Almost 11 yr. old girl hormone issues

[heidihoho]

I have an almost 11 year old girl.  I want to know what my options are for potential medications to help her with her aggressiveness and tantrums.  I had an agency that said for years to put this behavior on extinction.  This did not seem to deal with these behaviors which are much harder to ignore as my daughter grows bigger.  The agency recently gave notice they could no longer work with us.  So, now where do I go from here?  I need an agency that can deal with older children as this agency could not.  I also need to understand what are workable medications (anti-psychotics).  I am planning an appt. to a psychiatrist in the near future.  I am concerned with the use of Risperdal and Abilify.  Are they safe to use?

[MJIthewriter]

To try to understand what may be causing the tantrums, please click my username and read my journals. I have broken down what triggers me to have tantrums in hopes that people who are not autistic can understand where people like me are coming from and try to be more understanding.

It's a very overwhelming place outside and when the car traffic sounds like jet engines and the sun is beaming off cars right into our eyes... Not to mention flickering lights going off like strobes and loud clammer and people charging at us in crowds like they are going to hit us, it's no wonder why we throw our arms up in the air and scream bloody murder. We are frustrated and overwhelmed!  I doubt meds can completely solve this.

[MJIthewriter]

I don't believe there are any miracle drugs. Sure there are antidepressants to cut back on depression, and drugs to help with anxiety, but as I tell my psychiatrist there is no "cure" for autism.

Sure with antidepressants I don't feel as depressed, but can I go out on my own to places. No. No med in the world can remove the clueless feeling I have when I go out places and thrust into unfamiliar situations or expected to join a conversation when two or more people are actively talking. That in itself causes frustration...  To try to kill the frustration is to kill feelings in general.  I think it is very dangerous to try to go that far.

For meds, I have no idea. I'm trying Wellbutrin but I'm not convinced it is the one for me, but I am not convinced others are either... At first I was rather hyper and I still am to some extent, though I suffer a mid day tired spell which seems to be somewhat normal for me. I still can't sleep at night.  I feel like I can run a mile and still have energy. I don't think even psychiatrists are sure what works best with autistic people.

For me a downer may cut some anxiety but will bring me down and do nothing for my depression. If I get an upper, it may cut back on my depression, but not much for excitability and hyperactivity.