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Feel like i'm losing it

8 replies

bananananacoconuts · 28/05/2014 22:26

Discussed ds (7) on here before. I feel he has adhd and mild aspergers. He has been referred to camhs for ocd and anxiety but they will not consider the evidence i've given them to support my feelings. However i am happy he is receiving some help and will support this counselling and see where it takes us.
The constant refusal to believe me is seriously affecting my sanity. I feel like everything is in my head and i'm creating this person that nobody else sees. When i told his out of school club the camhs advice they said "well hopefully once he's got the help you think he needs, you'll see the boy we see here and not the one you talk about"
I have gone over this comment over and over in my head and it's scaring me to death. I've dine CAF forms, attended parenting courses and had countless appointments with the school head teacher and nobody sees him as i do. A challenging boy but maybe i am over reacting. He is exhausting and i cannot cope with him much longer, he is scared, angry, shows no empathy and thinks the world has got it in for him. I'm beginning to think i do have it in for him. Has anyone else ever experienced this? i'm close to locking the door to the outside world and never leaving the house again.

OP posts:
Babieseverywhere · 29/05/2014 07:32

I am on the same path as you, with my younger son, nearly 6 yo.

It is heart breaking for us as parents, to see our children are anxious or angry and need support and not be able to get that for them.

I am just starting an online parenting course for my own sanity, to check if I can parent well. Though I have three well behaved girls too, so I am pretty sure it is not me iyswim.

Just wanted to let you know you are not alone, hopefully you will get more practical advice from one of the regulars.

Babieseverywhere · 29/05/2014 07:46

Oh, everyone repeatedly says how useful behavioural diary are, something that you can take and show the professionals. Gives them a kind of highlights of your DS current difficulties.

2boysnamedR · 29/05/2014 09:17

My son hasn't got the same issues but it took three years to get people to listen to me. Two key people enabled this. Nhs ot and private slt. Before that I thought I was going mad

Frusso · 29/05/2014 09:32

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PolterGoose · 29/05/2014 10:29

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jacketpotatowithtuna · 29/05/2014 12:27

Bigs hugs from me! Not exactly the same but I suspect traits of ADHD and ODD in my 6yo DS. His behaviour is very inconsistent and very challenging at home. I find that disciplining triggers him and nurturing and encouragement helps him to settle. His morning childminder just gave me a notice as she could not handle him (a strong, fair woman).

In a way I am happy that DS is a nightmare at home, because this is likely to mean that his is on a good behaviour at school/out of school club. On the other hand I find that I "clash" with him, so it is easier just to let him be in a low key environment.

I am thinking to seek support next year as at times it is unbearable.

Ineedmorepatience · 29/05/2014 15:34

Sadly as you can see what you are experiencing is common!

Many children with neuro conditions can hold it together when they are away from home but then explode when they are in a safe place.

How dare the after school club be so disrespectful to you!!

Remember you are the number one expert on your son, no one knows him better than you do and dont let them try to tell you that they do!

You have come to the right place for support and you will never be alone on this board there is always someone who is going through or has gone through something similar.

Good luck and stay strong Smile

ToffeeWhirl · 29/05/2014 16:15

What you describe is horribly familiar. I don't understand why the system disbelieves what parents say, but it does - at great cost to the mental health of children and their parents. My son has finally received his ASD diagnosis - and he is 14. He has been seen by countless psychologists and been under the care of a psychiatrist for the past two years and none of them would diagnose him. Like you, I felt as if I was going mad.

Both CAMHS and the schools are equally useless, in our experience, I'm afraid. We never had a diagnosis for ASD from CAMHS, in spite of asking for reassessments three times.

When I saw a paediatrician privately (Dr Daphne Keen, a specialist in neurodevelopmental disorders), she believed everything we said. It was such a relief and it showed how used we had become to having to justify our opinions all the time.

If you can afford it, going private is sometimes the only way to get a diagnosis. Then people have to start taking you seriously (although, sadly, even that doesn't convince some of them ).

Have confidence in your instincts. You know something isn't right. I had the same instincts about my son and they have all been proved right, but it took years. You know your son better than anyone and the people who are undermining you probably have a stereotypical idea of what ASD children look like.

Oh, and definitely keep a behaviour diary about your son. And one about all the phone calls and appointments with professionals. It's invaluable.

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