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megparker
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
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 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:31 am Post subject: reducing anxiety -- meds? |
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Hi! My son Adam is almost 6 years old and was diagnosed PDD-NOS 2 1/2 years ago. We have been working with a wondeful behavorist for 2 years, and have made much progress with reducing meltdowns, etc. But he is still so anxious so much of the time. I wondered about others' experience with medicating, or anything else you do to help relieve anxiety for your ASD child.
I'm also wondering what sort of natural or homeopathic options there might be to relieve anxiety. Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing?
Thanks so much
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Meg
mom to two chatty NTs and one perfect PDD-NOS guy. |
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Rainbow-Squirrel
Phoenix
Joined: Dec 27, 2006
Age: 28
Posts: 807
Location: Siena, Italy
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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I take 10 mg of paroxetine (SSRI) per day, and it does reduce my anxiety, both general and social (but above all it's GREAT for depression and for stabilizing my mood). Of course this is just my personal experience.
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krex
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 4973
Location: Village of the Damned
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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Cn you tell what is triggering the anxiety...social situations or sensory, something else or just general anxiety=everything ? I think knowing what is triggering can make a difference in how you approach a solution.
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ster
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 24, 2005
Posts: 2241
Location: new england
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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my kids didn't start on meds until they were older..........16 year old has tried numerous med cocktails. his current one is: seroquel, and prozac. he also takes a multivitamin & melatonin.........he had previously tried Paxil, Depakote, & Wellbutrin.
my hubby takes alprazolam, klonipin, and prozac.............daughter takes tenex & geodon.............
the hard part about meds is that not every thing works for everyone. it's really a trial by fire sort of operation figuring out what works and what doesn't |
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megparker
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I mentioned in my first post about us working with a behavorist so that it was clear that we are tackling the "what's causing it" side of things, and have been for 2 years. But the general anxiety is still so severe. Or, as he puts it, "the world is an uh-oh world."
It's just so hard, as a mom, to see my son so unhappy so much of the time, and I can't help bu think that if there is any other way of helping him - any way that we haven't yet tried - I should look into it.
I know there are a lot of people who say "I don't believe in medicating children," but I think those people have never met a child who needs to be medicated. I mean, if he had cancer or parkinsons or whatever, we'd medicate. Sure, there is no pill for autism, but there are meds for anxiety. And I wouldn't want a pill for his autism - he's perfect the way he is. I just wish he could be happier, and the world wasn't so "uh-oh" for him.
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Meg
mom to two chatty NTs and one perfect PDD-NOS guy. |
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krex
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 4973
Location: Village of the Damned
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not anti-medication but I am concerned that a childs brain is still developing and what long term effects a chemcial could have. On the other hand, I also believe that long term anxiety and depression can make "pathways" more ingraved the longer they are allowed to continue. Complicated  . I think I would have been greatly helped with antidepressants at 16. It was very deficult to break out of once a pattern has developed and probably would have helped me avoid self medicating and other negative coping methods.
Have you tried yoga, excercise, bio-feedback and other relaxation methods ? I have found then to be helpful, if not exactly a "cure". Does he have any co-mrbids like auditory processing and nonverbal learning difficulties...these increase my social anxiety alot.
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flowergal
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jun 13, 2008
Age: 37
Posts: 58
Location: Peaceful Countryside, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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My 7yr old son has anxiety issues too, he shakes, sweats, cries, feels like he's going to puke, heart races..... He already takes Clonidine at night to help him sleep (he also has Tourettes). We are trying relaxation methods for the anxiety and something that I have taught him (that always works for me too), is to put a cold ice pack wrapped in a towel behind his neck and sit against it....for some reason that seems to do miracles and I don't know why. Maybe it is a distraction? We are trying to hold off on as many meds as we can, but mixing TS and possible AS we know sometime down the road we may have to add one or two meds, we will cross that bridge when we get there. I tried anti-anxiety meds as a teenager when I had them really bad and the meds made it worse for me. I think like someone mentioned, it is a try and see for most people and what will work for one won't work for someone else...even in the same family.
Hang in there, my son is doing well with the relaxation exercises, while he is relaxing I also have him repeat scripture, or have him say "I can relax" very slowly...with his eyes closed. It also helps him to relax if the room is quiet, no TV, music, siblings squabbling. My daughters (9 and 4) have become pretty accomodating when he is having these....they even get an ice pack for him and will sit by him quietly, if he is okay with that. 
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Mage
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 11, 2006
Posts: 630
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I would never, ever give SSRIs to a person under 25. They are simply too dangerous and mess up too many things to be safe for someone that young. There are so many ways to relax that don't involve drugs that I think you just need to try more things. Yoga, stretching or other exercise can help. Music can have a calming effect, or for some people, playing a musical instrument, video games, or making art can be calming. Also surround him with a calm environment- keep the house very clean and uncluttered with very little furniture or knicknacks. Use soft neutral colors for the walls, and comfortable-looking curtains and pillows around. Make sure he has a quiet place he can always go to if he needs a break, whether it be a closet filled with blankets and books, or a dark spot under the stairs. |
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megparker
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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How about natural or herbal things like St Johns Wort, Passion Flower, or Lemon Balm? Anyone have experience with these? I've found places online selling remedies for anxiety which are mixtures of herbs as well.
I'm obviously (or perhaps this is not obvious?) not going to just jump in and feed him meds. I'm just looking for thoughts and experiences.
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Meg
mom to two chatty NTs and one perfect PDD-NOS guy. |
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annie2
Toucan
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 284
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
I would recommend checking out as many natural options as possible, before going down the meds line.
Phosphatydil Serine is getting some rave reviews at de-stressing and aiding brain clarity and function. I am currently sourcing this for my AS child. It is a natural supplement, related to amino acids. I am not an expert on it. Another member, called Jelibean, knows a lot more about it than me. I have recently joined a Phosphatydil Serine discussion forum (similar to WP) which is helpful. See the following thread from a few weeks ago for more information:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt64975.html |
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Everchanging
Sea Gull
Joined: Nov 03, 2007
Posts: 230
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: |
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http://www.breggin.com/
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megparker
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Thanks so much for the link, Annie2! That is really eye-opening. Just the sort of thing I was searching for!
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Meg
mom to two chatty NTs and one perfect PDD-NOS guy. |
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flowergal
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jun 13, 2008
Age: 37
Posts: 58
Location: Peaceful Countryside, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: |
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That is an awesome link. I am going to share it with a girlfriend of mine whose son is on ritalin, it was very eye-opening. Thanks for sharing it!
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"When life brings you to your knees, you are in a good position to pray!" |
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Tortuga
Velociraptor
Joined: Dec 12, 2007
Posts: 440
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:41 am Post subject: |
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I would not medicate a child that is so young, not with the currently available meds. I looked into all of them on more than one occassion. None of them are designed for use in children.
I'm not anti-meds because I've never met a child who needs to be medicated. I'm anti-meds because I've looked into the medicine that's out there. Many people would choose to medicate a child like my son. I researched drugs because there have been times when I wanted something to work (anything).
However, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. My son is almost 10 and making the most amazing progress right now. He used to be severely anxious and OCD. That stuff is going away and it's like he's waking up to the world. I didn't do any medication or homeopathic stuff, but I do homeschool and it was necessary in his case. With time and patience, he is learning to handle the world without meds. |
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ster
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 24, 2005
Posts: 2241
Location: new england
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| i think meds are necessary in some situations......meds will not cure aspergers-nor even address many of the symptoms.......the meds can & in some cases, do address anxiety & OCD, aggression & OCD tendencies that may or may not come along with AS |
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