First let me say please don't get me wrong, you all are GREAT, but the issues I'm dealing with right now are in a very different stage of life. Doesn't anyone out there have teenage issues? Our high functioning pdd-nos son is starting in a new school this year after having to withdraw before the end of his sophomore year. Last year his social-related anxiety got so bad and his depression so deep that he couldn't function. We've found what we hope to be a better environment for him. Over the summer he's felt much better but the now the thought of starting something new is very scary and has triggered more anxiety and depression. He wouldn't get dressed or come out of his room yesterday. His sleep cycle is a mess and he has a terrible time getting up in the morning. I don't know how he's going to be able to get up at 6:30 to be at school on time. He has been taking medication for all this and like I said he was finally making some progress, after some pretty terrible experiences. But he is really struggling right now with school about to begin. I certainly can relate to many of the posts I read because I remember those early years, but I still feel a little alone because I'm not reading anything that pertains to the stage we're in now.
Yes. I have a 16 yr old son. He is ADHD and refuses to take the strattera that was prescribed to him. He is very hard to handle at times. Even typical teens are hard to deal with and add having deeper emotional and mental issues to that.
MY son isn't suffering from social anxiety but can't carry on a normal conversation with out interjecting his own thoughts that normally have nothing to do w/the subject. When I read about asperger's it described him perfectly but his therapist didnt' agree and says he is ADHD.
Have you tried corspondance schools. I did for my sons freshman year. It didn't work for him because he can't do the work w/out someone right on him all the time. I used AMerican Schools, they are affordable and offer a simple plan for the highschool courses. High School is a hard place for kids these days. Besides dealing w/clicks, and gangs and other types of social packs they have to deal with the pressures put on them by their teachers as well. THey have to remain in one environment all day that is full of social awkardness....and girls. (: That is my sons biggest problem right now. IF he likes a girl he acts very strange at home and when they break up he is very hard to live with. Their are plenty of girls at school and I suspect this year my son will be taking a lot of showers.
Sorry to go on but I understand a little about what you must be going through as a family. I also have my almost 4 yr HFA daughter and a 2 yr old son. Thier is a big gap in the age but it all works somehow.
Mary
Have you thought of virtual high school we have that in florida as an option. Also, I teaach at a middle school. We have had Aspberger kids choose an alternative schoolsite(non-traditional setting) to do their high school studies. The one in my town has a smaller population, kids go at their own pace (fast or slow), and alot of the social pressure is off. Everyone there is a bit out-of-sync with general society:). JanetI think the school we've found will be a great opportunity for him. It's more like a home-school resource center than it is a traditional classroom. The electives offered are unique and right up his alley... model railroading, videography... Another unique aspect is that it is not divided out by grade. It is very small (only 30 kids in the whole school) and kids from 5th grade and up are combined into teams. (When school starts I'll understand more about how that actually works.) But since our son is young for his age and relates better to younger kids, this might take the intimidation factor out. We're completely impressed with the teachers; they have excitement and determination to find what it is in each child to make them feel successful. They've told us that they have had kids come to them completely shut down from prior school experiences and that they are flourishing now. Our son is very intelligent and very high functioning. It wasn't until adolescence hit and the depression/anxiety started, that we even knew we had a problem.
So, it has all the markings of being a great environment for him. Our problem is that right now he is terrified of the unknown. Hopefully this is a temporary problem. If this doesn't work out then I think we'll have to look into some sort of correspondence/online school. Knowing him though, I really don't think that would be in his best interest. His biggest problems stem from social issues. Being alone sends him deeper into depression and gives him more time to dwell on negative thoughts. He always does best when he's around people, but feeling confident. Time will tell... I look forward to being back on here with a praise report!!