Hi all, I am hiding out at my computer as my 10 year son who is severely autistic has been screaming or smashing walls now since May of this year. I wear ear plugs and have become quite good with performing repairs to walls. The Dr. recently prescribed a drug about 3 weeks ago but he had an adverse reaction and became violent and threw me into a wall (bruised but nothing broken), squeezed the dog so hard it required to been seen by the vet - cost 00, I only sleep about 4 hours a night and I am on the brink of losing my job as I cannot concentrate then when I get home it's just my son and I and he is smashes, banging, walls - my husband and I work two different shifts to accomodate needs for our son (nobody will watch him) and my husbands says I should be able to take this - I don't know how much more I can take because I just wish I would go to sleep and never wake up. The respite workers (several i might add) all made excuses and quit - I try to re-direct him, I try to read him stories, I try to reach him to no avail - right now he is stumping his feet into the wood floors and smashing the walls if I go to stop him I get thrown (he is very tall and 140 pounds - my brothers are all 6 '4 so genetics will likely mean I will be dealing with a very large boy and likely I will become the football....OK sorry to go off on a tandgid but I just had to unload. I cant imagine what you are dealing with! Can your husband handle him or is he like this with both of you? Dont even think about the going to sleep and never waking up part because you know that will not help your child if you are not there. Is leaving your job an option so you have more energy to deal with this? Someone here that has been there surely will be able to offer you some advise. Did your doctor offer any other medication?
Capergurl,
I am sorry that you are going through this right now. My son is only 3 so any suggestion that I have may not be of any use to you. Is he still on this medication that caused this behavior? IF so then i would recommend getting him off of it. Also I have read that when our spectrum children start to go through puberty that behavior can become a real issue. This is just my opinion and I may get jumped for this but I'm gonna say it. Considering that your son is obviously overpowering you and you are at your wits end and he is obviously violent with you....have you thought about asking the doctor for a medication to use in emergency situations to sedate him temp? I'm not talking about using something like this on a everyday basis but certainly if you are at risk of getting injured etc then it could come in handy. Something like this could be used until you find the right medication that works for him or while you are waiting for the benifit effects of a new med. And I will say again...for emergencies. I know someone that has inquired about a medication like this that has a son close to your sons age that is also autistic and can be violent. There is something out there that comes in a wafer but I don't know the name of the medication and it is used for this purpose that I am talking about. As far as I know she has not gotten the medication yet because she wants it to be a last resort type thing, but she has inquired about it because there are times where her son is uncontrollable and can already overpower her. It's a personal decision also to use something like this on your child but I do believe that depending on the situation sometimes it is needed. I hope things start looking up for you soon. Take care and welcome to the board...and keep us updated.
Hi Capergurl Welcome to the board! I'm sorry you are having such struggles with your son... AS others have asked .... Have you stopped the med that caused the aggressive behaviors? And has the doctor put your son on anything else? ALso have you tried a behavior therapy (especially if this is new) Have their been any other changes besides the meds that could have set him off? Please keep us updated.... I wish I had better ideas to offer.... but we can always listen
Capergurl,
I thought I had it bad! I am so sorry! I don't have much to offer because I am going through some of what you are going through, but without the bulk! I can physically handle my daughter. I do know this.....when she was 6 the doc tried a new med on her....total mistake! It brought out all her aggressions and she has never been the same since. We took her of the meds after 2 weeks. It was like she knew that she would live if she crossed that line...in other words she called our bluff and knew we were full of hot air! HA!
I wish there was something I could say to help you! I feel for ya!!!!!! Keep posting!!!
Jerri