ADHD/OCD 7 Year old

My son has been Diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. He has been on ADHD medication since he was 4 and now newly diagnosed with OCD. They think the Vyvanse is making the OCD sympotms worse. I can see this since we placed him on Zoloft for the OCD things have improved somewhat. I feel so bad for him becuase our personalities are so different. I am very melow and laid back but also Type A. He is constantly getting into trouble over little things at school almost daily. He also makes me very frazzled throughout the day. I feel like I am constantly reminding him on things he should no not to do. Then ten minutes later having to remind him again. It is like he does not get it. He even thinks he has two voices one that says the right thing to do and one that tells him to do it anyway's. He says he cannot control himself. He also feels like everyone is out to get him because he is always being gotten on to. He has poor control of personal space and so at times is intrusive with other kids. He feels as though he has not friends and this breaks my heart. At the same time I am exhausted with him and feel as though I do not like him. He is now 7 1/2.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your description indicates that your son's level of impulsivity is a problem. It is the one aspect of ADHD that is most difficult to treat. Both hyperactivity and inattention respond pretty well, overall, to medication, but impulsivity often does not. He might benefit from a social problem-solving or social skills group. On your part, you might seek out some counseling to address the nature of your relationship with your son. As I'm sure you know, it's not a good development if you are finding it hard to like your son. Alienation of affection between a child and a parent is usually a precursors to major problems, so this is something to tackle.

[ADHDSON]

Well that all sounds like my 8 year old son.  He was diagnosed with ADHD at 2 1/2 he did really well for along time, then he started school and he started to get more aggressive and have a hard time working well with other students.  What is OCD?

[FSG]

71/2 is tough age even for the typical kids. We use to say that boys at 7 and 8, even dogs donot like them. They are at age to make trouble. Compare to others and want your kid become someone esle 'better' is a big problem of a lot of parents, including me before. Let your kid be who he is, help me him to discover the good path for him. You will never be able to drag him back if he choose his way, but you can temptate him to the way you want him to choose. Encourage your kid more than blame him. Highlight all the good moment he has. Let him notice that he is likes more when he is 'good'. Every change takes time. Be patient.

[FSG]

OCD is obsessive-compulsive disorder. For example, you left home for shopping, but you though your stove iwas still on. You came back and checked, and it was off. But a soon as you left, you worried again and you had to come back to check again.... for many, many times.

[mama_02]

I read your post and just wanted to let you know..........  While I am not a child, I am a 35 yr old adult.  I have ADHD, Anxiety and OCD.  I took Vyanese and it definitely made the OCD worse.  I would say it made the compulsion part worse than anything.  Anyway, I switched to a generic form (for the ADHD) and while it's better than w/the Vyanese, I would say it's still worse than prior to starting ADHD medication period.   I've taken many different meds and I think it's all trial and error until you find out what combination works best for your son.    The combination I'm taking now is great and I feel better than I have in 15 years.  It's also important to have a good doctor.  I've had good counselors/bad pill pushers and then great w/the meds/but, horrible w/the counseling.   good luck!  

[Randy822]

Have you ever done research on alternative medicines as in herbal medicines which most psychiatrists and many in the medical profession refute or at least totally ignore?  I for one observe an attitude in the child behavioral field that drugs are the only answer.  I do know of a child by the way who is taking Focalin RX 5mg and it does seem to work.  He is only taking it during school and not on weekends, etc.

[jessi_c5]

Hi, I'm a mother of a 7 1/2 yr old as well and he was also diagnosed with ADHD when he was about 4.  I have an excellent pediatrician for him who specializes in child behaviour problems and she had watched him very close for 1 year and further diagnosed him with Tourettes Syndrome.  Not a lot of doctors know much about it but having that diagnosis was unbelieveable because it explained each and every behaviour that he had.  ADHD comes along with the Tourette's and OCD does as well.  It's very interesting you should check out a website on the Syndrome and speak with a doctor.  It's not like you would think with the loud blurting out of swear words (which is apparently a very rare form)  It would definitely be a good thing for you to look into and they can medicate him properly if need be.  My son was very very aggressive even as a baby and then all the other things started happening and the medication he is on works wonderful!!  Let me know if my advice helps at all!! :)

[Loriy1111]

I also am an adult recently prescribed Vyvanase 50 mgs.  An Accountant, and while I found myself working, I would keep trying to perfect my work over and over again.  I felt anxious and knew that my OCD was back.  I called the doctor and she lowered it to 30 mgs and I'm much better.  I have Adult ADHD, but not hyper activity.

Also, my son is on 70 mgs and having panic attacks.  I just left her a message that he needs to go down on his dose too.  He has hyperactivity.

I know what you're going thru.  

[akcp]

My 8 yr old has OCD. He was diagnosed at age 6 after an awful year of trying to figure out what the heck was going on. We've had some hellish times, we chose not to medicate him. We started giving him daily Omega 3-6-9 suppliments and it seems to help him. He's in a better mood, so he's more capable of being flexible and gets caught in less "loops". We read one study on Omega 3 vitamins and OCD, being helpful because Omega 3's are a key component of the cellular transport system for Seritonin.

[freckles08]

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