help for my little girl? - Mental Health Message Board

wrkingmum · 10-17-2003, 12:44 PM

hi There,

I need some help with my little girl and I was wondering if anyone out there can give me some advice. My daughter is almost 16 years old and she has some major problems. She is seeing a psychiatrist right now and he has put her on resperidone, then she got worse so he took her off of it, and then she got really worse so he has put her on a higher dosage to try to help her. She is such a beautiful girl, highly intelligent and has a very colorful personality but she also has fits, especially at school and she gets totally out of control. The school has told me that there isn't anything more that they can do for her and are hoping that I send her to a special school but I want her to have a chance at a regular school for the next few years if I can. Children's Aid can't help me and the government won't help at all.
The things that she does is talk to people who aren't there who she actually sees, throws fits where she crys and flaps her arms over the smallest of things...even a look in her direction or something falling on the floor near her sets her off and then they can't calm her down, she doesn't make eye contact, doesn't pay any attention to what is going on around her at all and then gets mad if I try to draw her attention, she has a world inside her mind that she lives in...sometimes I can't really reach her,she gets depressed and then all of a sudden happy again for no reason that I can see, she starts aguements with her peers over nothing and has been labelled "crazy girl" at school.
Please....what is wrong with her...does anyone know? What can I do as a caregiver...any suggestions?
I love her so much and can't stand to see her suffer so.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you.

franjava22 · 10-17-2003, 07:48 PM

Are there any other meds for schiz? If so talk to the doc about those. As far as school goes, if a kid is distracting or disturbing to others, they try to write them off. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that people with mental illnesses were placed in state schools no matter what! I don't know what kind of support you have to keep her in the school system, but maybe you can approach the principal or even the school board with your concerns. Have you've considered home schooling? (Like you're not stressed enough!!) Sometimes just not having the name calling and extra stressors of a school environment can calm a kid down. I hope someone else can give you some advice, too. Good luck!

wrkingmum · 10-18-2003, 06:51 PM

Hi Franjava22

Thanks alot for your reply.
My daughters doctor just doubled her medication and she seems more stable today thank goodness!
Yes I know about the school writing kids like mine off...goodness knows I have been fighting this fight for so long that I feel that I have tried everything. I do get some co-operation from the school but there is only so much that they can do. Right now My daughter basicly has the run of the school...she comes and goes as she pleases and everyone runs around behind her and try to cover for her actions and smooth out the problems that she causes.
Home schooling is not an option unfortunately. My husband and I both work full time jobs and have a son with special needs also. There is no way that we could afford to home school. Not to mention the fact that my daughter does have to sooner or later deal with the real world. Oh, and the stress thing...I don't think I could hold up to any more of that or they will be locking me up for sure! I just wish that there was a way to get my daughter to stop behaving the way that she does.
Do you have children of your own. You talk like someone who understands what I am going through...I don't come across that kind of understanding much.
Thanks and take care.

js2001sa · 10-20-2003, 07:41 PM

Has your daughter ever been tested for Autism? Usually children who are Autistic can be hypersensitive to thier surroundings. They are sensitive to touch, sound etc. They also tend to have tantrums when under serious stress. However, this is just a suggestion. I hope your daughter continues to improve.

wrkingmum · 10-21-2003, 06:51 PM

Yes, my daughter has been tested for autism but she doesn't fit the profile. First, when she was seven I was told that she might be retarded. After further testing it was determined that she was gifted. Then they said that she had severe ADHD. Then I was told it might be aspergers syndrome. Now they are looking into something else...maybe schizophrenia///we aren't certain yet. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your reply