Re: getting anxiety under control first - attn: Pam

February 22, 2010

Pam,

How old is your daughter,and what is she on for anxiety? Mine is also VERY

anxious and freaks herself out to the point that she can't fall asleep. I give

her chewable melatonin, and some nights it's so bad that she can even override

that! We put her in soccer and she said she doesn't want to play because it

makes her nervous to have all those people running by her. And that she never

wants to be near the ball, because then they will come after HER. Although she

functions fine socially with a select few people who tolerate her quirks and

don't take them personally, she is a wreck around people she doesn't know or

people she likes but don't pay attention to her. And in group settings. She

makes an ass of herself; meowing, making obnoxious noises and faces, flails her

arms around, and gets in people's faces and follows them around talking nonstop.

In general, her anxiety manifests as total lunacy. She laughs uncontrollably and

obnoxiously and grunts and flops around. The ADHD meds don't seem to be doing

the trick. Although they help slightly with impulsivity, she's still a mess.

I've been thinking that perhaps anxiety meds and/or a small dose SSRI might be

more the right thing for her.

Just wondering about your journey to get where you are today. Is your daughter

pretty well adjusted now? Mine also has major executive function issues and is a

sensory-seeker. I believe not knowing how to handle those deficiencies makes the

anxiety 100 times worse... of course!

> >

> > Hello everyone! My name is and my 7 years old son Jakob has AS along

with Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, and has Bipolar symtoms. Everyday is a battle and I

just don't know what to do. Here's what is happening.

> >

> > Jakob does not like to do anything that is asked of him. He screams at

everyone. He doesn't listen to what you are saying and has screaming fits.

Basically if he doesn't get his way he screams. He is also always hungry and

thristy. I had him tested for diabetes and the test came back negative. I just

don't know what to do. Nothing I try seems to work. This is something that only

happens at home. Last night we went to my friends house for a Pampered Chef

party. I was terrified that he was going to start running around her house

screaming his head off. But to my surprise, he was so sweet and used his

manners. He ate alot and had alot to drink, but other then that he played just

fine. We left to go to the sports store to get his baseball pants and cleats and

the store was closed. So Jakon started screaming and kicking his feet in the

truck. I tried to explain to him that I would pick them up on Monday so its no

big deal. Eventually he got over it. I noticed if we let him scream and ignore

him, eventually he stops. Strangely he often doesn't remember why he was

screaming or what happened. He can't really express his feelings. When he wants

something to eat or drink, its right then and there. Not in a minute when you

get out of the bathroom, its right then or he starts screaming.

> >

> > We've tried taking toys away, tv, DS, etc.. It doesn't effect him. I don't

know what to do!! Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

> > Thanks,

> >

>

February 23, 2010

We use Buspar for the anxiety and can ride with our boys again, function, seriously. They were non-functioning like that all the time with others and at home; we just couldn't stand it ourselves anymore either but it ended drooling, etc. Then, we got on waivers, and the social skills training has helped GREATLY. That is a huge piece. And, the rewards our kids earn of our time (it means we have given up some things we may have done otherwise but I did choose to have four children) have made it so we can even sit and typically eat an entire meal without a problem! TOOK about 10 years to get here but it is true (my 16 year old used to leave non-stop and not know why or where he was going) so I would highly recommend medicating the ANXIETY proponent along with ADHD (if that is the case) but they are two separate things. The anxiety reduced has made life FUN!!!!

Ruthie

From: andie6294@...Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:13:52 +0000Subject: ( ) re: getting anxiety under control first - attn: Pam

Pam,How old is your daughter,and what is she on for anxiety? Mine is also VERY anxious and freaks herself out to the point that she can't fall asleep. I give her chewable melatonin, and some nights it's so bad that she can even override that! We put her in soccer and she said she doesn't want to play because it makes her nervous to have all those people running by her. And that she never wants to be near the ball, because then they will come after HER. Although she functions fine socially with a select few people who tolerate her quirks and don't take them personally, she is a wreck around people she doesn't know or people she likes but don't pay attention to her. And in group settings. She makes an ass of herself; meowing, making obnoxious noises and faces, flails her arms around, and gets in people's faces and follows them around talking nonstop. In general, her anxiety manifests as total lunacy. She laughs uncontrollably and obnoxiously and grunts and flops around. The ADHD meds don't seem to be doing the trick. Although they help slightly with impulsivity, she's still a mess. I've been thinking that perhaps anxiety meds and/or a small dose SSRI might be more the right thing for her.Just wondering about your journey to get where you are today. Is your daughter pretty well adjusted now? Mine also has major executive function issues and is a sensory-seeker. I believe not knowing how to handle those deficiencies makes the anxiety 100 times worse... of course!> >> > Hello everyone! My name is and my 7 years old son Jakob has AS along with Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, and has Bipolar symtoms. Everyday is a battle and I just don't know what to do. Here's what is happening.> > > > Jakob does not like to do anything that is asked of him. He screams at everyone. He doesn't listen to what you are saying and has screaming fits. Basically if he doesn't get his way he screams. He is also always hungry and thristy. I had him tested for diabetes and the test came back negative. I just don't know what to do. Nothing I try seems to work. This is something that only happens at home. Last night we went to my friends house for a Pampered Chef party. I was terrified that he was going to start running around her house screaming his head off. But to my surprise, he was so sweet and used his manners. He ate alot and had alot to drink, but other then that he played just fine. We left to go to the sports store to get his baseball pants and cleats and the store was closed. So Jakon started screaming and kicking his feet in the truck. I tried to explain to him that I would pick them up on Monday so its no big deal. Eventually he got over it. I noticed if we let him scream and ignore him, eventually he stops. Strangely he often doesn't remember why he was screaming or what happened. He can't really express his feelings. When he wants something to eat or drink, its right then and there. Not in a minute when you get out of the bathroom, its right then or he starts screaming. > > > > We've tried taking toys away, tv, DS, etc.. It doesn't effect him. I don't know what to do!! Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!> > Thanks, > >>

February 24, 2010

Hi! I feel for your daughter. Poor thing. I cringe at all the

anxiety my daughter endured from infancy. The nuerologist

I think are better at treating AS kids sooner than later.

Even though my daughter has a pyschiatrist she doesn't

understand AS. Psychistrist seem very resistent to treating

anxiety in AS. The neurologist don't. They seem to get it.

My daughter was 11 before I got her on anxiety medication. The

delay was caused by my fear and my husband's.

Why in the world I let her suffer so long? I kept working

on trying to get the services in school better.

We started on 25 mg of zoloft. Then increased it very slowly.

This is due to my fears. I am being very careful. We are still

working our way up to 75mg. With anxiety the dose can go as high

as 200mg. I noticed an improved mood and all the panic attacks

went away about noise, socks, losing things at the low dose.

But the obessiveness

is still persistent at 60mg of zoloft.

My daughter's anxiety is still too high to really socialize.

She does best at her special needs school and having things

to do with me. She complains how lonely she is but gosh

she just can't control herself in unstructured setttings.

There is so much growth with the anxiety reduced. We can

start to talk about how to cope with disappointment other

than tantrums.

With my daughter and maybe many AS kids you have to work on

having them practice (role play) new behaviors it doesn't

work like with neurtypical kids to just talk and explain.

My daughter is not a socically adjusted kids yet. I do think

that we may have to increase the zoloft way up there to

get the anxiety under control and then work on a behavioral

modification of these maladpaptive behaviors she has.

I would hope that we can get the anxiety reduced

a more acceptable level to live with in the next 1-2 years. I am being too

cautiuous but I don't want to freak her out with a

bad medication trial and she then refuses to cooperate.

Then perhaps it will take 2-3 years

to integrate a new way to cope with disappointments and frustrations

and reverse years of tantrums. Then maybe then she can socialize and be better

adjusted. In the mean time I can continue to educate

her and socialize with her. Get her out doing typical things and

teaching her independent skills.

Oh my what a challenge right.

Some ADHD meds make anxiety worse.

My daugher too had this trait of when she was overloaded she

was a sensory seeker. She would ramp herself up higher. I worried

if this was a Bipolar trait. So this is another reason I am

so careful with the SSRI's. In a BP person it can make them

more manic. So take the SSRI's slow if you try them. It

should settle her down. Not ramp her up anymore.

If SSRI's ramp her up many docs prescribe rispedal or abilify

in very very low doses. It is used as a mood stablizer and

seems to reduce outbursts. It is a medication that has more side

effects than the SSRI's.

Docs don't like to prescribe benzopen drugs like klonopin

for children unless the anxiety is severe and SSRI's

don't work. Many kids have an opposite reaction to the

benzo's (xanax, klonopin etc). There is more risk of overdosing. The kid feels

drunk at first. It is unlikely anyone would prescribe

this class of medication at this point.

I would help reduce her anixety. What a way to live. Read

Temple Grandin's book. She describes what it is like

living with so much anxiety. Poor things.

I hope your daughter feels calmer soon.

Pam

> > >

> > > Hello everyone! My name is and my 7 years old son Jakob has AS

along with Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, and has Bipolar symtoms. Everyday is a battle

and I just don't know what to do. Here's what is happening.

> > >

> > > Jakob does not like to do anything that is asked of him. He screams at