How to help with anxiety/depression?

[cobbiemommy]

DS, 11, is doing much better cognitively, but he seems more depressed/anxious. As I am his security blanket, he is about to drive me round the bend. Currently, we are out of school because of snow and he is tied to me like glue..... Tried the bath with epsom salts and more water to drink to flush out toxins. He does not start the Babesia treatment until next month. While I'm scared of what the Herx will look like on that, I'm more worried about staying like this!

 

He has a friend over at the moment and he still is like a lost soul. He does not like school, so I don't think that he is missing school or kids there.

 

Any suggestions??? Help!

 

Cobbie

[smartyjones]

cobbie -- how is he with puzzles and the like? my ds has always had an amazing puzzle mind. he's a little younger, but when he seems to have trouble focusing on other things, he can sometimes get lost in a puzzle or a puzzle game. we have many of the ThinkFun ones -- do you know them? mosaic coloring and pattern type things tend to be helpful also. also paper folding -- we have a airplane folding calendar -- drives dh crazy if he comes home and planes ALL OVER the house. i say hey -- he's been at it for an hour!! you might be able to find some on the internet. if you want, i think could find some pattern designs for you for coloring.

 

also, he tends to respond fairly well when i make deals -- he'll want me to watch him do the puzzle -- i'll watch for 5 minutes, then come back in 15. something like that -- maybe -- ?

 

 

[sf_mom]

We started Babesia treatment 10 weeks ago and we were also very scared of the potential herx. We experienced two weeks where DS2 had rages but as the days went by they became less intense, further apart and more manageable. After two weeks the rages stopped, we have had some mood liability that comes in blips but he has had a huge jump up in his baseline. He is often telling jokes at 3 1/2 years of age that make no sense but he is happy. We found our sweet little 'big' guy again. Hang in there as I think the Babesia treatment will be very helpful.

 

Anyway, LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of B-12 is suppose to help with mood. We give 50,000 m.g. per day

 

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Earth-Sweet-Methylcobalamin-Vitamin-B-12-Natural-Raspberry-Flavor-5000-mcg-60-Chewable-Tablets/9996?at=0

Edited January 11, 2011 by SF Mom

[LNN]

Have you worked on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) with him before? It might help to start a dialogue with him, which can often break open the dam. Everyone here knows how valuable it is to be able to share your feelings

 

You don't mention any specifics, so it's hard to suggest ideas. If it's more that you're frustrated with separation anxiety issues, then maybe ERP techniques could work. Name the feeling (e.g. the worry guy). Identify the need or the anxious thought (catch the worry guy in the act). Practice small steps that are only a 1 or 2 on the fear thermometer (I will sit on a different couch than you for 1 min, building up to I will leave the room for 1 min etc) in small baby steps. Sometimes even the simple act of practicing the techniques can bring a sense of control and relief.

 

Do you know what's going on inside? Will he discuss it with you?

[cobbiemommy]

Ok, maybe I was wrong about something. My husband would say to write this down. DS, 11, is BORED for one thing. Finally, he got his friend to go outside in the snow with him for a while. They are having a real conversation, not just echoing lines from some superhero shows. The best part is my son is initating most of the conversation. In some ways, I think he is moving past all of the old ways he had to entertain himself while he was deep into Lyme/Pandas. But I don't think he is sure how to progress to the next level of entertaining himself and conversations with others (outside of family).

 

He is still a clinger, but I can deal with that.

 

Cobbie