Sweetie, I can so relate to what you are going through! I have three kids. I have a 16 yo Bipolar/ADHD boy, a 14 yo ADHD girl with Epilepsy and Asthma, and a 12 yo boy who has ADHD, a Processing Disorder and is in process of being diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have SO been t here with the tantrums and rages! My daughter was JUST like your six yo when she was little. She would throw not just tantrums but rages--so severely that she would wear her Father and I out. We would tag team each other like wrestlers do. We would come out of it winded, bruised and with backs and joints thrown out when she was as young as two and three years old--I kid you not! You don't want to hurt the little one, and it's so hard to restrain them from hurting others without hurting them...therefore, you get hurt in the process. I know you know what I'm talking about! One of the processes that was taught to me by a licensed Psychiatrist in California was called a "take down" procedure. Get behind the child and take hold of their opposite hands in your opposite hand...like their left in your right...following me? Then take and wrap their arms across their bodies criss cross apple sauce, and pull them (gently as you can) behind their body in a kind of straight jacket maneuver. Drop down gently to your knees, which will take the child down with you, leaving their legs (kicking, of course) in front of you. Make sure your knees are folded carefully behind you, out of harms way. You should be kind of in a kneeling-behind, kind of hugging situation. Watch out for backwards head butts!! That'll give you a fat lip, black eye or bruise that's hard to explain! Start saying soothing, loving, positive things, like "That's my boy...Mommy loves you so much...shhhh. It's all right, angel. We'll be all right. It's ok. Calm now, sweetling. It's ok, baby. It's all right, angel." That kind of thing. Just keep going, while he bucks it out, ok? You'll be darned tired and he'll tire out too. Some folks who have seen me do it in the past, thought it was darned mean and even abusive, but my psychiatrist told me it was perfectly legal and humane. At any rate, it will keep the child from hurting anyone but maybe you. It will stop property damage and the dog will live a longer, kinder life for it. It will get you through to the doctor's visits and they can get you more concrete help. OK? I hope it helps, and please, let me know how it goes, ok? ____@____.com. I got through it with my daughter who is now a beautiful, loving, calm, successful, controlled, popular Freshman in high school who is very affectionate. There IS hope, hon! I promise! HUGS!
