Help - My Sons Behavior Is Scaring Me!

Updated on September 30, 2012
S.C. asks from Lutz, FL
16 answers

My son is 3 1/2 and has always had somewhat of an attitude problem. He is the baby - with one older brother that just turned 6. My oldest is very calm and doesn't really over react about much of anything. About 3 weeks ago my youngest got a stomach virus that kept him home for 3 days - 2 with mom and 1 with dad. When we took him to school on Monday he cried all day. Same thing happend on Tuesday and then Wed. he was a little better, Thurs. about the same, and Fri. a little better than Thurs. Still cried every day I dropped him off. Then he got sick again with a fever and was out for two days with me. We started the crying at school process all over again! This past weekend, he cried all day even at home. He doesn't just cry - he screams in anger and you cannot say anything to consoll him. God forbid you tell him he cannot do something. Before I could logically talk through things with him, but now he just sits and crys and screams. He isn't eating well either.

I am beginning to get depressed myself. I can't sleep or focus because all I do is think about him and what may be wrong. This isn't like him to be like this. He is a good eater and until now a typical 3 year old boy. I am afraid that he has some sort of chemical imbalance. Once, we had to put him on prednisone (sp) and this is kind of what he acted like - that was over a year ago though! Could he have a chemical problem - how do you know. I left a message for the Doctor to call me, but wanted to reach out to other moms as well. PLEASE HELP ME!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANY MORE!!!!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from Punta Gorda on

Hi there,

I was wondering about vaccination too, same as Christina S. I remember reading that vaccine reactions can be related to other viruses' arrival in the body. Perhaps the virus he had triggered a reaction of some kind?

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.T.

answers from Tampa on

Since he was home with you for more than 1 day it sounds like he is having departure anxiety (in otherwords he doesn't want you to leave him). Children who are in daycare and then at home sick for an extended time will do this because they enjoyed the time alone with mom and want to stay home with you again. More than likely it is to get attention. Sit and talk with him and explain to him that you have to go to work and that is why he is going to daycare. He is old enough to understand, ask him is anything else is bothering him. If that doesn't work take him to the pedatrician to be checked out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Sarasota on

Perhaps there is something else going on as well, but...I could live without ever seeing age three and a half again. My son went from normal kid to total terror for about three or four months. I loved him, but I didn't really like him and worried constantly about his behavior. Forget the terrible twos - it really is the terrible threes. By about age four my son was headed back to being himself again. It took a great deal of consistency and follow through in between though. I've talked with other moms who have had similar experiences at this age, it just seems to be worse in the kids who were "strong willed" to begin with. Just thought you might like to hear that you aren't the only one. I hope it gets better soon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Have you taken him to a doctor to rule out an ear infection or other infection.. sometimes when they are sick for a while they get very irritable just like we do..You did say he had a fever, its possible there is an underlying illness that is causing his behavior and he just doesnt know how to express it to you. I would most certainly start with a trusted pediatrician! Good luck and God bless!!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Miami on

Have the dr do a tympanogram to check his middle ear pressure. If it is anything more negative then 25 then seek treatment with ENT dr. Like let's say one ear, or both reads -200 or -195 or something like that then he is having pain and pressure. -25 or better is perfect for learning and processing. If that all checks out then he needs to be evaluated by an occupational therapist (OT). He may have sensory issues that just came out when he got sick. Play is the occupation of children and if anything is holding him back, then it needs to be checked out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.

answers from Tampa on

I would definitely say this is something wrong with him, weather it be a medical problem, chemical imbalance, or something. Get him checked out.

Hopefully another mom has more experience with his symptoms.

Hope you find your answer, as you both are miserable and that isn't good for either of you!

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have been looking for answers to my daughters behavoir and I came across this website and just rea the above....in 2008 I took her to the ER due to a high fever and severe cough ...she was given a shot of steroids in each leg for bronchitis. she was about 22 months old at the time. after leaving the ER we went to fill her prescription. She was crying and I assumed 1. she didn't feel good and 2. the shots had hurt....so I justified her crying and did my best to console her while we were in the store. The crying increased and I decided to take her home where my husband could try to make her feel better while i got her medication. This was about 1pm....i took her in the house and set her down and she walked over to her dad still crying and I left for the store. I came back within an hour and she was still crying and she was walking around and falling down and could not keep her balance...i assumed she was just really sick and needed to rest so i tried to get her to settle down and she would not. by 5pm that night the crying had been non stop and she crawled over and sat in front of a desk that had a door on the front and she slammed her upper body into it....and was kicking and screaming....my husband said maybe it was a temper tantrum because she just couldnt communicate at that age how bad she really felt with being sick.....by 7pm i had laid her on my bed and tried to lay next to her. my mother came over and i called her in the room to observe my daughters behavoir....my precious little angel was crawling to the headboard and was banging her head.....and then she stood up on the bed and was diving towards the footboard like she was going to hit it with her head....i grabbed her and held her while i told my mom this was what was going on since i brought her home from the dr. my mom watched her for a few more minutes and said it was not a 2 yr old fit and told me to call 911. When i rode in the ambulance with my daughter it was the only time that she was quiet. I dont know if she was scared stiff or what but during the 10 minute ride she did not make a sound and clung to me ....we were taken to an exam room and her pediatrician was called in. i told the ped that we were in earlier because she had a high fever and what how they had treated her and sent us home....i sat my daughter on the bed and the railings were up and she started banging her head on the railings and screaming and rocking back and forth while gripping the rails....she was super strong for such a little thing...i grabbed her and the dr said to let her go and she wanted to watch her....after observing this outrageous behavoir she said your daughter is throwing a fit....and nothing more...i said no...she is a quiet sweet little thing that has never had an outburst like this....she wanted to send her home and i refused...my daughter was now in my lap and was headbutting me in the face and screaming non stop....the dr had her strapped down in a papoose and i was so upset/sad to see this.....it took 3 people to strap her up and she got out the first time and the 2nd she was not able to get out....the dr had us all leave the room and watch her from a window as she continued to just shreek and cry.....she said the only thing she could think of was that she had steroid psychosis ...a reaction to the shots she had....i insisted on having her stay for observation so she was admitted for the next 24 hours where i had to hold her in my arms to keep her from hurting herself.....for the next several week she continued this behavoir.....i have seen several drs and nobody can help me....she has been evaluated and ive been told there is nothing wrong with her....to this day my child has never been the same....she has horrible outbursts where she goes out of control in a split second if you blink the wrong way....she is on the floor kicking and screaming and i just don' t know what to do....she is 6 yrs old now and she has problems still with potty training and she has outbursts sometimes several times a day where fits are thrown for simple things like not being able to write a letter correctly on a piece of paper...her frustration quickly turns into irrational behavoir and full blown fits. i homeschool my kids and the other two have never had these problems
my husband and i truly think that the shots have done something to her behavoir.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Melbourne on

I agree with Jed S. Strong behavior issues can stem from an irritation to the digestive tract. If your son took antibiotics he could be reacting to them like that... my daughter definitely does. Get some probiotics for him so you can replace the good bacteria in his system. Hope he feels better soon!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

If it were my child I would wonder whether he was tolerating day care very well.

I would also wonder if he had a latent illness which was being exacerbated by the stress of day care.

Furthermore, with my children - the negative connotations associated with child care in their early years caused them (I believe) to greatly dislike school later. They now both homeschool (so think about this in the big picture - not just now but 5-10 years from now).

I would want to get at the bottom of the problem (and there may be multi-pronged issues to deal with, i.e., physical and emotional) as soon as possible.

Finally, when I was working full time I found it very difficult to cope with my children's illnesses and unplanned disruptions to the schedule. None of these were their fault, and I wish I would have realized sooner how much it drained me (making me less available to them) and stressed them.

It's not easy - good luck to you and your children.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Tampa on

Really check his diet- go to WestonPriceFoundation- the food in the US is what is scary-BCDS- B Complex Defiecncy Syndrome is what this sounds like- and it must be treated with whole food vits- also check out Dr. Bruce West This will give you a great background, and then after you have done that(and those are for you too!) go to YokaReader.com for assistance with whatever behavior is still problematic- if in fact there is a problem after handling the above.
The prednisone leaves the body with problems, and now you can fix that with the above.
best, doc

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.D.

answers from Orlando on

Hi S.,
Could be so many things, but always, always trust your intuition. If you feel something is wrong with your little boy, get him to the doctor and don't let them brush you off until it's been figured out. Sorry you're going through such a rough time, hang in there.
N.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi
I am studying Holistic Nutrition and agree with Jed...
But I am curious to know if he were recently vaccinated??
Reactions, sometimes seemingly unrelated, can occur weeks, even months later. If this is the case you will definitely need to seek out a naturopathic physician.

Blessings,

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.M.

answers from Tampa on

I agree with everyones advice and it seems great however I am surprised no one mentioned the day care itself. If something like that were happening to my son, I would definitely need to investigate whether or not he was being mis-treated and/or abused in any way at day care. It seems a possibility that something traumatic may have happened and my #1 mission would be to get to the bottom of that and or any health/diet/medical issues. Best of Luck and hope everything turns out ok

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Tampa on

Hi,

No mor prednosone... this is not at all good for the kids, it causes all kinds of things - chemical inbalance with childred, I can atest to this.

Maybe there is a bully in school or something in school that he is afraid of and just don't know to tell you. Try talking with him. It also sounds like he may need to spend more time with the whole family togather to help him and you through this. Please don't see this as me saying you are not doing so. This will assure him how much he is loved and it's ok to be away from mommy, daddy and sister/brother for 8 hours, but this is what happens when we see each other again after the 8 hours. Something to look forward to. I can see by your letter that your family are very close and loving and I hope this will help. Please also see your peds doctor about this too. They maybe able to make suggestions too. Only please, please, please try to keep him away from the meds, he is a boy the these meds affect boy more seriously than girls.

Good luck and God bless you and your family.

I will keep praying for you. I know you can do this.
You can do anything thru GOD who straighten me.

Philp. 4 verse 13

About me:I have three girls, two adults girls and 1 10 year. 4 grand children 2 girls 5 and 4, twins boys 3. They are my life and my world centers around them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Miami on

You need to work with natural holistic physicians who will use nutrition, enzymes, probiotics, etc. to help rebalance the digestive system, which has probably been messed up by the treatments regular doctors give. There is a strong connection between gut/digestive issues and behavioral/psychological issues.

- JS
www.phinsights.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Lakeland on

Maybe he is in pain. I would definitely have a dr. check him out. Something is not right.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches