Mason - April and May Update

Sorry it has taken me almost two months between posts.  When you don't have anything nice to say, it is better to say nothing at all. We are a hot mess.  There!  I said it.  We smile and go through the motions of life, but inside our house we all walk on egg shells.  Anxiety and depression are sucking the life out of our family.  Last week Logan and I sat in the parking lot of school and cried.  We want to fix it and there isn’t a magic pill or button.  Watching you child struggle is hard.  Watching them lash out, feel angry and irritable all the time is heart breaking.  Mason hates school, feels like he has no friends, has frequent headaches, and feels stupid. He wants to behave but has no impulse control, so he is constantly in trouble.  It is a viscous cycle that is hard to break. Mowing grass is one of his only pleasures.

Mason's happy place

We have tried several different types of medication, but the psychiatrist and I agree that they were not working and even causing Mason to become more agitated.  We have weaned him off everything and will try to manage the ADHD symptoms. Suggestions of essential oils (can't stand the smell) and diet changes...come on...really, are no help at this point. We have also tested for PANDAs.  I wished school was over for him.  Each day is more and more stressful and how much are they really learning at this point? 

Mason is scheduled for an assessment next week at Kennedy Krieger.  They will determine if their program is right for him and his specific course of treatment.  He is in such a low place, I worry that now is not the time to try this.

He is currently working with a therapist and as a family, we have reached out to our church for additional counseling.  We have put the wheels in motion, but they turn slowly. People ask how they can help and prayer is the only answer. We covet your prayers as we tell Mason of the treatment plan he will be entering.  We covet your prayers for rest for our family and how our summer will unfold. I covet your prayers for my health as the stress is taking a toll on me.  I will post again after we visit Baltimore to let you know how things went at KKI.

Mary