HELP! Choking

[Guest guest]

Thanks for being here. I believe I've introduced myself before but

let me recap just a bit since I don't post often.

I have a 9 yo son (Conner) who is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder &

Asperger's Syndrome. I also have a 7 yo daughter (Bree) who is

on the Bipolar/OCD/ADHD triangle but is just being observed at this

time.

We have recently moved to Bloomington, IL and are in the process of

getting signed up for services here.

Conner has had problem with self-injuring behavior like trying to

jump out of the car at freeway speeds, body slamming glass doors,

etc. We put him on Abilify (currently at 15 mg daily) and spent a

year trying to add a secondary medication with no success.

He had been periodically choking himself while we lived in TX but it

seemed to be pretty random and infrequent. Currently, since the

move, the choking seems to be pretty much a daily occurance. The

actual choking seems to be a manipulative act... when he's been told

to stop attacking his sister or told no for some reason. It also

always seems to start when I'm in the middle of doing something I

can't stop immediately(ie moving furniture down the stairay).

The subsequent behavior does not seem to be manipulative... like

he's started something and doesn't know how to stop it.

Once I've stopped the choking he becomes paranoid that I or somebody

else is going to hurt him... like he's expecting a beating. I do not

physically discipline my children except on rare occasion and then

it is 1 swat (and only 1 swat)with the hand on the butt. Him acting

like he's going to be beat is extremely frustrating and

disheartening but he truly is scared. I can usually get him calmed

down fairly quickly (within 10-15 minutes) and then he goes into how

sorry he is and cries apologizing that he misbehaved. Then once he

gets passed that phase it's as if nothing happened.

I have been working with psychiatrist who know much about Bipolar

Disorder but hardly anything about Asperger's Syndrome. I have spent

3 weeks in the home of a Behavioral Intervention Specialist

specializing in adult autism (trained in child autism & has an

autistic 5 year old) who got so frustrated with my children's

behavior that I had to end the stay a week early on bad terms.

I have already gone through the intake for mental health services

and told them that I'm interested in trying risperdol. We are in the

process of getting signed up with Easter Seals for OT and speech

therapy. We are in the process of getting an appointment with a

stomach specialist (the type of doctor currently eludes me). I'm

also in touch with Visions for Tomorrow Support Group.

He is becoming more and more reclusive. I pulled both children out

of school in October to homeschool them and to stay with the BIS for

a month. I am still trying to get the move finished up while getting

services established in IL. He does not want to leave the house

lately and is spending most of his time playing video games. We do

normally take a break from school in the winter when we homeschool

so it's not as if he's missing out on lessons... just everything

else the outside world provides.

If anyone has any ideas as to what is going on, what I could be

doing differently, things to try... your suggestions would be

greatly appreciated.