Behavior problems with my eight year old

[mom_of_one]

My son is 8 years old, and only child, and recently diagnosed with ADHD.  We have seen immense improvement, even before the medicine with behavior modification.  He is no trouble at all at home, does well academically, and is well behaved with adults.  However, he has a great deal of difficulty with other kids.  He is easily upset and can be rude and domineering.  He is far too concerned with what they are doing, and not worried about his own behavior.  We are desperately concerned and are trying to work with him at home and have talked to his teacher about it.  Please help.  It seems like he is constantly having to work on behaviors and it is exhausting for all involved.  We are strict parents, and hold him accountable for his actions.  His discipline is consistent.  What can we do to change thispoor social behavior with peers?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The behavior is sufficiently problematic to warra nt evaluation. While it could be that he displays a fundamentally sensitive temperament with developmental immaturity around the skill of managing affect, he might also display the early signs of a mood disorder. Is there any family history of mood disorder? If so, he would be vulnerable to developing such a condition.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, panic disorder is a form of anxiety disorder. However, it is one of the biologically-based emotional disorders. Arranging an evaluation is a sensible way to proceed.

[henrietta123]

My father and sister suffer from panic disorder.  Is this considered a mood disorder?

[henrietta123]

My son is eight years old and is a very sensitive child.  He has a good relationship with his friends though lately he has had several conflicts when he feels he is not being treated fairly.  For example, he'll throw a snowball at someone and if they throw one back and hit him he gets upset and very angry.  He also has always had MANY tantrums at home (never any at school).  He knows what the consequences are for misbehaving yet when we enforce the rules he rages, yelling and stomping his feet.  We never give in and thought the behaviour would get better as he got older but it hasn't.  He has started as of the last year to pick at scabs on his body to make them bleed.  He continues to do this until the subsequent cut is worse than the initial one.  He makes sure he tells me when he does this.  Of course, in the beginning I would get upset but as of late I've been just trying to be matter of fact about it to not give him negative attention.  However, as with the tantrums, he escalates the behaviour until I have to react (he can persist for hours).  It has gotten to the point where I don't want to leave him with a sitter for any reason (not even work) because I'm afraid of how he will behave.  We have tried talking to him.  He gets alot of positive attention from both of us.  We also spend alot of time as a family.  We're not sure if his behaviour is because he is very sensitive and is not maturing as early as others when it comes to self control.  I feel exhausted and don't know what to do.  What can I do?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The things you are doing are sensible; keep on with them. In addition, you might look for a social skills or social problem-solving group for him. Group intervention of this sort can be very powerful when children are displaying problematic relationships with their peers.