Playing with poop

[cincin812]

My daughter is 8 years old. She's adopted, but I've had her since 2 years of age.  She has always had behaviour problems, and now takes medication for ADD.  She does strange things all of the time, and I'm at my witts end.  Her latest thing is she plays with her poop, or does something with it, and then wipes the excess on her bed.  Her biological mother is bi-polar, her biological father has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar, and manic depressive.  Are these things that she could inherit.  She also struggles in school, she has a hard time reading because she can't remember words.  She is very smart, but does very strange things. She's constantly going into the bathroom and staying, even at school.  She pours the soap out of the bottles and refills them with water. She hides candy and eats it in her bed, basically she puts anything in her mouth she can. Help me if you can, I'm going crazy. I have 5 other children, boys, 4 of whom are adopted, and none do these kinds of things.  Her behaviour is so off the wall, we can't leave her with anyone.
thanks.

[Sandman2]

      She obviously has had a miserable childhood which is contributing to her behavior.  
      Wondering how recently the ADHD diagnosis was ruled out and if the person who did so was an experienced psyc.  Also has Sensory Processing Disorder been ruled out?   http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
       I do wonder why the ADHD was ruled out as it would explain a lot of the actions.  Did the psyc do a survey of both you and the school teachers to rule this out?

[Padgetth]

My 15 year old step daughter just recently pooped herself and spread it all over my bathroom and her bedroom door but when confronted she shows no remorse or embarrassment. She also didn't take a shower for two days after and went to school. (Her choice) we have custody now but we have tried to fight for custody of her since she was little and the mother who is an alcoholic would run away with her and we would not have any contact for up to a couple of years. She had been previously diagnose with ADHD and bi polar but both we're ruled out. I also have a biological son who lives with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. She lies and believes her lies to be truth, she steals (we have had to install locks on the other kids doors and our own closet door. She recently accused my son of sneaking into her room to make out with her, but with survalience cameras installed we know this is also a lie. She has tried to attack authority figures with the last one being her father when she tried to stab him. She has no remorse for any of her actions and doesn't show any willingness to get help because she believes what she does is the way it is supposed to be. Here have been many more incidents and behavior problems. Way too many to list here in school and out of school. Her cps case worker suspects narcissism and other mental health professionals have suggested anti social personality disorder but they all say they cannot help her. We are her last hope before she gets put into a home.

[Sandman2]

  Really doubt if any medication would help anyway.  What you need to figure out is when and where this is happening.
  It is not unusual for kids to be afraid to use school restrooms and thus hold it until they can't.   And then once they get home - what do they do with it?
  Anyway, punishments won't work and will only make it worse.
  Sometimes a Dr. does need to be involved due to Encopresis.  And the doctor would do an exam to make sure that nothing is causing the problem.
  It sounds like "it" is fairly moist or he would not be able to smear it around? If so this would/should eliminate constipation problems.
   So, I think the first order of business is to figure out where this is happening.  And if at home - when it is happening.  If it is happening at home, then making sure that he has a schedule when he sits on the toilet around that time could take care of the problem.    
   And yes, if a way, it could be an adjustment problem which could be easily fixed by talking to the teacher depending on where it is happening.  So watch him closely, take notes for a few days and then get back to us.  Best wishes.

[TLQ1701]

I am a mother of 4. My youngest son age 5 just started kindergarten this year. He was NEVER excited about school. Some mornings are easier than others but he pretty much never wants to go. I am a stay at home mom and he has never gone to preschool or daycare. He recently started pooping his pants and hiding it. Now he is touching it and I have found it on items in his room...walls, toys and blankets. I am not sure what to think besides YUCK! I have tried positive reinforcement for him using the bathroom, I have tried time outs, taking things away and ignoring it thinking maybe if I didn't react he would get bored with it.. NOT working. We are at our wits end. I need some advise on how to make this stop. I have thought about taking him to his DR. and seeing if they can do something? Husband is dead set on no MEDS for him. Do you think this is an adjustment thing?  

[momof3angels82]

Thanks for pointing out no meds. I am so aganist them. I kept being told by family, just put him on meds, but I want to help my son, not to just pump him full of harmful medication that will make him into a zombie. I'll take a little extra activity in my life if thats the only other option.

[Sandman2]

     Very smart kids can have ADHD so I don't understand their comments about him not having ADHD because he is very smart.  However, intelligence makes it harder to notice the ADHD in younger grades.  But as the child gets older and their innate intelligence is no longer able to help them get through subject areas like math (where you really have to pay attention in class), it should be easier to test for ADHD.  
     If the poop smearing has only recently began to happen, I would first wonder if there is not some medical problem happening.  I would have his doctor check him out.  My second thought would be to check with his school and see how he is doing there grade wise.  Is he beginning to get frustrated because he is not doing as well as he once used to do?
     Oh, speaking of schools.  Many times kids are afraid to use the school bathrooms and hold it till the point where they lose control and soil there clothes.  The smearing of the poop around would indicate frustration at whats going on.
     Any of this make sense?