This Is Very Real

I have a nine year old son that was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder at the age of five. However, along with all the characteristics that go along with these two, I always knew there was something else going on.

After doing a lot of research on the internet, I came across SPD and Asperger Syndrome. It was almost like someone flipped a light switch on.

When he was a baby, he had colic. Was a very serious baby and temperamental. Banged his head on floor out of anger at 1 1/2. Did not like socks on his feet. My son was kicked out of daycare at the age of two. At the age of 3 and 4, he had so much trouble with any babysitter. Was kicked out of preschool. All of this was due to aggressiveness. Got suspended in first grade more than once.

This is when the medicine nightmare began. Was on Adderall, Ritalin, Staterra, and many more. This helped the hyperness somewhat, but brought on terrible anger and mood swings. Would not eat. Lost so much weight that he looked like a cancer patient. Very pale. Also in second grade he was suspended a few times. All of this was due to aggression. He could not keep friends and his self esteem went downhill. School said they could not help him.

He would beg me not to give him those pills because he said they made him angry and tired all the time. Not to mention the chest pains he complained of. Even though the doctor assured me this medicine was nothing to worry about. I decided to take him off the medicine roller coaster and homeschool. He has gained about 15 pounds and looks wonderful. He feels so much better. The terrible mood swings and sad thoughts have disappeared. He laughs all the time now.

With all this said, I still feel at a loss of what to do some days. He is nine now, but still acts like a five year old. Hates certain noises, still does not like to wear socks, torments animals, likes to be constantly stimulated with tickling, likes those vibrating back massagers. Would want to sleep with it. Is very loud making noises. Still drools sometimes when talking. Afraid of the dark, has trouble sleeping. Does not like flushing the toilet, scared of it I guess. Does not like to touch any food that he has dropped on the floor. Still has temper tantrums. Wants to hang on to me in the store like a two year old, likes to play tackling games, run into walls for the fun of it. Hit things. Now, he is complaining of constant pain everywhere on his body at all times of the day, yet, he wants to play tackle games two minutes later. The list goes on forever.

I am at a loss of what to do for him and our family. I can't seem to get any help from the schools and can't afford any outside help. From what I read, there seems to be no solution for this. Thanks for this site. I hope my story will help someone.