Without first hand knowledge, but highly interested in this condition, I pretty much agree with the Integration and Sensory Perception view.
I just believe that many of the things which make up the world as most of us know it, is just a cacophony in sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel to some other members of our human race. Our normal is just perceived differently. They cannot make sense of us, except through monotonous, rote instruction and structure, or uniquely innovative methods, in so far as we can manage. Which has to be, I'm afraid, the price to live among us. The wiring is different.
I'm not sure if ever our world is understood as much as it is structured for adaptation. Survival. I like how you describe the work you've done, and the tips you gave in your Sensory article to help someone who is hyperactive and help their caregivers.
Thank you very much Paul.
If I could...I would love to get into my son's head for a day. I can't imagine what it would be like...I am sure many things would be different.
I suppose we are all wired up differently. In a lot of ways my neurological disorder of MS had given me a whole lot more empathy for my what my son may go through at times.
I really appreciate your comment...do keep them coming!
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I wish I knew then what I know now.. My son Travis, is going to be 23yrs in October. At the end of his Kindergarden year his teacher called me in to talk about him. I remember it as a blur. I had to bring my other two sons who were 3yrs and a month old and my niece who was 12, but I don't remember her being any help. I can't remember any of the conversation about Travis. Just that the teacher wanted something done or help for Travis. I was mad when I left, but can't remember why. I guess at the time I thought, "Travis is smart, that's all he needs". Eventually, he ended up on Ritalin, which seemed to help. Some of his teachers were awesome. He had my fifth grade teacher who explained one way of his learning. She gave some test which he failed on paper, when she asked him the same questions, he answered them all correct. It was when he entered middle school I really had a problem with him. My marriage was a mistake from the begining. I felt like I had to marry because I didn't marry Travis's father,(who was a way out of my mom's away from abuse). My ex never ever accepted Travis, I think he resented him.. I know he abused him, physically and emotionally. After about 2 maybe 3yrs of counseling, parenting classes, which I enjoyed, but my husband at the time,well he already knew it all!!!! Travis would be crying and he didn't care, he had no sympathy or understanding. I hated him.. I told him one day in Jan/Feb of '99 that I didn't want to be married to him anymore. So when I came home early from work in March I passed him through the front door,hewas going out as I was going in and that's when it hit me..His stuff gone,, our 2 son's, Travis's half brothers,gone.. Travis was at cub scouts meeting.I broke down by myself.. I called my ex's mom to talk with my kids but of course she wouldn't let me...I don't remember when I got to see them again but when I did, Joshua didn't want to leave when their father came to pick them up.. I didn't go to work, Travis didn't go to school.. I ended up signing a stupid separation agreement more or less because my ex threatened me into it and he knows all the lawyers who know the judge in the pathetic small white trash town I lived in at the time.. His lawyer invited the judge to her wedding right in front of me and everyone at court one day.. I lost the house, my job, my truck and the boys, except Travis, he couldn't get him because he isn't father!! I see the boys every other weekend they stay the night and Tues. & Thursdays.. A couple years later in comes Eric, my fiance. Travis is 14yr and doesn't want to go to school at all. I found out later, much later, that some kids were bothering him. He ends up in foster care in a much smaller town where he does excellent in school. There's about 100 kids per grade maybe... I had tried to get him into PINS but because of his emotional problems they wouldn't work with him and I got a mean letter blaming me that I didn't keep Travis in counseling.. I had lost my insurance. I went from a woman shopping at the mall, not buying alot but able to,,,,to a woman shopping at Goodwill, on Medicaid, when I had my ex's insurance from Kodak.. If he was accepted into PINS Travis could've stayed with me not foster care.. I was thinking of moving to the smaller town where Travis did excellent in school, but that's all that town had was a school and a couple of apple packing factories.. Eric and Travis would get along one week then not the next. Travis was in fostercare for a year. he came home on weekends he wanted to do what he wanted.. When he started dating that's when everything escalated.. I got pregnant while he was in foster care. It was a very very emotional pregnancy,,.,with going to court because of my ex, (he was, maybe still is jealous of Eric,, I never realized how insecure he is). One day Travis brought home this guy, I got a really bad vibe from as soon as I say him. He's the guy that talked Travis into quitting school. He's the guy that influenced Travis into breaking into a liquor store. I don't know if it was my relationship with Eric, that had something to do with why Travis did what he did. Maybe it was a combination of being abused as a child, losing his grandparents and relationship with his brothers, I don't know. When I was in counseling the counselor did say that abuse had to do with adhd, something like that. Travis and I have been through so much through the years. I remember how he would cry when his father would come to pick him up for the weekend. Joshua, his half brother was really close with him until the separation. Travis had that security. His friends throughout his life have either moved away or turned on him.. I blame myself for not giving him security.. But then I never really had it in my life. I didn't know where to go to, who to turn to for it.. After my ex left my family wasn't there for me.. I was practically living on the streets if it wasn't for Eric's family.. Eric and I have been real close to separating too. He didn't have a job for 2 or 3 years. The one he has now is temporary.. Then he gets sooooooo down, which gets me down.. He's not as strong as I am,, then he hasn't had the life I've had his was,,I think, more secure, then mine....
Hi Pamela
I am reading your story and wondering...how did you survive all of this? This is too much for someone to handle.
How is Travis today? I am so sorry that he was abused. I can't imagine how you feel.
How did it feel to share your story? Sometimes just letting it all out can bring a temporary feeling of relief.
Any time you wish to write here...please do. I am sure there are others who have had similar circumstances.
Know that we are here for you.
Travis is in prison for 1 to 3yrs for breaking parole and his "friends' say that he damaged a motel room that they were having a party at.. When I went to visit him a couple months ago, he told me that he had lied about his playstation being stolen. He said Eric, my fiance, took it.. I know he was upset that Eric was moving back in with me when I had told Travis he could move in with me. But then I found out he was doing drugs and I didn't want Alex, my youngest son, taken from me.. All this time that all this crap was going on social services or CPS was not called on me. Travis just wanted to do what he wanted to do and Eric isn't confident enough to discipline, especially a teenager that isn't his son.. Travis's dad is in that picture, thank goodness.. I know he abused him and took him around family and friends who also abused him, but he's trying to do right by him now.. He also visits Travis when he can.. And I get along better with him then Josh and Nathan's dad, my ex.. It's so amazing how you can love someone, or think you love them, and you change, they don't, but then you can't stand to look at them, seriously they make you sick to the stomach!! But now when I look at my ex I feel kinda scared and I really don't know him.. But to change the subject I haven't heard from Travis in a month, I'm really getting worried. He hasn't wrote to me and the counselors can't tell him to write of course.. I'm also worried about my relationship with Eric and that I was at a real bad time in my life when we got together and if we should stay together.