[1spongemom]

Our son (age 15) is having problems at school due to anxiety,depression, ADD (without hyper) and learning disability. He is failing all but one class in his Jr. High.

He is a very bright kid,polite, respectful and fun to be around. He's also a very talented musician.

One of the main problems is the anxiety he experiences especially when having to make an oral presentation. He just can't do it.
One of his teachers really picks on him. She will ask him to give a power point presentation and then say "oh, I forgot, you aren't able to do that. I guess you will just get another F" It's so humiliating for him!
We feel the other teachers have just given up on him. The worst thing is he's given up on himself.

He ends up in the nurses office or the school psychologist's office several times per week. His anxiety gets so out of control he feels like he's going to die. The nurse and school psych. are losing patience with him.

The school is not being helpful. We've asked for an evaluation to see if he can get some special education or an IEP. They say he's too bright and can do the work if he just tried. Our physician has just referred us to a place that can give him neuro-psych testing (at our cost, insurance won't cover it). We haven't heard yet if they will accept him for the testing.

Anyone here have any ideas on how we can help him better cope?

Thanks!!

[sabby]

Oh dear......sounds like a really difficult time. I'm so sorry.

My suggestion to you is to read up on the federal laws regulating IEP's etc. I do not believe your sons' school can arbitrarily tell you that he is too bright...yadda yadda yadda....you have every legal right to have him tested not only at school but outside of school and use the combination of the two to define an educational package for him.

First and foremost KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

It may be determined that your son does not need an IEP but possibly a 504 plan. That is a plan that helps your son with specific issues within the classroom and homework that may be tweaked for his benefit. He will still have to do specific classwork but may be tweaked to give him the extra support he needs to accomplish his work.

If you would like me to help you with some research on this, shoot me a pm and we can discuss in private if you like.


sabby

[Perna]

Maybe you can get him an out-of-school "mentor" of some sort?

http://www.ciswa.org/

I had trouble when I was that age and my French teacher suggested my brother help me but my stepmother knew that would never work in a million years so got me an upperclasswoman and I really blossomed under the individual attention and was able to do better. I had anxiety too and was fiercely sure I didn't need outside help and resented it but the girl my mother hired was really nice/kind and my grades and self-esteem went up together.

[BalishBun]

You know, that makes me mad to know that a school of all places can act like that. They are dealing with so many different people from all different backrounds, of course they are going to run into a few who need more help than others, or may god forbid have something like anxiety. I am so glad I didn't have anxiety as a child otherwise I am very sure I would have had the same twisted school system work against me. I am sorry he has to go through that, it is so not fair.

[jurplesman]

This is really upsetting to hear. It means that teachers - of all people - are ignorant about the causes of anxiety and hyper-activity. They should not be employed as teachers, as they can do a lot of damage. Doctors and psychologists are usually equally misinformed about this illness, suffered by many young people now-a-days.

Fortunately, the solution is fairly simple, because whether we are dealing a with anxiety or hyperactivity, they are all nutritional disorders and can be treated without recourse to drugs. Of course, drug pushing professions - psychiatrists and psychologists - are likely to dismiss this.

I suggest that you buy GLYCERINE from the pharmacy or health food store. Search our web site for GLYCERINE at our web site and how it can calm you down in an "anxiety-arousing" situation.

The true treatment for either anxiety or hyperactivity is by nutritional means so I suggest that you study the following articles carefully and start a new life. If you encounter any problems I suggest that your son be referred to a Nutritional Doctor or a Clinical Nutritionist. But most of this can be overcome by yourself as a family and through the kitchen!

Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia?

The Serotonon Connection

Beating Anxiety and Phobias

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder

ADHD and ADD, The Hyperactive Child By Dr Lendon Smith --> page 7

And

Treatments of ADHD

I hope I have been of some help.

[scott88keys]

1spongemom,
Contact your district's special education coordinator, or the special education teacher in your son's school. Ask that a case study be opened for him. This will put into process whether or not to do an IEP or a 504 plan. Unfortunately, some schools will balk at this because of the money it costs to test a child. Sounds like your son's teachers are less than understanding which is just maddening. Don't give up. Lots of kids learn coping skills to manage their anxiety in school and overcome their problems.

[AAAAA]

1spongemom,

I agree with all of these recommendations. My eldest had similiar problems, and an IEP is a wonderful tool that "can be used as a sword as needed" (a quote from one of his wonderful LD teachers).

FYI we tried the diet therapy for him and it was not sucessful. My son was very fortunate, when he was Dx it was by Drs. Zimmerman. A wonderful husband and wife team in Washington He was a pediatrician, she a phychologist and nutrionist. My husband and I met with them for 4 hours at the beginning of the month, my son met with them for 4 hours a day, five days a week for a month. At the end of the month we met with them for another 4 hours. Follow up treatments were several hours long at least once a month. We tried a variety of other things before we decided to medicate him.

As for the teacher that picks on him, call that @$#%*&* into the principals office and give him/her a taste of his own medicine. These bullies are like any other and when they know someone is going to stand up to them, they slither away to a new victim.

The school cannot use your child disability to punish or humiliate him. Make yourself heard by the administration. There are laws in place especially for LD students, the fines for violation are VERY HIGH, you start threatening their funding, they'll ask how high you want them to jump.

It can be slightly harder for children that are not LD, but it's still possible. Walk in the the principal's office, and when they tell you he's busy, say I'll wait. If he/she is unwilling to settle he matter to your satisfaction, hit the Superintendent next. Still unhappy, go to a school board meeting, but make sure that you've put yourself on the adgenda or they only have to give you a few minutes. Once they see that you mean business they will straighten up their act.

My son found his niche in high school. His high school years were happy and productive.