Anger issues

[Guest Susanna]

My sons tics are virtually non-existant these days, for that I'm very thankful. Still haven't done the various allergy, vitamin testing, etc...his homeopath wanted to do some more research and consult with another doctor before just administering my laundry list of tests. Still trying to limit the junk food and artifical colors, flavors and preservatives...they haven't been eliminated completely but significantly reduced. Have switched to a multi-vitamin without the junk in it as well. Our biggest problem now seems to be his anger, which he says he can not control. It doesn't seem to be a problem when he's out away from us, such as camp, school, etc. But at home or when he's out with us, watch out! I try to get him to take a time out which doesn't work because he won't comply. Only when I physically grab him and hold him and have him take ten deep breaths will he calm down enough so we can talk (sometimes). He says he can't control his anger. He's always had a bit of a short fuse, but it has gotten much worse since he started ticcing in mid April. I believe I've read where the anger outbursts are associated with PANDAS. He did test positive for Strep antibodies which were treated with antibiotics. I thought the extreme anger would disappear along with the Strep. It hasn't. Is this TS related? Could it be part of some other comorbid condition? Any suggestions on what may help?

[Claire]

They just had this discussion on braintalk, but I can't find the thread!

 

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumd...splay.php?f=253

 

Yes, it can definitely be associated--plus with the underlying immune issues.

 

Glad your child is doing so well, that is awesome!

 

Claire

[Chemar]

Hi Susanna

glad your son is doing better re tics.

 

Yes, frustration and rage can be comorbid conditions with TS and are often related to OCD issues.

 

here is the discussion on BrainTalk that Claire is referring to

 

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showth...ead.php?t=25812

[Andy]

Susanna, how old is your child again? Without knowing anything may I also throw out displacement to think about. It is most likely not the reason but sometimes children and adults will act out their anger with those who love them the most and where they feel the safest. For example, my 5 year old boy never even blinked when blood is drawn for tests and has fought taller boys in the park who hurt his brother yet sometimes at home he will cry over the smallest of things and I think he is just letting out some of his fears and anger over his condition. He doesn't talk about his issue other then stateing he has allegies to his friends but sometimes in private he will ask me and only me to make the tics go away or why does he have them and not his brother or friends. Again, I only sugggest displacement for you mentioned that he has no anger problems in school or at home. However, looking at your home environment to see if there is a trigger that does not exist outside should also be looked into. If I may suggest, make a log of when negative, inappropriate as well as outburst behavior occurs with time, location, activity and any food or other outside agent that may have been present or taken into his system. This may give you a baseline of data that could give possible triggers to think about. Once again I don't know anything and those who wrote before me know alot more but I thought I add something else to think about.

[Claire]

Andy,

 

What kind and insightful advice to give. Your comment on tracking things before the anger reminded me how Ronna's son used to go into a rage after eating corn, which it turns out he was sensitive too. Dr. Rapp definitely talks about emotional 'allergic' reactions to food.

 

Susanne, if this continues, you might wish to push for the food sensitivity tests. If you can't get them done, then Dr. Rapp suggests an elimination diet for some length of time. You gradually add in the various foods and notice if there is a reaction.

 

This may not be it of course. I do think Andy is right about releasing at home. I also think that unusual anger is associated with all of this--I hope that you can get more tests done. My son had no tics once we eliminated TV, but all this work has helped with emotional issues.

 

Claire

[Guest Susanna]

Thanks all for your replies.

 

Andy, my son is 6 1/2 years old. I don't really think it's displacement related to his tics since he is not really ticcing these days, but I am suspecting some sort of allergic trigger. It's interesting how you say your son talks about his "allergies" My son does not like when I ask him about his "shakes" and doesn't want to talk about them. If I do want to ask him about them I have to refer to them as his "you know what's"

 

I also don't see any other OCD type symptoms. However, I also agree he feels "safe" at home or w/me and therefore allows himself to have one of his rages. Lucky me! I will try to keep better track of what he's eating, etc to see if I can determine a common denominator that is setting him off.

[Guest Jeff]

Susanna, We have seen increased irritability and anger in our daughter when she has eaten too much corn syrup. That stuff can really throw her off. Her voice gets louder, she loses focus, and she can get pretty mean sometimes...

Don't know if that helps or not.

Jeff

[sgrunin]

Susanna

 

Watch the sugar intake...Its amazing what has sugar in it these days...most juices have a form of sugar..like Jeff said..corn syrup is a culprit also..Most fruits have a natural form of sugar.....

 

That is what makes my tics worse and I am 31..I have to watch my sugar intake..

 

I get set off pretty easily also..I dont go into any types of rage..I am old enough that I can relax myself but I am easily set off.

 

Scott

[Guest Susanna]

Even before the tics started I suspected my son had a problem when he consumed too much sugar. Before his latest rage yesterday he had consumed quite a number of cookies. They were from Trader Joes so they were "junk" free, but they still had sugar. Hmmmm

[Chemar]

Susanna

 

I am not sure if this has any significance in your case but

 

Mold, excessive dustmite and formaldehyde (as in new carpeting) can also trigger rage and frustration issues, as well as be tic triggers

My son also found chlorine in swimming pools to make him "short fused"

 

And, we learnt quickly about the artificial food colors and high fructose corn syrup and MSG mood swings plus tic increases!

 

Also, OCD can manifest in varied forms when co-morbid with TS and is not always the classic symptoms that we have come to associate.

[cinderella]

According to my son's TS specialist, TS can have an anger related component . In a small percentage of patients anger/rage is a significant factor of TS.It can sometimes be mistaken for ODD.

My own family is dealing with this on a daily basis. Both my husband and my son suffer from TS. We too search for answers. I wish you well in your search.

cinderella

[Andy]

Susanna, my boy has only spoken to me about his condition when it is the two of us driving back from pee wee sports or another shared outing. I never ask him how he feels about the condition but I often let him know that he could always talk to me about anything that is bothering him whenever he wants to and I will always be there for him no matter what. This is usually after my I love you today, I love you yesterday, I will love you tommorow and I will always love you night time kissings. He's 5 as I have often stated so it still works for us. I also go out of my way to communicate in an informal and nondirected approach to both of my sons that everyone has something wrong with them and that no one is perfect. Examples would be showing Nemo, fish with one fin shorter then it should be, reading short stories that include kids with handicapps, telling the stories of Albert Einstien, Stephan Hawkins etc., making up stories about shy boys who save the day, bullies who are really scared etc, as well as explaining medications to them and why people take them when we are shopping in a Walmart, Walgreens, Save-on Drugs type of stores. We have never mention T.S. to him for one no one in our families have it and two it is a label and what we are interested is lessening the tics and treating and repairing what is causing them. Both my parents were stricten severely with polio as children and it never stopped them from living full and active lives. Even if it was not always easy for them. I hope to set a mindset in my kid that this is a condition that needs to be treated, it is only a condition and not his life. Of course it helps when his tics are not severe or frequent. Claire, thank you for your kind words. I learn something everytime I log onto this site and you are one of the people I have learned from and if I may another big thank you to Chemar for all of her postings. I hope I didn't come off pompus for I do have sleepless nights racking my brains on what could be done, what is the cause etc... and private tears in my heart when his condition is severe.

[Chemar]

Andy

you sound like a very special father and your son (and family) are blessed to have you.

 

It is really so good that you are being proactive at this early stage in your son's life and "managing" his treatments. I have heard time and again how remarkably better things get when natural treatments are started early on.

 

I saw in your other post that you are going to get the Maker's Diets and Children with Starving Brains. Also consider "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp.

 

God Bless

Cheri