Tell me I'm being paranoid please?

[Crawling1]

I have scizoaffective disorder I first remember feeling depressed and hearing voices at age 8. Now bipolar which is quite similar is often misdiagnosed in children as ADHD. DS age 8 is being assessed for ADHD. His teachers believe he has it. He is also prone to talking to himself when he is anxious or upset.

He definetely suffers some form of anxiety or depression. As he is always very morbid and worries about something happening. He gets social anxiety and everyone describes him as being exactly the same as I was when I was a child.

He has sudden mood changes from very angry and extremely difficult to control hitting me and kicking me to very down and depressed.

The problem is childhood mental illness are not diagnosed in this country please tell me I'm being paranoid.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

Are you saying you think your child suffers from the same thing you do and not ADHD for which he is being assessed?

Do you know much about ADHD?

If he is dx with one but has the other how do the treatments differ?

[Crawling1]

Yes I'm saying I think he suffers from the same thing I do. I don't know much about ADHD it hasn't long been mentioned to me treatment for scizoaffective will mean he needs anti psychotics and mood stabilisers which are not given out to children easily.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

Teachers know very little about ADHD, they know even less about conditions such as the one you describe. I think it is sensible to rule out the most common/most likely conditions first.

Is he being assessed by the NHS? If so, the medical history should include your condition also as a clue to what they should rule out/investigate.

[Crawling1]

He is being assessed by cahms.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

In that case they'll often want to start by ruling out (or in) parenting or environmental reasons for his behaviours.

I suspect it will be a long road so look after yourself and take it step by step.

[Crawling1]

Thank you very much.

[ouryve]

Makes perfect sense, Polter.

DS1 is that aggressive, demand avoidant child and is diagnosed with atypical ASD and ADHD. The medication he takes for ADHD without a doubt improve his ability to function and communicate. He does tick all the boxes for ODD and PDA and PDA strategies do help to keep his anxiety at a more manageable level, though aren't enough when he's stressed. He does talk to himself. Non-stop, when stressed. He appears to be trying to make sense of his rather intense emotions and self soothe by making up elaborate stories, which he gets lost in.

Our primary concern is that his rather complex needs are met, regardless of his precise diagnosis. ADHD diagnosis tends to be pretty (necessarily) long-winded, in this country, so your DS wouldn't just be handed drugs and left to it. The first line drugs are short acting, anyhow, so wouldn't have a lasting effect if they were offered and proved to have no beneficial effect.

There are also studies which have demonstrated a strong link between neurological disorders and mental illness, within families. I suspect there will be a lot more revisions in psychiatric manuals before we even begin to get it "right".

[Crawling1]

I understand what you are saying polter and no it doesn't piss me off.

[bochead]

Do whatever it takes to get a referral to the Maudsley for him. I can't stress this enough.

They seriously know what they are doing and the outcomes for children under their care as opposed to many useless local services are like night and day.

pm me if you ever want any moral support.

[youarewinning]

Am I right in thinking you've just posted re your DD having autism?

If I'm right I'm thinking polter could be on to something. Although no proven link it is thought ASDs can run in families.

In fact I've noticed a great many of us here as parents of a child with an ASD have hyper mobility.

Obviously all anecdotal but I do think there must be something somewhere that links it's all iyswim?

[Crawling1]

Yes you are correct dd does have autism.

[Ineedmorepatience]

crawling not trying to jump on the band wagon or anything and feel free to ignore but I have been doing loads of reading about Asd/aspergers in girls and women lately. There is a lot of stuff written about girls/women being miss diagnosed or missed completely and struggling with MH issues for years before they are diagnosed with Asd/aspergers.

Feel free to ignore and be kind to yourself