Support for nearly 12 year old struggling with emotions

[ThatPlumSeal]

Our eldest son is struggling with his emotions, temper tantrums etc. He's nearly 12 so potentially hormones kicking in a bit but he's always been a bit that way. We are also going through a divorce which has been ongoing for a couple of years, although I don't think this is affecting him, but he's not a great one for opening up and talking about feelings, so it's hard to know. He regularly has a melt down over his homework, or if I ask him to do something like empty the dishwasher or tidy something away that he's left out. My ex wife is currently working on getting an ADHD / autism assessment carried out in the hope he'll be given medication to help him, but I'm not convinced this is the best or only solution. I've tried through the school and social services for any local support groups for parents with children with these conditions, but I've not got anywhere. Has anyone got any advise either first hand experience, or know of any such groups or support available. Many thanks

Reading your post, I really felt for both you and your son. A friend of mine went through something similar with her child, and she found that getting an assessment wasn't about rushing into medication, it was about understanding what was driving the behaviour and finding the right support. She also had a consultation with Autism Detect, which she said helped her make sense of the assessment process and the different support options available. Whatever the outcome, it sounds like your son has parents who genuinely want to understand him, and that can make a real difference.