, if I had the option here I may have considered it, just hope your life with your son doesn't get any worse cos I know how it feels.

 

 

Maybe the courts placing him in a residential place will benefit him, a place where they can watch him more closely. I am sure it is hard but may also relieve more stress for you in the home.   If he follows the rules he would be able to come home for visits.  In a placement they will counsel him closely as well and it is not forever.  good luck

Hope it works out fro the two of you, Poochie you probably like me are glad to find somewhere you can be totally honest open and let it all off your chest without feeling a freak or judged,

 

eliza21, I admire you for thinking of sending your son to boarding school that must have been a tough decision, but it will benefit him in the long run, I hope it works out for you...

Poochie, I think your son has more going on than just ADHD.  I do not believe that violence is a part of ADHD, but may be more of another issue as a comorbid factor.  You did not say if your son has been recently evaluated.  Tell us more about his diagnosis and his evaluations, and any treatment he is undertaking, any medication?  You are not alone here. 

 

We have had  a asd kid threaten a aid he is still in that school. I hear alot of horrible stories about those with emotional problems. We can't afford private help at all. Counseling salved nothing with Daniel. He ignored the therapist. My nephew was aggressive and they put him on Risperdal and that helped tremendously.  We've noticed that when ever he misses a couple doses in a row is when the violent tantrums return, so we know its working in him.  Maybe you may want to ask the Dr about it.  Good luck!

I would definitely have him reevaluated. What you see at 6, may look totally different at 11. Something like Bipolar at early onset, can look like AD/HD because they are hyperactive, have concentration problems, poor impulse control, etc. Many of the same symptoms AD/HD has. If it were Bipolar, stimulants or anti-depressants could really destabilize a child. Not saying that is the case, but your child clearly is having symptoms that are far beyond AD/HD. When things are getting really out of control, yet the child is under treatment, you really have to look at why that is...wrong meds, co-morbid condition, wrong diagnosis, etc.

Good luck!

Yep. Good to see a Psychiatrist and see if the stims/antidepressants are actually making it worse. The usually rule is, ultra-rageful that is called ADHD is usually bipolar (early onset). Incredible social cluelessness that is diagnosed ADHD is usually Aspergers or PDD-NOS. Kids with both of these disorders will meet the criteria for ADHD, but the treatments for ADHD can be dangerous for these kids, or just not help--ie: Kid doesn't improve, but continues to spiral downward, even with the usual ADHD interventions. It doesn't have to be that way. It can change for the better.