zoloft -this is long

[Guest guest]

We just started Bryce on a very small dose of zoloft to see if that would

help with a variety of school related issues. He has been on Ritalin for over a

year which does reduce his impulsivity (a big problem) but it zones him out so

badly that it hinders academic progress and any chance of making friends. I've

never thought the Ritalin was really the right fit for him. At least I keep

hoping that there is something else that will help him more with less side

effects. The problems we are hoping to address are:

1) ocd (I would call the ocd stuff mild at this point but it does affect him

at school. For example, he repeats questions over and over sometimes. He

absolutely has to finish a book before moving on to the next task. Routine is

vitally important to him, which is fine except that life doesn't always follow a

routine and that can throw him out of whack. I don't see these symptoms at home

but his general anxiety level at home is greatly reduced.)

2) Performance anxiety. Although he is really doing better than any of us

expected academically, (due to severe language delay) he still shuts down every

time something new is presented. This is a big problem for the teachers and

speech therapist. They are great at trying their hardest to reduce anxiety but

he still simply shuts down. This happens OFTEN and is very frustrating for

everyone. And I've learned that Ritalin can increase anxiety so are we just

trading problems?

3) Bryce is easily frustrated and doesn't have the maturity or the language

to handle his frustrations very well yet. If he gets anything wrong, he stomps

his feet and wants to quit. All of his teachers are VERY encouraging and

positive so that's not the source of his frustration. I know there are many

explanations for his frustration but we are hoping zoloft might take the edge

off a

little bit.

4) Every few weeks or so, Bryce has a full blown melt down-usually in the

mainstream classroom, where his anxiety is the hghest. Obviously, this is a BIG

problem for the school. Sometimes, we can pinpoint the " cause " (like change in

routine or sinus infection) but sometimes they seem out of the blue.

Bryce is still very reluctant to use the expressive language that he has.

Could his anxiety about communication keep him from expressing himself more

readily? Could zoloft help this? I feel like I am grabbing at straws here but

..... I know you all understand the grabbing at straws thing....!

Anyone have any experience with an anti-depressant helping the above? Or do

you have some other straws I can grab at?

Thanks,

Deedee, Mom to Blake, 10 and Bryce, Charge, 7