making decisions (April)

[Guest guest]

At 06:11 PM 6/10/2006, you wrote:

>an someone give some advice on any of this or how to really make

>some sense out of the interventions. I feel like doing to 5htp, try

>to keep as much sugar as possible out of the diet, keeping up the

>24hour yogurt that's great and he likes it and wait for the results

>of the stool analysis at our July 5th doctors appt.

Hi April,

I just wanted to send you some strength and remind you that you can

do this. Unfortunately, no-one else has the answers for you -

information, yes, but answers, not really. I completely hear you on

the difficultly of these decisions, with everyone telling you what

you *should* do (and contradicting each other), and wanting to just

know what simple steps to take to get your family well!!!

Here's what I've learned. We are where " the buck stops " and we are

the ones that have to make the final decisions...after getting the

information that we can even though it still will be very far from

complete. But, even though it feels like you need to fix it all now,

it's OK to take this one step at a time.

My suggestion is to take some deep breaths, and remind yourself of

all of your strengths. You are obviously a committed smart mama and

have lots going for you. Then, my next suggestion is that if you

haven't done so, you need to start a journal/log (one per child I

think?). For me at least that takes a burden off of remembering

everything plus it helps me put together patterns. I put all

supplement changes or omissions in the log as well as behaviors,

etc. It often serves as a catharsis as well!

Your plan sounds fine for right now. I think your gut is telling you

it's not time to do the Paxil yet and you aren't comfortable with

it. That's the key. My son is medicated (very low dose Tryleptal -

for anxiety/mood) but through a doctor that does a supplement route

first and foremost and is reluctant to add medication. When both he

and my son's therapist said, " it's time to try this out " we thought

long and hard and took their advice - but ultimately it was our

decision and confirmed our gut feel. Other changes I have just done on my own.

I'm sure others will help with the details of what supplements you

should consider. And if they don't, it's not that they don't care,

it's that each person's solution is *so* different. I just wanted to

add encouragement to hang in there, and not let the panic overwhelm

you - remember how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, that's

my motto these days You'll get there.

Stroyan

www.empathic-discipline.com