Re: Re: Better Anti-depressants/ summer

July 21, 2011

Just a note regarding differing ability levels on this list. Remember that there

are a fair number of the higher functioning kids who " only " have DS or PDS or

another diagnosis and not ASD. The input from everyone is valuable and I love to

hear when other's kids do well, but I sometimes have to remind myself that some

of those skills Darwyn (age 7, DS and ASD) will never have.

Also, even if your stepson doesn't do much at school, he probably likes the

routine of it. Summer can be really disconcerting due to lack of routine and,

even worse, those horrible unpredictable vacations, or other people leaving on

vacations. Darwyn's school ended June 30 and his interventionist went on

vacation. And he is MAD and has started hitting us. He asks for school and his

interventionist and we tell him she's on vacation and then he tries to hit us.

We read him the following story every day (more times than I want to). " School

is closed for the summer. It is summer and school is all done. I am sad and

angry that there is no school in the summer. But when I play in the sprinkler

and go to the park then I am happy. I have to wait a long time until September

for school. School is closed for the summer " . Then he insists on watching his

Signing Times video about the 4 seasons. He hasn't watched this video for months

and I think he' trying to understand this stupid " summer " thing.

We both eagerly await September.

Also perhaps a spinning chair or rocking chair where he pushes with his feet

might be a bit of exercise and a calming activity.

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Re: Better Anti-depressants

You're right. He's in GA during school and here for all of his breaks. I can't

imagine that he's getting anything out of school except maybe a change of

scenery. He has none of the abilities (speech, reading, writing, drawing, etc.)

that I read about some of the kids here having. I think school is a baby

sitter.

Moving more would be great for him. It's difficult to take him anywhere (I will

NOT do it by myself) because he's liable to snatch at whatever catches his eye.

Stuffed animals, DVD, VHS tapes are big magnets for him and he's extremely

stubborn,not to mention strong. He's not fond of walking which is

understandable since his size must make it uncomfortable. There's the vicious

cycle right there! His Dad would regularly push him in a (giant) stroller then

make him walk the last 50yds or so. Sometimes he'd refuse to get out and do it.

Anyway it's been so hot here in N La lately but I think I need to get Dad to

pony up every day for the rest of his time here.

I think the depakote was to help with his anger and wild, destructive behavior.

He's also on prozac. Thanks for the info on resperidone. I too worry about his

weight gain. I think he's put on over 20 lbs since he was here last summer. I

will definitely prompt his dad to have the conversation with his mom to get him

checked out. He is loathe to talk to her at all - she's historically unpleasant

and irrational - but lately she's been " normal " . Thanks again. BTW, though I

haven't posted in a long time I keep up through the daily digests. I appreciate

all the excellent information and candid comments people write about their own

experiences.

> > > >

> > > > Hi, group!

> > > >

> > > > I am seeking your wisdom today. For years, Logan was on Trazadone for

> > sleep

> > > > and is no longer taking it for a myriad of reasons that I won't bore

> > you

> > > > with. However, now we see that perhaps the anti-depressant/anti-anxiety

> > > > uses of Trazadone were, perhaps, benefiting him more than even his

> > doctor

> > > > thought. Having said that, I am looking for input as to what

> > > > anti-depressents work for your kiddos and why.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks in advance for the input.

> > > >

> > > > Mom to Logan 12 Ds/ASD - More Anxiety and OCD than we EVER realized..

> > > >

July 21, 2011

How about a whiteboard calendar where he can cross out each day at night, see

how time IS going by and school WILL start??

Sent from my iPhone

> Just a note regarding differing ability levels on this list. Remember that

there are a fair number of the higher functioning kids who " only " have DS or PDS

or another diagnosis and not ASD. The input from everyone is valuable and I love

to hear when other's kids do well, but I sometimes have to remind myself that

some of those skills Darwyn (age 7, DS and ASD) will never have.

> Also, even if your stepson doesn't do much at school, he probably likes the