Combination ADHD and OCD.

[JennyBug]

That sounds almost like autism, more specifically Aspergar's Syndrome. Children who have Aspergar's tend to have the rigid nature like those who are OCD because they don't deal well with change. They also sometimes lash out violently against animals or people who try to keep them from doing what they want to do.

Self-diagnosing rarely works. The only reason I know anything about Aspergar's or other psychological ailments is because my sister has a doctorate in psychology. I would recommend this child seeing a specialist, though many specialist are becoming wary of diagnosing young children because they are still undergoing changes.

Best of luck with the little guy.

 

[Spoof]

They also sometimes lash out violently against animals or people who try to keep them from doing what they want to do.

Yes, but they don't do it when you're not there, or do it in front of you on purpose. They have triggers. I had a roommate with it, she was very responsive to the chins but would explode at strange little things. In particular, furniture on top of furniture (I was refinishing an end table). Made her so upset she actually moved out.

They are usually self harming.

I'm glad you're getting out and looking for another place.

 

[Melissa]

My BA is in Theater and Literature with a minor in English; I transferred out of a Teacher Education degree my first semester because I generally don't like kids. The only reason I'm in this at all is because I was kicked out of my house, had to give up a decent job with benefits, and needed a place to stay where I wouldn't be moving back in with an abusive alcoholic.

Is it possible he knows you dont like kids? Maybe thats why his parents dont see something wrong with him and whyhe acts out with you and not them and at school.

 

[3CsMommy]

Is it possible he knows you dont like kids? Maybe thats why his parents dont see something wrong with him and whyhe acts out with you and not them and at school.

Well anything is possible, but I've always tried to be good to him. We play and read stories more than he does with his father, and I've found that he behaves better with a task at hand, like helping me load the dish washer, etc. Yes I sometimes have to yell as part of getting his attention or distracting him from a behavior, time outs are a 5-9/day part of the routine, and he's gotten 2 spankings from me in the last 6 months, but the bad behavior isn't exclusive to the time he's with me. He acts up around his parents too, mostly his father. I think his mom's realization came because she had him alone for a week without me around to "trigger" him by not doing things the way she always does them.

Today, for example, he waited until his father went to the bathroom to go into the back yard barefoot to go play with the neighbors. (We had snow last night; it was in the 30s for most of the day.) His dad found him and sent him to his room and went back to try to go to the bathroom. So, since the neighbor kids were still outside, he disabled the safety and lock on his window, opened it, tore the screen out, and was hanging out of his second story window to talk to the neighbor kid. What else he did in terms of tantrums while all this was going on I don't know, but I'd assume they were the usual.

 

[MMMTDF]

I know many people with Optional Defiance Disorder, and I also have it. This sounds a lot how my parents described me, but I didn't hurt animals, I would think that maybe he has a severe case of that also, and I would think ADHD or ADD are also good assumptions.

 

[3CsMommy]

Update: They're supposedly getting a referral from the pediatrician for a behavior therapist in town. The information (and bruises) mom has acquired from time outs during her maternity leave, as well as concerns from his teacher, finally got the message across.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Therapy is a good choice, especially with the new baby on the way. I am glad for everyone (family wise) involved that they finally managed to see through their blinders and get this poor kid some help BEFORE it was too late.
So many people are quick to label and prescribe meds and not worry about the mental issues that are often caused by this! I found out that ODD can and will often lead to OCD manifesting itself because the child will often feel that the only thing he can control is the things around him since his emotions are flying out of his control.
I myself have a 13 year old who was diagnosed at 4 with ADHD and later diagnosed with OCD and with meds AND therapy has greatly improved. But not until I got him the help he needed was he able to!