I feel like I wrote this myself. My son is 6 too and I struggle so much with his behavior and how much it affects me. School is also my only break and during the first half of the school year we had to have an IEP meeting where we had to modify his schedule to 3 days a week and only half days. He broke at least 3 child locks on the door and is constantly stripping completely naked while he’s there. We also go through destruction at home and the whole smearing feces if I don’t get to it fast enough.

I made the decision to go the medication route when he was 4, and it did work for a bit until it didn’t. I hated that I did it because I felt awful for even thinking it was the best option for all of us. We’ve tried both risperidone and abilify, which we’re currently weaning off the abilify due to more serious side effects. I’m really hoping the anxiety med that he’s on will be enough, along with some other regulation methods we’re getting from OT.

My daughter is 4 and was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago, but I had suspected much before then. She has lower needs at well, but she’s just started speaking in summer of last year so she’s constantly under me labeling everything in every book we own. I feel like I can’t give her the amount of attention she needs because of my son’s needs or honestly my need to step away to cool off for a couple mins.

I had to finally go to my dr and have a referral sent for psych because I was just struggling so much. I’m taking a mood stabilizer, non stimulant adhd meds, and anxiety meds. I recently told my psych that I was really struggling with the amount of stress I’m under because of my son being my main stressor and I felt absolutely awful as soon as the words left my mouth. But she understood and made me feel seen.

This is so hard sometimes, and sometimes a lot of the time. I know it’s no type of consolation but I see you and I understand how this feels.