Seeking Moms Who Know About: Adhd & ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) and More

Hi! I'm new to the group, as of today; but I can relate to your dilemma very well. I have one son with several emotional health issues; one that is ODD and one that is ODD/ADHD waiting to happen. These types of things run in both sides of the family so they were kindof trapped!!! My 10 year old has ADHD (severe); Asperger's Syndrome, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and cyclothymia (mild bipolar). My 6 year old has ODD and my 3 year old girl...well; she has something up with her but I'm not sure what yet since she is so young but I can bet it will be ODD and ADHD.

My son has been on so many meds, I can't even remember them all. They will work for awhile then he adjusts to them and wham, back to square one.

I feel for you and if you need to talk just look me up on here.

You are not alone. My middle child is 11 and has ADHD. We knew it when he was 3 but waited to put him on any medicine until he was in Kindergarten. The struggles we have been through as a family probably deserve some kind of award... and we are not champions at all with this. I too get very emotionally tired. Sometimes I wonder if his teachers are happy to see him and if anyone in the world could possibly love him the way that I do and often I would like to be a mother hen and put him under my wings and protect him from the world... but we can't do that, can we?
Support groups are great... they remind you that your not alone and sometimes you are shown that you may not have it as bad as another. Any time you want to talk... we can be each others support and venting group. ____@____.com
Good luck and stay strong.
M.

Wow; just joined the group for a completely different reason - can tell you about that later but as I was browsing saw your post. Especially the ODD part caught my eye. Similarities are a bit scary :)
My son has been diagnosed very similarly. He now has a working diagnosis of bi-polar. He had symptoms since 2 as well - diagnosed with bipolar (mood disorder) when in 6th grade - he's doing very well now; he's 14 now. I know way more than I ever wanted to about all the illnesses you mention...
I would ask some questions, if you're ok with that: who do you see/who have you seen, where did he get diagnosed?
You say that "changed over night" that's worrisome and even though I'm not a doctor and can't diagnose; that sentence there sure sounds like a mood problem. Personally, I think ODD is a symptom not a diagnosis. If you'd like I can give you my email address but don't know if that's ok here - I literally joined a few minutes ago!
Another similarity: I've been diagnosed with palindromic rheumatism, they have now changed that to psoriatic arthritis (!) with perhaps reactive arthritis with it - my symptoms are very much like lupus too! Told you, the similarities were scary! I would ask if you could be my long lost sister but as far as I know, I don't have a long lost sister and my son is adopted :)

Good Morning L.,

I too have the same issues with my son who is 14...Adhd/odd and TEENAGER! I seriously think that they should either create a pill for teenagers or atleast for parents dealing with teenagers...especially with ADHD and ODD!!!!

I know how frustrating it is. I have ADD! So it is not easy for me to handle it too... THANKFULLY my husband doesn't have any ADD OR ADHD! I am glad that he is able to help. It wasn't always that way because I was a single mom for 7 years and I was just recently diagnosed and put on Welbutrin CR.

So, God does know what he is doing... I have to keep reminding myself of that... You are right DO NOT PRAY FOR PATIENCE YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!! But you are right to pray for strength. Because He will never leave you nor forsake you.

What one of your responders said was right on... there should be a group for frustrated mom's with kids that have Behavior Disorders... If you make it I AM IN!!!! JUST LET ME KNOW!

HERE IS A PRAYER FOR ALL OF US DEALING WITH BEHAVIOR ISSUES WITH OUR KIDS:

Father God,
Thank you that we are able to come to you in prayer this morning... Thank you for this day and for this much needed rain this week...
Father we come to you this morning with all of our children. We need to lay them down before you and trust that you will take care of them...Let us have faith like Abraham when you asked him to lay down his son Isaac; in the book of Hebrews.
Father we are very tired and feel at a loss that we can not help our children. We fear for them, we feel sad for them... Father God we lift them up to you, you are the great physician. Watch over them and help them when they are not near to us... Please give us the daily strength that we require being mothers to these difficult children. Give us the knowledge and wisdom to know how to deal with these issues.
Thank you Father for hearing our prayers.
In Jesus Name we pray!
AMEN

Here are some web sites that may be helpful to you.

http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/coexisting
http://www.chadd.org
http://www.ldonline.org/ (great articles on helping behavior - try searching the social skills autopsy by Rick Lavoie)