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Hi there,
We adopted two kids from Russia 9 years ago. My daughter was almost 4 when she came home with us. My was about 15 months. My daughter has always been a very challenging child. Massive temper tantrums at first, very stubborn, etc. As she got older, she started growing out of them a bit altough the stubborness, extreme possessiveness and problems with peers has always been there. She and I seemed to have a pretty good relationship. There were ups and downs of course but she would talk to me, we would do mother-daughter things. She never showed any inappropriate behavior earlier when it came to strangers. She always did seem bonded to my husband, son and me. She always had a number of school problems with peers and would usually cause dramas, frictions and eventually was moved classes when she was in 5th grade. Up until now though, she seemed to fit in fairly well with the family and I never suspected any attachment issues.
Over the past summer, she seemed to grow up a bit and was off to a great start in 6th grade. She signed up and participated in a large number of after school events. She was excelling in piano which she had taken for 6 years and was making tremendous strides. She was involved in the school orchestra, the school play, cross country, etc. She was even making A's and B's. However, after the first part of the year, things started going downhill rapidly. It iis almost like a different person started possessing my daughter's body. Peer problems, abuse of the cell phone, extreme stalking of several boys, in class behavior problems, possible police action because of the stalking, lying, manipulation of teachers to where she was wandering the hallways, etc. Then the rages started---towards me. My life is a torture almost 24 x 7 with her rages. She says the most vile things imaginable--towards me. A few weeks ago, the hitting started when I try to calm her--I have bruises on my arm, a sprained foot and broken tooth today. She also has caused extreme problems at school making allegations towards others that aren't true. She even accused me of sexually molesting my son and then admitted that she made it up to the school counselor to get to me. Around the house, we have to lock everything up since she steals money and any possession that means something to me. I've had to call 911 once to settle her down. She was leaving the house but prior was opening all my drawers, calling back phone numbers on my phone because I was spreading "my lies."
I know that she is very angry about her adoption right now. She sincerely believes that I kidnapped her from Russia and took her away from her loving family. We've shown her photos of her and her brother at the orphanage (they aren't biologically related). She doesn't want to hear reason. As the school counselor told me, she seems to suffer from "deluational" thinking. I know hormones are in play now although she started her period almost a year ago and there weren't any issues. We have her seeing a therapist, a psychiatrist and the school is working with us to get her into a specialized child psychiatrist who is very good. She has threatened suicide 3 times now--one sent her to the ER. The last incident were notes found in her locker to me and my son. She expressed deep remorse as to how she was acting and said that she deeply loves me inspite of everything she says.
Working through the medical system has been frustrating. Initial diagnosis was depression but the later psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar disorder, ODD and possible RAD. I agree with the bipolar and she is on meds although I haven't seen any change yet. I agree with the ODD---4 independent health care professional have diagnosed this. The RAD I'm not so sure about although the elementary counselor had strong suspicions in addition to a developing personality disorder. We are in the process of looking at some inpatient hospitilization and possible referral out of the school district. We have a wonderful alternative school just minutes from our house.
I know that I'm babbling a bit but has anyone dealt with a situation like this where it is like a demon has possessed your child. This isn't a child that just came into our house. She has been with us for almost 9 years now and this has hit us so very hard. Does RAD suddenly appear or were their signs (like problems with her peers) that should have sent up red flags?
I've read some of the other RAD threads and they really describe my daughter perfectly. She seems the happiest when there is the greatest drama and strife around her. In fact what is disturbing is that when things are so bad, she has a little smile on her face. She really is enjoying the attention, even if it is negative. I am going to pursue hiring a private investigator to find out some info on her birth family. Her mother was in jail, the father we know nothing about. I would like to know if there is mental illness or any other tidbits we can find out to help us with this puzzle. We are truly at our wits end at this point.
Any help or insight would be appreciated. I will start taking a look at the RAD threads, blogs and pick up some books. It is going to be a long road for us I'm afraid.
Is puberty kicking in, by any chance? I'm not ruling out RAD.. and it sounds like she definitely could use some therapy...
But a was an absolutely "witch" in 6th grade. once hormones kicked in, my rages were nuts :arrow:
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Puberty is kicking in although she started her period last summer. We do have her in weekly therapy and I've reached out to the state to get in home therapy as well. I'm learning that we have a ton of resources at our fingertips and so far, they have been pretty responsive at getting us some help.
What worries me a bit is that there were always indications of things being out of wack with our daughter from the early years. Puberty and middle school has made her into a different person. I know that all kids go through their difficult moments but her rage seems over the top---she is angry all the time.
I don't think this is RAD, but she definitely has some psychological issues. Do you know if she lived in the system since she was a baby or not? If mother was later in jail and your daughter lived with her until mom was placed into jail, your daughter could be abused or see things that left her with the scars even though she might not remember about it. RAD has different forms, I don't think your daughter has RAD at all. Asking for attention - might be something else. Give it to her. She might have low self-esteem. it's also normal to make up stories about childhood in that age. You could take her back for the tour to that place you took her from so she can see. she probably doesn't speak Russian though to fully understand, but when she sees things that are true vs made up reality - this would change her thinking. I would suggest change therapist and go on with the therapies as well, as well she needs to see her birth country.
We know someone who has a similar story where their kid, a boy, got really hard all of a sudden like at age 7. He was adopted from Russia also, at age 2 or 3, I think. They think he is RAD.
I don't think a RADlet wouldn't write a letter apologizing for her hurting behaviors. She is definitely crying out for help and seems to have lost touch with who she is, sort of an identity crisis.
You would NOT get letters of remorse from a child with RAD, unless they were intended to be manipulative (unlikely if they truly were "suicide" notes). It sounds much more like the slew of other mental illnesses that tend to crop up during the adolescent years. Early onset bipolar is enough to explain the rages--especially if she is rapid cycling. I was diagnosed ODD as a child & the underlying attachment issues were never addressed. Sounds like you're at least ahead knowing about her anger. I put my parents through hell from about 11-14 and it was treated as a behavioral issue--when it really was severe depression. Glad to hear you have resources available, many don't. Hope she can get into the psychiatrist soon.
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Have they done bloodwork to check her hormone levels? Do her behaviors increase around the time she starts her period?
Knowing my RAD kids (keep in mind all of mine have been much younger) the letters make me think an attachment disorder is less likely.
Yes, she had her annual physical and all was well. The behaviors seem independent of her period. She doesn't complain all that much with the periods and doesn't seem to get cramps and all that good stuff.
Unfortunately, yesterday she was kicked out of school until we can get a medical clearance letter starting that she is not a threat to herself or others. She is fine today but the smallest thing can set her off badly. She actually expressed a bit of remorse today, semi apologized then quickly changed the subject.
Here is the actual RAD diagnosis: [url]http://www.pacwcbt.pitt.edu/Curriculum/303CaseworkwithChildren_ReactiveAttachmentDisorderinChildrenandAdolescents/Handouts/HO2_DSMIVDiagnosticCriteriafor318_89.pdf[/url]
Your daughter doesn't fit the criteria from your description of her history of good relationships. Also, she is too young for a personality disorder...thank goodness!
What I have found in my practice is when kids hit puberty the hormones cause an increase in anger or depression, and often an increase in desire to know their birth family. I have seen many sullen teenagers become like a new person after meeting a birth parent. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.
You can address her natural desire to know more about her birth family and give her the opportunity to express her thoughts, feelings and things she is wondering about.
Many kids voice the following: "I want to know what she looks like." "I want to know if I have siblings." "I want to know why she didn't keep me." "I want her to know about me: my school, my friends, and my family."
I hope you find this helpful!
I've no idea if your daughter is RAD or not, but there are tons of blogs written by adoptive moms who adopted kids from "hard places". They've got some fabulous ideas and suggestions for "therapeutic parenting" and my caves include:
creatingmyownlittlenirvana.blogspot.com (Nastia is now 18 and was adopted from Ukraine 10 yrs ago)
Welcometomybrain.net (several RADishes adopted from Haiti)
Fromsurvivaltoserenity.blogspot.com (2 elementary school-aged boys with RAD, fasd & ODD adopted from ukraine 7 years ago)
mommyneedstherapy.blogspot.com (8 yr old boy with rad & fasd adopted from Russia as a toddler)
Goodmomsarealotofthings.blogspot.com (several girls with RAD)
homeasoftplacetofall.blogspot.com (5 RADishes adopted from Haiti).
Good luck!!
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We placed our daughter in residential treatment because of rad, rage, mood disorder, and adhd. She just turned 14 and she consistantly rages against us and assaults us. We had to separate ourselves for our protection. We hope to get her a proper diagnosis and take her off all of the wrong medications she has been on.
I heard a quote today on catholic radio. "You cant truly love another without truly loving yourself first" I shared that with my daughter and she seemed very receptive to it. She understood that she needs to love herself before she can heal and truly love her parents.
I had attactment issues as a kid .I really didn't have enough emotions to think about suidide as a teenager. I also wasn't violent or anything like that. I would see about checking out the bio's first. Maybe theirs something hereditary, she has. Also if the mother drank or did drugs while she was pregnant, that could make things worse, if it's effected her brain. Maybe take back to the ophanage or pics on her bio parents might help.