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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And Adjusting Issues In A Teenager With ADD
Question: I have an 18 year old grandson, who is a twin to an outgoing brother. They have lived in cosmopolitan
cities in Europe much of their lives, but were born in California where we live. Our daughter married a european.
The twins have started college recently. The outgoing grandson is very happy with his choice on the east coast. His brother, in the northwest is miserable. He does take 27 mg of Concerta and 10 mg of Adderall on the weekends, as a result of some "focus" issues. ADD
This is a wonderful young man who loves to run (cross country) and has musical interests. He has joined some clubs, but they haven't begun. He is not making friends, and feels he doesn't belong AND wants to leave. Do you think a small dose of an antidepressant would help? Is he possibly suffering from twin anxiety separation, since this is their first time apart. Thank you, as our family members are
really struggling....sending texts, phone calls, encouragement and reaching out to the university.
There is no medical doctor on campus at this time. There will be in two weeks. He probably needs some immediate care, and our daughter is e-mailing her son's counselor. We need to take further action and wonder what that should be.
My husband thinks "tough love", but I wonder. His dad won't discuss any of it.
cities in Europe much of their lives, but were born in California where we live. Our daughter married a european.
The twins have started college recently. The outgoing grandson is very happy with his choice on the east coast. His brother, in the northwest is miserable. He does take 27 mg of Concerta and 10 mg of Adderall on the weekends, as a result of some "focus" issues. ADD
This is a wonderful young man who loves to run (cross country) and has musical interests. He has joined some clubs, but they haven't begun. He is not making friends, and feels he doesn't belong AND wants to leave. Do you think a small dose of an antidepressant would help? Is he possibly suffering from twin anxiety separation, since this is their first time apart. Thank you, as our family members are
really struggling....sending texts, phone calls, encouragement and reaching out to the university.
There is no medical doctor on campus at this time. There will be in two weeks. He probably needs some immediate care, and our daughter is e-mailing her son's counselor. We need to take further action and wonder what that should be.
My husband thinks "tough love", but I wonder. His dad won't discuss any of it.
Brief Answer:
psychotherapeutic approach needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
I can understand your concern for your grandson.
The child you are concerned about is already taking adderalland concerta. He is finding difficultyin making friends and settling down at new place.
Well, ADD children sometimes do face adjustment issues at new place. They try to resent when shifted out of their comfort zone. You are also absolutely right in that a new place might be generating anxiety.
In such cases, I do not think any drug treatment (antidepressants) will help.
The best management would be the psychotherapeutic approach. Systematic desensitisation, modeling, imagery and contingency management techniques will help.
The child can be allowed to face new conditions in graded manner. Or he can be rewarded for doing some tasks ate new place.
Such kind of approaches should help. Your counsellor woukd be the best persin for it.
Antidepressants does have some significant drug interactions with adderall and concerta. In my opinion, antidepressants are not needed and should not be initiated at present.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
psychotherapeutic approach needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
I can understand your concern for your grandson.
The child you are concerned about is already taking adderalland concerta. He is finding difficultyin making friends and settling down at new place.
Well, ADD children sometimes do face adjustment issues at new place. They try to resent when shifted out of their comfort zone. You are also absolutely right in that a new place might be generating anxiety.
In such cases, I do not think any drug treatment (antidepressants) will help.
The best management would be the psychotherapeutic approach. Systematic desensitisation, modeling, imagery and contingency management techniques will help.
The child can be allowed to face new conditions in graded manner. Or he can be rewarded for doing some tasks ate new place.
Such kind of approaches should help. Your counsellor woukd be the best persin for it.
Antidepressants does have some significant drug interactions with adderall and concerta. In my opinion, antidepressants are not needed and should not be initiated at present.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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