Hi,

I'm new to the forum and I am hoping that the collective experiences here will help me figure out what to do next...

My 12 year old was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 7. He has been on Straterra since that time and it has worked pretty well as far as helping him to focus and stay on task. So far we've only had to adjust the dosage once, about 9 months ago.

Behaviorally he's actually pretty good...does well when things are structured and orderly, but if something goes awry or is unexpected, he has a hard time adjusting and becomes frustrated. When he does become frustrated, he may overreact to it in an excessive manner and just loses all perspective.

For example, he ran into a problem with a video game he was playing and when it looked like he had lost everything in the game due to a systems crash he was devastated. I mean, just totally devastated, as though he'd lost his best friend in the world. My husband and I were able to calm him down and get him to understand that it was not the end of the world and talked to him about trying to put things into perspective.

Another example is that when he forgot to tak a pencil into class with him at school, and he was unable to borrow one right away, he got all bent out of shasping over having to wait to get access to the extra pencils the teacher keeps in the class and reacted by storming out of the class. The teachers tell me that he doesn't do this often, but that when he does do it its upsetting to the others around him. He realizes, after the fact that he overreacted.

What were are looking for is ways to help him learn to deal with frustration better and to learn to not overreact. This behavior is not something that we have seen alot of in the past, at least to the extent that it is appearing now, and we wonder if the onset of puberty is contributing to it.

Any words of advice?

Thanks,

Paula

My son was very easily frustrated. He would cry or throw a fit about the littlest things. Homework was a nightmare.
He pretty much does not do this anymore. He had his first big change in behavior when we removed artificials from his diet and figured out the natural behaviors that cause him trouble.

The next big change came when we started enzymes. enzymestuff.com
We have been taking them for a few months and put it this way I just stocked up with 10 bottles it has made such a difference. I also give him a probiotic.

Most of the results we have seen from diet have come quickly. Too quickly to be developemental.

The other thing you can try is when he becomes frustrated tickle him to break the tension so then you can have a conversation. I suppose it won't help him when you aren't around, but it might get you through an episode.

I haven't needed to try much else, so sorry this is the only advise I can give. Eating healthier can only be a good thing.

Sounds like me in early school.

Most things came easily (too easily ?!), but I'd have a meltdown when I struggled with soemthing.

Low frustration tolerance + various working memory/sequencing issues = recipe for disaster!


Strangely, however, I have a lot of patience for OTHERS.

re: #1

have you read any Dr. Daniel Amen on how brains' get "overfocused" and 'stuck' on things ? (e.g. like the Pencil Incident you mention)

He explains it well. It is as though the brain's thinking gets stuck on something, and, much like a Pitbull on Porkchop, 'won't let go'.

it's like a fixation occurs and parents are left trying to 'break the spell'.


http://www.aqeta.qc.ca/english/general/types/24.htm