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15 year old daughter with Complex PTSD

Mental Health | Last Active: Jun 7, 2023 | Replies (19)

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@annebp

I feel for you! My son has been showing signs of PTSD (possibly related to post-Covid/post viral malaise and academic anxiety) for over a year. He stopped going to school and said he didn’t care about anything anymore. He would not try Sertraline or agree to talk to a psychologist. We explored boarding schools and therapy schools, but he felt as if he was being sent into away into exile. And, we knew that if he were required to give weekly urine samples, he would sooner let his bladder burst than submit to such demands. He agreed to do NeuroPsych Educatonal testing, and learning differences were diagnosed, as well as General Anxiety and markers for Autism. The Neuropsychologist recommended a psychologist who specializes in helping young people develop a healthy relationship with technology. He plays video games, board games, etc. with his clients who have completely shut down in real life. The Neuropsychologist also recommended an alternative learning private school because the IEP process was going to take months, months that we did not have. My son’s new high school has 1:1 personalized learning, a flexible schedule, and rolling admissions. Based on the student’s needs, they can go outside for lunch and not feel locked up in a school building. The neuropsychologist recommended for my son the most accommodating and least restrictive environment for him to earn his high school diploma. As a family, we still have a long way to go, but after 3 years of struggling, I finally feel that we are getting the supports that we need.

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Replies to "I feel for you! My son has been showing signs of PTSD (possibly related to post-Covid/post..."

That’s great that he is getting the help he needs and deserves!
My daughter was placed in a specialized classroom setting her freshman year of Highschool (she is now a sophomore). It was for kids who just didn’t have the capability to sit in normal classroom settings and feel the anxiety of having to keep up with everyone else, as well as all the homework. It allowed more one on one time with the teachers, all the kids worked at their own pace, they didn’t have homework unless they didn’t complete their work in school, and they had frequent breaks where they played games, went outdoors, had “family” time, and were given incentives if they completed their work in a timely manner. It helped dramatically. Until a couple of months into her sophomore year, this seemed to take away so much of her anxiety. I unfortunately ended up having to take her out of this school program and put her into an online school because the closer her court date came, the more anxiety and emotions she was feeling.
The online school has been extremely beneficial for her. She no longer has to dread going into a school filled with peers that caused her anxiety to worsen, and she can still work at her own pace.