as a toddler my son, now 14, was the one who sat back and observed others, until he really knew you...as a first grader he hated having students in school walk behind him...in elementary school he was the loner, dancing to his own beat. In 7th grade, parochial school, we approached the principal with some issues...he hated getting up and going to school, never ever liked homework, books, pencils, pens always chewed or lost...grades were passing, especially in classes that had hands on learning, these he excelled in...he was content with c's. He claimed he was bored??? On standardized school tests that year he scored 98 in reading 94 in math and 90's in everthing else. go figure. when we asked him to be tested by the psychologist he refused to cooperate...he hated being singled out...everybody would talk about him, so he thought.
Puberty was setting in, he was the tallest in class, the thinest in class...he aligned himself with the wrong kids...before we knew it he was involved in drugs...the tell tale signs excalated,we confronted punished talked etc he couldn't get out and didn't let us in. He attempted suicide. angels were on his side. we were guided to a wonderful psychiatrist who specializes in adolescent behaviors. he was treated for depression and anxiety with zoloft. this is a heredity issue.
just when you think it is going to work-out...he started a new high school, a great high school...we did all the right things. we thought it was gong well. However he wasn't even going...for one week, the fourth week in school, he went awal. He was hanging downtown, just hiding. we found him. took him to the doctor. my son told the doctor he just could not learn, it was impossible, to much "moved"around he couldn't keep track. He didn't learn to read like others, he did it his way, couln't keep notes, knew answers but didn't participate and impatient when others "couldn't get it". the doctor started him a concerta. it is working but it has been a struggle. diagnosed with adhd(introvert)
we are fortunate, at school, they have a program for at risk students. it is a student assistance program. it includes a learning plan involving a mentor, student and facuilty, a pshychiatric evaluation, a drug and alchol program, and in school rehabilitation. realese forms had to be signed for each part of the program. i felt it wasn't necessary to have my son evaluated by a different psychologist when he has such a working repore with his own doctor, whom he sees once a month, i am also not happy with "group" in a school. I am afraid that this will just lead my son to the people he needs to stay far away from...he agrees with me.
i know i'm ranting but my one and only child has a wiring problem unlike others. i am not sure what to imagine his future will bring...alcoholism is paromount in both sides of the family, panic and anxiety is an issue with my side of the family all the way to my 87 year old mother and my 5 year old nephew, did I mention that my son does not sleep unless he is medicated??? (when he was an infant they referred to him as a wakeful baby...staying awake for 16-18 hours at a stretch just looking around...he would race around in cicrcles in his crib at 9 months, at 2 he would walk around the house at all hours, we had to put locks up high because he took a walk outside late at night. is this all adhd??? could i have done something sooner to help him??? my son and i are close he is a wonderful unique kid as all children are...i fear for him. i am so afraid that i am not doing what i should to help him.
janet