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Mental Illness/Mood Disorder

Public Group active 4 months, 4 weeks ago ago

If your kid(s), spouse or you are surviving mental illness or mood disorder come talk about it in a safe environment. Share stories, review therapies, and just destress.

Medication (7 posts)

  • Profile picture of Michele Karl Michele Karl said 6 months, 2 weeks ago:

    My middle son is 8 years old. Ever since he was a baby I’ve said he had a quirky personality and liked to march to his own beat. On top of that he is the middle boy and my other two boys have a genetic kidney disease. So he is technically the “healthy one”. The other 2 go to lots of appointments, take medication every day, and get a lot of attention because of their disease. My middle one has always been more difficult for me. He is also a sensory kid, was very low tone as a baby, is sensitive to tags and clothes, and hates everything I cook (and eats a ton of spicy foods). But he is an angel in school and on play dates. About a year ago we started taking him to a psychologist. He started getting more aggressive and acting out more at home and was hitting his brothers more. The therapist recently diagnosed him with dysthymia, which I think is just a mood/depression disorder. He talked about putting him on tenex. Any thoughts on that? I am also looking into therapeutic listening and the Alert program (how does my engine run). Does anyone have experience with either of those?

    Michele, mom to the “three peas in a pod” (two with a rare kidney disease); and a special education teacher, mostly work with children who are blind and visually impaired
    My three peas are:
    Max, 10, ARPKD; Nate, 7, “healthy”; and Gabe 4, ARPKD
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  • Profile picture of Rachel Luyben Rachel Luyben said 6 months, 1 week ago:

    My daughter is on tenex. I have found it helpfull for the impulsivity. It does cause drowsiness though. I think all these types of meds do, thats one of the ways it decreases impulsivity and behaviors. The therapeutic listening program can be very beneficial but your child needs to be willing to wear the headphones. My daughter won’t tolerate them for long so its hasen’t been effective for us. The Alert program is great if your child can cognitively identify when he is reved up. Try and find an occupational therapist in your area that is trained in both these programs.

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  • Profile picture of Chrisa Hickey Chrisa Hickey said 6 months, 1 week ago:

    Michele, he sounds a lot like my middle one. Tim has done well with relaxation and meditation CD’s, but when he is super manic, all bets are off. He really enjoys yoga, believe it or not – his therapeutic school started him on that – and many aids for kids with sensory issues have helped him, like a weighted vest, chewie tools and pencil toppers, and we had written into his IEP that he is allowed to chew gum in class. It’s amazing how this socially acceptable fidget has helped him concentrate. I echo the occupational therapist route – I’d even suggest that be integrated into his IEP so he can get that help in the school setting as well as home.

    Mom of three young adults, one with Schizoaffective Disorder, one with RAD. eCommerce professional and raging smart mouth.

    http://www.chrisahickey.com

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  • Profile picture of Julia Roberts Julia Roberts said 6 months, 1 week ago:

    I like the OT at school as an option. G is on tenex and a bunch of other things, but the tenex was added after some others and we did notice a difference. We also added a midday dose that helped a lot for a short time (when anxiety was high around CRCT test time). I think meds with therapy of any kind might be a good mix.

    Site co-founder and tired special needs mom to two cute kids; Gage and Quinnlin. Kids who’ve endured more than their share of medical and emotional issues. ARPKD (recessive polycystic kidney disease), ocularmotor apraxia, delays, IEPs,mental illness, kidney failure, dialysis, and kidney transplants
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  • Profile picture of Michele Karl Michele Karl said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    The problem is he does not have an IEP. He is perfect at school!! I know that is a good thing but makes it harder for me at home. I am paying an OT privately right now to start the therapeutic listening program. And Sunday I am going to a training on the Alert program. We are going to try to hold off on the tenex for now.

    Thanks for your responses!!

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  • Profile picture of Julia Roberts Julia Roberts said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    Of course there’s no IEP! But you can still probably get him tested at school…right? Psychological exam might reveal some things that OT could help with? Did you start any medication?

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  • Profile picture of Michele Karl Michele Karl said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    The teachers have no concerns at school and when I bring it up look at me like I’m making it up!!!

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