Avi went to the neurologist today and we are going to try to up his Adderall doesage. We’ll do that for a few weeks and see what happens. I hope it helps, as Avi i starting to shut down in many ways. When he gets in a situation where he cannot control what is happening, or he is feeling frustrated he either lashes out or he just shuts down. So at school he is beginning to just refuse to do some things.
He has always loved working on the computers at school. Out school as a great program where they do some learning on the computers. The system is somewhat adaptive so it gets more challenging as the kids go farther. Now that Avi has hit a point where it is more difficult for him, he just does not want to use the computers anymore. There are lot of other examples.
We know that the meds are not a cure. He is not going to just turn around and start doing the things he has stopped doing. But hopefully he will be better able to focus on everything around him and then he might be able to start tolerating the things that frustrate him.
Sometimes it seems like a vicious circle, I hope we find an off ramp soon.
best of luck to you with the new dosage of meds. I’m finding more and more that this is not a science… it’s trial-and-error. Then one day, BOOM – something works! Avi seems a lot like Abby in some ways (lashing out) but the shutting down is so far from her personality. Hopefully your therapist is going to give you some good advice on how to help him (and the rest of your family… it’s not only hard on Avi) through these rough times. Ours recommended a great book (that I haven’t finished yet… ssshhhhhhh) by Dr. Green called, The Explosive Child. It’s really helping us a lot and it’s all about TEACHING THEM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES PROPERLY! Who would have ever thought that I would have to teach my child “emotions”? Math, reading, writing – YES! How to properly deal with discipline, getting her way and other “heavy” situations – NO WAY!
Hang in there… we all have good days and bad days.