I am not a psychiatrist at all but I noticed my mood shift considerably when I mixed Zoloft and trazadone. Generally the "hangover" from the trazadone made me extremely irritable this might be something to discuss with him if he has headaches or light sensitivity or simply feels like he is waking up in a grumpy mood. If he has any of these I would suggest taking him to his psychiatrist or PCP.. also you didnt state how old your youngest is but I am going to guess somewhere between 13 and 16

I don't think the government shutdown should have anything to do with getting in to see his pdoc. I would give his doctor a call.

I'm so sorry that your son and family are going through this krystl.... I would call his pdoc as well.... Let them know that he's going through a terrible time and needs help now..
If you can't get hold of him quickly I'd get him in to see his GP....x

Is it possible for him to enroll in a private school? Realize that could be financially not be an option or there might be one near you. You wrote the other kids sense he's different. So that makes me think he's not just a normal teen male with raging hormones. A typical teen is not perceived as someone whose different. If his classmates understood his situation better would that help?

He's nine. We got in to see doc. He is weaning off of the zoloft. So far, However. I will keep an eye out. Most likely the problem was the lack of a mood stabilzer. He was ok until the doc upped his dose. We have all been there or watched it happen.

We can't afford private school. We can barely afford the Y and we just had to replace the family car. The Y is for my fibro and for the rest of the family to relax.

I am watching him closely as we lower the dose. I have kept him home on one really tough day before we got in to see the doc. Then he went back and did ok. Doc saw him Wed and lower dose started Thursday. We should know more by next week. After two weeks we will go back to doc and plan the next steps.

Thank you for your replies and concern. Please keep him in your thoughts.

Some of the angst (no not all) can be helped with exercise. I think it is important that exercise is a separate treatment category alongside of meds. Does he get enough exercise? Anyone gets crankier without it.

My daughter is in a similar boat but she is almost five and may not turn out exactly like your son (obviously-:)

I feel for you.
I always try to keep the attitude that I need to be the change I want to see in the world. I help out at her playgroup and it makes a difference.
Is there a way you can help out with the PTA at school? Kids with parents present for the teachers to see get more care for their kids, sorry to say. Not that those without parents present don't get cared for but there is a natrual tendency for a teacher to see a parent and then straighten up immediately and make sure that their papers are triple checked for accuracy and that you speak superplitely to them.

Oh, and btw, I tried blue green algae caps by E3 live and upped my vegetable and probiotic intake. Made my thoughts more fluid and my personality calmer.Exercise is a help too. I can't see me leaving out meds OR exercise OR extra veggies in my diet Or.....lots of other things.

And so, in continuation, maybe the teachers at school can help out with you son's social situation. An effective teacher has a huge impact on his or her kids. I remember my ex fianc had a brother who was a history teacher. When his dad died, I saw several of his students at his father's funeral. I thought it was remarkable. I would think that if he said, "treat so an so right," they would.

I also know that when I was student teaching, my student teaching coordinator saw I was struggling and wanted me to feel ok with being a part of the student teacher team. He saw I did not know how to befriend the teachers (stil don't but now I teach Art so all is a bit different). He asked a group of four teachers to take me under their wing and they did.

There are ways to help you son I would think but they are not always so easy to see.

What kind of Doctor is he seeing? A psych doc is best in his situation if he isn't seeing one. The meds you describe won't take care of his mood fluctuation. If he was diagnosed BP, his doc should know that and work with him. He needs to see his doc asap. xo

Missed tgat he is not on a mood stabilizer. Guess he gad a reason .