by ODD? » Fri May 17, 2013 9:51 pm
Please help if have advice or know of similar scenario: Our 12 year old daughter is in 6th grad, is a very high achiever in school. Tested into all advanced-placement classes, loves being on student council, has been highly self-driven since she was 3 or 4 years old. school is her solace and she thrives in church youth groups. Since she was a kindergardener up until know in 6th grade we have heard over and over and over by every teacher: "I wish I had a whole class full of students like your daughter". At home it is a complete 180 degree change. She is increasingly selfish, defiant, defiant, without conscience, and completely void of any respect, manners, kindness, or responsibility. Her tantrums and outbursts have gone from disruptive to violent. Our younger child has to sleep elsewhere due to the trauma and drama every night. Trips to the E.R. for assessment, to the family doctor for assessment, and counseling have done nothing. Our family is falling apart. We don't have (private) insurance and are fighting to get her into "the system" through her state Medicaid coverage. In the E.R. she maniplulated the people who attempted to assess - but they were just making sure she was not a threat to herslef or others. She verbally attacked our family doctor today after she determined it wasn't a simple checkup. He told us she (& we) need immediate help - and that if we had a college fund or siomething to tap into that we should do it... but we do not. I'm adept at researching online and she definitely fits all but one of the diagnostic symptoms of ODD, if not all of them, but I cannot find examples of a child being so academically gifted and self driven and also with this level of ODD only at home. I fear that if we don't make strides soon, or at least find a direction that her behavior at school will begin to change. She tells us often that school is the only place she is happy. Meanwhile the rest of us, perts included, are falling apart. Please advise! ... feeling scared, sad, anxious, overwhelmed, and nearly hopeless.