Penny had an interesting conversation with her guidance counselor. They talked about anxieties and what things she is worried about. She told him 'Well, I am worried about death. But not the normal way. I know a lot of people are afraid to die, because they think all will go black and it will be the end of everything. But I am not afraid of that, because I believe in reincarnation, so I will just be born again. Over and over. That is all good and fine, but it does mean that I am going to be around when the sun explodes! And then what?!!! I can't reincarnate anymore!'
Luckily we have a quick thinking guidance counselor who explained that she did not have to reincarnate on Earth, that there are many planets which could support life and she could reincarnate as an alien on one of those. In a different solar system. Phew!
He also pointed out that she didn't have to reincarnate as a human, but could come back as a tree or a rock instead. This got her really excited about what a cool secret life rocks would have. I mean, no one would suspect them of anything!' And trees are cool too. When you climb them they help you. If they didn't like you they would just push you out.
The curse of high intelligence and creativity making it way too easy to come up with many possible scenarios to worry about.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Vincent and Computers
Over the last few months, dr Plato has been very clear in our meetings with him that the boys would benefit from restrictions on computer time. X has been resistant in implementing any such program. Apart from the one week where he tried to limit to three hours a day, but didn't monitor. Last week dr Plato told X again to turn off the computer or at least put a password on so they can't play unlimited.
X explained to dr Plato that he couldn't do that because Vincent would get annoyed... Zac would be ok with it, but Vincent would be annoyed.'
Dr Plato 'So what would Vincent do?'
X 'Well, he would go to friend's houses to play.'
Dr Plato 'He is that addicted? Does he have friends where he could just come and play computer all day?'
X 'um.. yes, no, maybe not.'
There was a lot more going back and forth, and the explanation that so much of Vincent's social life is in the computer (X 'he has real friends there!'), so he can't turn it off and X doesn't want to be bullying the boys around anyway.
The mind boggles.
Vincent quit his job and now plays World of Warcraft 24/7. In February he did get his GED but has not made any moves towards college. X explained to dr Plato that Vincent has lots of potential, but is waiting for X to get him into college. X stated 'Vincent needs a lighted path with check marks to cross off.' Dr Plato dryly commented that there are no lighted paths in front of the computer.
Lots more during this meeting, but my favorite was the 'No, I can't turn off the computer because Vincent will be annoyed.'
X explained to dr Plato that he couldn't do that because Vincent would get annoyed... Zac would be ok with it, but Vincent would be annoyed.'
Dr Plato 'So what would Vincent do?'
X 'Well, he would go to friend's houses to play.'
Dr Plato 'He is that addicted? Does he have friends where he could just come and play computer all day?'
X 'um.. yes, no, maybe not.'
There was a lot more going back and forth, and the explanation that so much of Vincent's social life is in the computer (X 'he has real friends there!'), so he can't turn it off and X doesn't want to be bullying the boys around anyway.
The mind boggles.
Vincent quit his job and now plays World of Warcraft 24/7. In February he did get his GED but has not made any moves towards college. X explained to dr Plato that Vincent has lots of potential, but is waiting for X to get him into college. X stated 'Vincent needs a lighted path with check marks to cross off.' Dr Plato dryly commented that there are no lighted paths in front of the computer.
Lots more during this meeting, but my favorite was the 'No, I can't turn off the computer because Vincent will be annoyed.'
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ants and Anxiety
Penny has had very much heightened anxiety for no clear reason. She was sick for one or two weeks, didn't go to school much, but once she was feeling better physically her anxiety was still up. She missed many days of school thanks to anxiety issues, and one night her worries reached a new level.
She was trying to fall asleep when an ant crawled over her foot. She totally freaked out, started hyperventilating, complained about not being able to breathe. She was sure ants were everywhere, they were scary and she definitely could not go to sleep because what if an ant came while she slept? Not to mention that there weren't any safe places to sleep.
After a few hours of that I called emergency services and we did get her calmed down enough to actually to get her to sleep but it took quite a while.
The next morning the psychiatrist had a cancellation, so they called us asking whether we wanted to take it. Did I ever! The psychiatrist evaluated her, agreed that her anxiety levels were way high and recommended anti anxiety medication. She didn't want to use prozac since that would take a few weeks to kick in and there seemed to be more urgency. So she is on guanfacine now.
She also has clonidine to help her sleep if needed.
The medication seems to help some, but we still had
Not sure why her anxiety is so high, I am thinking either the sickness and recovery, the school end of year things being different, or maybe it is a result of puberty. We'll see the psychiatrist this week to talk about how things are going and take it from there.
She was trying to fall asleep when an ant crawled over her foot. She totally freaked out, started hyperventilating, complained about not being able to breathe. She was sure ants were everywhere, they were scary and she definitely could not go to sleep because what if an ant came while she slept? Not to mention that there weren't any safe places to sleep.
After a few hours of that I called emergency services and we did get her calmed down enough to actually to get her to sleep but it took quite a while.
The next morning the psychiatrist had a cancellation, so they called us asking whether we wanted to take it. Did I ever! The psychiatrist evaluated her, agreed that her anxiety levels were way high and recommended anti anxiety medication. She didn't want to use prozac since that would take a few weeks to kick in and there seemed to be more urgency. So she is on guanfacine now.
She also has clonidine to help her sleep if needed.
The medication seems to help some, but we still had
- half a day missed from school ('I am too scared to go to school' general anxiety with a bit of 'What if there are ants?!' specifics mixed in)
- Sleep issues 'My throat is hurting. I am going to die! I am going to die! I am going to die.' That night we used clonidine which seemed to work.
- Freakout at school play ground because of bug on her.
- Another ant incident last night which yet again made it hard for her to go to sleep.
Not sure why her anxiety is so high, I am thinking either the sickness and recovery, the school end of year things being different, or maybe it is a result of puberty. We'll see the psychiatrist this week to talk about how things are going and take it from there.
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