new here with new diagnosed child

HI, i am new here. I am a single older mom with a recently diagnosed child with ODD....I am just barely hanging on as i do not know how to help my almost 6 year old daughter. She will be 6 july 25 and has had problems since birth , for five years her doctor thought i was apparently crazy and didn't really believe some of the things i was telling him. She was scared and still is of anything that makes a loud noise, like thunder she almost hyperventilates now. And if she sees a bee or a bug of any kind she screams loud enough to bust ear drums. At 3 they said they didn't want to label her with anything but if they did it would be generalized anxiety disorder but at that time she also had a few symptoms of aspergers but not enough for a clear diagnosis. her mood swings are unreal. She gets really angry over simple things that most kids could care less about . She screams, hits , bites , kicks , scratches me , breaks her toys or anything she can reach at the time. Cries alot , is very clingy to me. when she wants something it has to be right that minute. You cannot joke with her she doesnt understand joking at all. Shes kinda mean to the cat and has a complete meltdown freak out if it scratches her , which it does after she finally catches it. When she went for her kindergarten pyscial he finally saw how shes fine one second and almost another person the next and i told him what she had been doing . she jumped out of the van three times with it moving one day and he put her on clonidine to help because she hasnt ever slept. And for the first few months it helped with her behavior and meltdowns......but now its like its not working anymore ...it still helps her sleep but nothing with the behavior , its escalating again to an uncontrollable level and i am at a complete loss as to what to do. It breaks my heart to see her this way and be so little. You can see it in her eyes , the fear and confusion , the not understanding whats making her this way......she always tells me she is sorry after she calms down and alot of times she will tell me she doesnt know why she is doing these things.... I am really scared for her ......i love her with all of my heart and i just want to help her......her doctor says she needs anger management and behavior therapy which i am currently waiting on an appointment but does anyone have any tips or ideas of how i can help her now??
thanks so much.......
gloriabono

Hi, gloriabono! Have you ever tried getting her to breathe deeply when she has a meltdown and maybe putting her in a special room to relax/behave? Sorry if this isn't very helpful, try posting about it in more forums. Living with mental illness gets to most posters.

Old post but I will respond anyway. I was diagnosed with ODD as a young child (conduct disorder as a pre teen), one strategy that was used for me as a child when I was angry was some good sized beads, 10 of them all tied onto a leather 'string'... my mom would have me close my eyes and with each bead I touched I was to take a deep breath. I don't remember how well it worked on me, I just remember this being done. It may be worth a try...

I have a daughter is has aspergers and for her when her anxiety is running on high, I find giving her a stress ball and either putting a tension type vest on her (hugs her) or light but firm pressure on her shoulders with my hands will help calm her down and shut her up faster. She's on prozac as well.