Topic : 01/17 Extreme Disorders

I would love it if Dr. Phil would do a show on childhood OCD.  Our nine-year-old was diagnosed with OCD over two years ago and life has been increasingly hectic because of the increasing opposition and rages. We have filled out the surveys for Asperger's but she doesn't quite fit the criteria.   ADHD medicine helps her (Strattera, not a stimulant, which made her bounce off the walls).  About a year ago she learned that she is physically strong enough to resist us and refused to go to her room when told.  Then the kicking doors, screaming profanities, beating on walls, destroying the room began.  We had to put a lock on the outside of her door to minimize her confronting the rest of the family (we also have a three year old).  When she's done she's extremely remorseful and horrified with herself - and we are all torn apart and depressed.  She has thrown things at us, hit and kicked us, painted her carpet, and we do not really believe there is a limit to what she is capable of in a rage.   I worry often that one day she will hurt someone or herself impulsively.  My husband and I are both professionals and we look at ourselves and say, "is this us?"  We just changed the alarm code so she couldn't leave just in case.  She has an exceptionally high IQ, and does fine in school, and has friends.  But OCD and these rages make life very difficult, the tunnel is VERY long  and we know it can get worse!  We are getting the best medical help available and it's still very difficult.  The key is knowing you're not alone and also learning the tricks for seeing when one of these is coming on and how to diffuse, or when the whole day seems like it's ripe for a rage.  I can almost sense it like a change in the weather. Friends don't really get it and think that we just not requiring that she be more flexible. If they only knew. Thanks so much for doing this show.

Meds are not always the answer.

  

I have 2 children with high functioning autism.  One son is 9 years old with Aspergers, and my other son is 5 with PDD-NOS.  We were devastated when the boys were diagnosed, but we feel blessed that they had a diagnosis early and could receive services to help them.  They are both doing very well and attend a regular classroom in a public school.  But I still needed some help for myself dealling with this on a daily basis.  My 9 year old has moments of anger and I have had to get help for that.  But who could I talk to about this.  So I started a support group for mothers caring for children with autism.  It has been a life saver.  We meet once a month for coffee and share our daily struggles with each other.  We also share what is going well and try to give advice to other moms to see if it will help them.  My heart goes out to Karen.  I know her pain.  As a mom you want to fix everything for your kids, but when they have autism, we have to change ourselves and think differently and act differently in order to help our kids.  I pray Karen can find someone to talk to that can relate to what she is going through.  Sometimes when we reach out to help other people in the same situation we end up helping ourselves too. 

trying to find out more information on the company "Brain Matters"

 My son who is 5 was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome about 6 months ago.  I knew there was something wrong as early as the age of 2.  He would blink all the time.  As he has became older it has gotten worse. He has as many as 20-30 tics that he has to deal with.   I have done research and now we are dealing with putting him on medicine for his tics and OCD.  It is a very difficult road and not many family's understand what you go through.  I'm very proud of my son for how he handles this and I'm just thankful that he is here with us.  It is very emotional for all the family members.  I have 2 older child and they are very understanding but it seems to take the toll on them as well.  I know with time and understanding we will be able to deal and understand this disorder.  If anyone has any advise, I would love to hear from you!

My soon to be 5yr. old son was diagnosed with AS just a few weeks ago.  I am trying desperately to understand as much as I can.  Do most AS children develop ADD or mood disorders I am wondering-  We have started treatment, but I really don't "get everything yet".  I seem to feel my child is more on the mild side of this as well, so I hope Dr. Phil will do more shows on milder cases.

My 12 year old son was diagnosed with AS a little over two years ago.  Social interaction and pragmatic language are his two biggest challenges, along with low gross and fine motor skills.  He receives 45 minutes a week each of Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy and his symptoms of AS are abating, although he has never had friends and still doesn't. 

  

I watched the show this morning, and am glad here on the message board forum Karen admits that Alex is also diagnosed with mood swing disorder, but I do not recall that being mentioned on the show at all.  I feel that is misleading regarding Aspergers, as these rages are not an automatic result of AS. 

  

Yes, my son Beorn behaved inappropriately at times before we got a diagnosis and started therapies, but the biggest help for him has been sensory integration therapy from his Occupational Therapist in recognizing if his engine was running low or high, and getting appropriate accomodations such as being allowed to stim if necessary (pace and hand flap) or excusing himself to a 'safe place' to melt down (the guidance counselor's office at school) put into his IEP.  Since getting the IEP and accomodations in place, he hasn't had to use them, but they are there when needed. 

  

He is now in 7th grade, and dealing with MSS and some teasing/bullying, as well as going to therapies and religious school to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah later this year.  But, he's on no medication, shows no anxiety, and is an overall happy kid.  In fact his therapists all tell me my concern about his lack of friends is more my problem then his, but we are still watching him as he enters adolescence for signs of possible depression or anxiety. 

  

I am hopeful if/when the Dr. Phil show does follow up on this subject that Alex's mood swing disorder is brought to the forefront and that it is clearly explained that the AS is not the cause for his rages. 

  

Pam 

Gator Town, FL 

I would like to send a prayer of hope and comfort to Alex and especially to his mom and dad.  I have been in their shoes.  I know the frustation, anger,hopelessness, explaining to doctor after doctor that there is something wrong. I know fighting with schools, who say "Either put him on meds or hes out",  Seeing in him the man he can be, but when dealing with the here and now wondering if it will ever happen.  My son is also 15.  I would go to work with bite marks and bruises.  I commend mom and dad for sticking together thru this.  Ours didnt.  Mom, I know the feeling of 1 step forward and 10 steps back.  Alex is a fine young man, dealing with the everyday struggle of being a teenager,hormones, as well as dealing with this.  Concentrate on the Alex that you know and wish for him to be.  My son still deals with the socialization skills, lack of concentration, need to be alone just to gather his thoughts.  I try to instill in him that even though hes different God made him that way for a reason. He didnt "damn' you Alex, he's given you a tough row to hoe, but you, your mom and dad, and I know that you can over come this and live the "normal" life you seek. 

I dont mean to sound preachy, I just cried when I saw youre family. It was like looking in a mirror without someone like Dr. Phil there to say "i will help".  Mom you are worth and deserve all the love, careing and support that you deserve dont take that power away from Dad cause you have eachother and you two are a powerful force.  

Way to go Dr. Phil, there are many people living with this, have lost custody of children over this, have cried rivers of tears over this.  I know that this show will make a difference in alot of ppls. lives. 

  

Sincerely, 

Wendy boggs 

i have a 5 year old son and he was diagnosed with adhd. he shows the symptoms of aspergers but no one will listen. he has a wrap-around who comes all through the week and he takes adderall xr and there is no change in him. his regular phsychologist shot me down at the mere suggestion of aspergers syndrom. i applied for s.s.i for him and went to their phsychologist and he agreed with me . his doctor wont change his meds until he gets a report from this other phsychologist. now we havent heard back from him since before christmas...uuuugggghhhh!!!! what do i do now? i am confused, frustrated, worried and at my wits end......HELP ME!!!

Although I am glad whenever Asperger's Syndrome gets attention, I am also saddened when it is narrowly presented. First of all, there is no consensus in the psychiatric community on whether Asperger's (AS) is a form of high functioning autism or if it is indeed it's own disability. Second, not all people who have AS present with all the same symptoms and not all people feel it is indeed a disability.  

  

My daughter is a young adult with AS. She is intellectually very bright, charming, extremely caring and giving, artistic etc. She freely volunteers her time to help others and she is pursuing a college education. She has every characteristic a mom could hope for. Unfortunately, she also has naivity and lacks any kind of danger awareness that causes others in the neurotypical community to prey on her vulnerabilities. Because of her trusting nature, she was victimized and almost murdered. Because of her AS and social cognition deficits, she was further victimized by the police and DA's office. She does not have rages - she was the victim of the rage from another person who did not have AS.  

  

Whensomeone is picked on/bullied by his/her peers and teachers this is difficult enough but when that person lacks the support of even his/her parents, that would cause anyone to lose it- aka have a meltdown. If you go out at all into the world, you will see variations of meltdowns in so-called normal - non-disabled- people. How about the person who has been standing in line for tickets and just as he gets there, the sold out sign is posted? Or when waiting in line at the bank and it appears the teller is chatting with a friend? Or the person who wants to return an item at a store and is told they can't? People have so-called meltdowns all the time but if they are given space they generally can pull it together. Many people with AS are the same way. The biggest error people make is crowding the person with AS and demanding the person get under control rather than allowing the person to get it together him or herself. Obviously, if personal safety is an obvious issue then intervention is warrented but otherwise, give the kid time and don't crowd. You might be amazed. My daughter used to hide at school just so she could have some space to wind down. 

  

The preview of this particular program misleads because of the focus on the rage and meltdowns of Alex and his parents resentment toward him and his behavior. Dr. Phil would have been better serving the AS community to focus on Neurotypical Responses to anyone who dares to present differently than the general public. From the preview slides it appears that the parents have more of a problem than the son. I personally embrace my daughter's so-called disability and actually view her uniqueness as a gift- she is a beautiful person inside and I envy her for the novel view she has of our world. By the way, I am so-called neurotypical.