[Alternative School Grrl]

I picked him up at 10:00am and brought him to my GF's house for a quick hair cut as he was starting to look like Einstein and then a stop at McDonalds and RiteAid for food and a booklamp respectively.<br><br>
We arrived at the administration building which is a HUGE rolling mansion in the suburbs of PA, surrounded by smaller condo-looking buildings. The mansion itself used to be the family home of the man who founded ACME markets.<br><br>
Ian spent most of the time waiting for his intake looking at the floors, the rugs, the tapestries, the wood..and then someone showed us around to the kitchen where there was still an icebox under the cabinets. Floor to ceiling (like 20 foot ceiling cabinets in the kitchen). He spent most of the time remarking on the craftmanship of the home and telling the tour guide all about how the ice box worked on convection and then explaining the concept.<br><br>
I think it felt to both of us that he was going to boarding school, not mental health treatment which in a way, I hope it continues to feel that way.<br><br>
There's a mighty big brain in there and if we can manage what's broken this kid has the potential to create a new world. I don't doubt it for a moment.

 

[runningINnyc]

My thoughts are with you and Ian

 

[Gingerbread]

That sounds good. I hope this works well for him!

 

[coachie]

sounds like a good start. Good Luck!

 

[mrscoby78]

Thanks for keeping us posted. I've been thinking about you guys.<br><br>
Sounds like a brilliant boy.

 

[jebba]

ASG, if you don't mind my asking, what's his diagnosis?

 

[Horrible Peanut]

(((Ian))) <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Be strong, lad. We love you.

 

[Alternative School Grrl]

<br>
Conduct Disorder<br>
ODD with depression<br>
ADHD

 

[carbonfiberRibs]

I don't either.<br><br>
Here's to getting healthy.

 

[Lintu]

My younger sister also had (has?) ODD. Here's to hoping he feels better soon.

 

[Grizzly]

Alia,<br><br>
How often will you get to see him / will he get "out".<br><br>
Is ADHD a certain diagnosis, or just a complaint? I mean, has he been tested for wheat / lactose intolerances? Just curious. Most kids I taught that had that diagnosis were actually either food intolerant or just freaking bored out of their minds. We don't deal with boys very well in our "systems".

 

[Alternative School Grrl]

<br>
Grizz, there is a level system of visits. I get limited weekend afternoon visits for a couple of weeks and then limited on campus...then working up from there on four hour, eight hour, day and overnight passes.<br><br>
ADHD is a certain diagnosis. Has been since he was in 2nd grade.

 

[Grizzly]

Ack. Mom is going to be freaking out of her mind, isn't she?

 

[Arrojo]

{{Alia and Ian}} Good things happen to good people. This will all work out.

 

[oache]

Alia,<br><br>
I have a good feeling about all of this. I know this process has been tough on both of you but I am so impressed with your fortitude during the evaluation process. I also think that Ian knows he has some powerful gifts that are trapped under the wreckage and we all want them to be free including Ian.<br><br>
You'll get there babe.<br><br>
your pal,<br><br>
oache

 

[drgenie]

I think this is a good thing. You know my feelings about his doc--I'd trust her with my own kids, if I had them. If she had anything to do with this, then it will work out for him. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
It's hard on the moms, this stuff, but seriously, I have seen kids come out of residential SO much stronger and healthier than they went in. I think you did right involving him in the decision. It will help him a lot if he's invested in his own treatment and not just going through the motions in order to get home and get out. One thing, just make sure you are heavily involved in his aftercare planning. He will need some sort of stepdown when he does come home. The transition from that level of care to home + whatever is crucial to a kid's continued success.

 

[oache]

Genie,<br><br>
I was hella confident when Alia told me you gave the thumbs up to Ian's Dr too.<br><br>
your pal,<br><br>
oache

 

[drgenie]

She's awesome. I've worked with her in the past and was very excited to hear that she was working with....and for....Ian. She's a great advocate for the kids she works with.

 

[wherestheportojohn]

Here's hoping that you & Ian find happiness and peace.

 

[nomad]

Hi ASG,<br>
I saw your post and thought I'd come out of lurkdom to add my .02 cents. I don't know you or your son so this may not apply. I work with kids with severe emotional and behavioural disorders and the combo of diagnosis that you listed immediately made me think traumatic stress. Traumatic stress can come from experiencing any traumatic event (abuse, death or loss of parent/loved one, exposure to violence, car accident etc...) and the symptoms are often (mis?) diagnosed as ODD / ADHD as the syptoms are the same. The oppositionality /defiance /distractability /emotional reactivity that you see in traumatic stress kids is acutally a very protective and adaptive way to deal with the high stress response (threat) that comes with trauma. It's the same flight/fight/freeze response we all have but in kids with traumatic stress it doesn't go away and they repond that way in most situations even when ther is in actuality no stress present. The opposition and efiance gives them some measure of control and protection over a potentially fear invoking response. On the outside it just looks like 'bad' behaviour and these kids often get behaviour labels but in reality they are just responding / reacting to the messages they are getting from their brain that a potential (and only perceived by them) threat is near by. Anyways like I said, I don't know your situation and it may have nothing to do with trauma...it's just I often see those diagnoses and if there is/was trauma the behavours don't change until the trauma is dealt with ususally with Trauma Focused CBT and some additional art/music/dance/martial art/yoga type therapy which can help to retrain the brain's pattern of repsonses.<br>
All the best to you and Ian