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Suggest Treatment For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Question: I have an 11 year old step daughter. I have been living in the house for 4 months. Since I have been there. She has anger outbursts. When she gets angry over little things, she tips over chairs. She stabs herself with a pencil, clears her room of everything when she gets angry, threatens to kill her mother and herself, refuses to do her homework and will strongly defy us. She will use strong foul language. She hits herself when she gets upset even over small things. There are no child psychiatrist in our area who take her insurance. The PA thinks it's bipolar, but I think it is ODD. She will fly off the handle over everything. Her teacher's told her to stop taking her medication. I am not sure what to do. She is in the 6th grade going 1st/2nd grade work.
Shopping for clothes is an experience. She has outgrown the kids section but refuses to shop in the adult clothes section. She will have a meltdown if I take her to the adult clothes section. She has not started her period. She experienced 5 deaths in a 3 month period last year. Only one was a close relative. She views growing up as getting closer to death. 3 months ago, she tried to stab herself with a butter knife. I know her mom is not telling me the whole story. Her biological father dies 2 years ago of cancer. for four years her mother took care of her husband and let her daughter fall y the waist side. Her mother blames herself for all the problems with her daughter.
Shopping for clothes is an experience. She has outgrown the kids section but refuses to shop in the adult clothes section. She will have a meltdown if I take her to the adult clothes section. She has not started her period. She experienced 5 deaths in a 3 month period last year. Only one was a close relative. She views growing up as getting closer to death. 3 months ago, she tried to stab herself with a butter knife. I know her mom is not telling me the whole story. Her biological father dies 2 years ago of cancer. for four years her mother took care of her husband and let her daughter fall y the waist side. Her mother blames herself for all the problems with her daughter.
Brief Answer:
looks like post traumatic stress disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
I understand how troubled your step daughter is now.
The symptoms you described fit more into post traumatic stress disorder.
This happens after death of loved ones like in her case.
Children.can have emotional outbursts, anger episodes and even suicidal behaviour .
She needs urgent medical and social help.
If no child psychiatrist, atleasttake her to local mental health clinic or adult psychologist or even a counsellor.
Medications are necessary , usually Prozac or Zoloft can be given only on prescription.
Apart from medicines she needs constant supervision to prevent further suicide attempts.
Few tips I could suggest you
1. Seek urgent medical help.
2. Try distraction methods like nature outing, music , etc.
3. Play therapy with her friends , not leaving her alone at any point of time.
4. Identifying triggers for her outbreaks and avoiding them.
5. Avoid forcing her to select what youchoose.Let her be in her comfort zone.
6. Try talking and playing with her like you do to a normal child. She shouldn't feel she is sick.
Wishing her good health and speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Arun
looks like post traumatic stress disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
I understand how troubled your step daughter is now.
The symptoms you described fit more into post traumatic stress disorder.
This happens after death of loved ones like in her case.
Children.can have emotional outbursts, anger episodes and even suicidal behaviour .
She needs urgent medical and social help.
If no child psychiatrist, atleasttake her to local mental health clinic or adult psychologist or even a counsellor.
Medications are necessary , usually Prozac or Zoloft can be given only on prescription.
Apart from medicines she needs constant supervision to prevent further suicide attempts.
Few tips I could suggest you
1. Seek urgent medical help.
2. Try distraction methods like nature outing, music , etc.
3. Play therapy with her friends , not leaving her alone at any point of time.
4. Identifying triggers for her outbreaks and avoiding them.
5. Avoid forcing her to select what youchoose.Let her be in her comfort zone.
6. Try talking and playing with her like you do to a normal child. She shouldn't feel she is sick.
Wishing her good health and speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Arun
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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