Pointless

[orthodoc]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I can identify most with the kid-stuff, obviously, and on the one hand it hurts and scares me to read but on the other hand you give me hope. Because I look at you and I say, "If she's through it, she's out the other side and has her head held high (and bald ,) then it must be do-able."

It is absolutely do-able, not easy but do-able, and from what I've read on the board you're doing an amazing job. I used dietary approaches as well, with some benefit, and just tried to find as many resources and as much support as possible. Every child is different; my second child was extremely challenging at every step and had multiple diagnoses, and that's not always the case. I did have in-home support but we couldn't keep workers; he was too violent. Yet he was sweet-hearted between rages and never fit the 'sociopath' label one or two docs put on him. If he'd gone to residential he would've been taken advantage of to the nth degree by the real Conduct Disorder kids there; that's essentially what happened in high school and college anyway. He was an easy mark for the smart, bad kids, always very naive and believing at face-value whatever he was told.

My oldest has been more recently diagnosed with Asperger's, and since Asperger's can have psychotic episodes and mood issues, I think it's a much better fit than the original schizophrenia label. Either that or he had scz but improved, for whatever reason, and has done well. He hasn't had psychotic episodes in years. There's a school of thought that includes a proportion of improving patients in long-term outcome, and another that rejects improvement as being inconsistent with the diagnosis. I prefer the Asperger's concept in his case.

Anyway ... there is a way through. And the good times with the kids are always there, and seeing improvements means SO much - I've always appreciated every milestone so intensely. Now they're adults I stay in the background and let them know they have my love and support always, 24/7, and sometimes they lean on that and other times they fly solo. It's good to see them spread their wings.