Special Education or Special Medication?

» biogardener - Let me see . . .

Let me see, if I understand this disorder correctly by describing a person to you whose behavior no one understands. He has a PhD in Physics from Germany, but he has been unable to support himself or his family, because he is unable to get along with other people and is unable to cope with life in general. He has been on every government-sponsored training program available in Manitoba, yet he continues unemployed.

He is very knowledgeable in psychology, because both of his parents are physicians, one of them a psychiatrist, and he has invented psychological disorders for everyone in his family. He supports his claims with statements starting with "My father, the doctor, . . ."

He insists that his wife has agoraphobia, in spite of the fact that she carries out fliers and goes shopping all by herself. She also exhibits her paintings publicly. She has never had a problem talking to me when he is not around, but when he is at home, she is too intimidated to look at me.

His son is not allowed to mingle with other children, and I don't remember from what disorder he is supposed to be suffering. He stands looking out the window longingly, because he has no one to play with, never mind, he doesn't feel like playing. He just wants to reach out to other children.

How does this man's behavior sound to you?

-- posted by biogardener

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» joyfulplace - Re: Let me see . . .

In response to message posted by biogardener:

Hi Bio
This sounds a little different. People with Munchausen or Munchausen by proxy may actually hurt themselves or the child to give credence to the claim that something is wrong. They are persistently craving attention and the only way they can figure to get it is if they are *ill*. Then the doctor will pay attention to them. Parents have been known to smother their own children ,for example. They get attention for themselves through someone else's (their child) supposed illness. So theyare in docotr's office or hospitals way too frequently.
In the TV show I saw, they actually operated on a baby because the mother kept bringing her in saying she was having problems breathing. They finally caught her on hidden camera smothering the baby.(granted this is only TV!)
This man sounds like he has a different type of a pesonality disorder. He seeems to have problems with his perception of people and with interacting with them. I won't venture a guess (not even an educated one) since I don't know enough of the situation and I am not a clinical psychologist.

Hope this helps
Marilyn

-- posted by joyfulplace

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» olga202 - Re: Re: Let me see . . .

In response to message posted by joyfulplace:

Hi, Marilyn,
I've read your article with great interest. I've met quite a few mothers who were 'diagnosed' (wrongly!) with Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is becoming very popular nowadays (And I'm not surprised, it is much easier to blame parents than to identify whether such disorders as ADHD, behavior disorders and learning difficulties are faked or real). Some clinicians always blame parents when they see a child with behavior problems who looks physically normal. However, it is often the case with autism, and especially Asperger syndrome. These individuals look normal, and often are gifted in certain fields (some of them can receive Ph.D. in the field of their interest, but they cannot get a job because of the social and communication impairments (invisible to inexperienced clinicians).
And it is not about 'fabricating educational disabilities and demanding unnecessary special school services, it is about help and support the child needs. I'd like to see a mother who really wanted her child to be labeled as disabled! If the parents seek help they know their child has problems and the sooner he/she is diagnosed and provided with specialist support, the better prognosis we may expect. (Though I admit there may be some mothers, e.g., shown in the TV programme) who just seek attention but they are in minority).
I do agree with you that 'we simply need to be cautious and examine all possibilities before drawing conclusions' and blaming the parents.
Sorry for my emotions but I've met many families who were denied help they needed urgently because of this new fashionable diagnosis - Munchausen by proxy.
Olga

-- posted by olga202

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» joyfulplace - Re: Re: Re: Let me see . . .

In response to message posted by olga202:

Hi Olga
Thanks for your comments. Don't apologise for your emotions. You should see how mine run sometimes. I think most of us working in this field or trying to support parents and young people have a lot to face, including a lot of emotions.
I feel too that once a new *label* comes on the block it is overused and abused too quickly. The more I look at, think about and work with the whole issue of Spec. Ed. , Social and emotional learning and education in general , the more it becomes clear that there is too much confusion and we all need to be very careful. I guess part of my objective here is to keep pointing out the confusion and reminding everyone to be careful and examine each situation on its own merit.To me paying attention to the fundamental emotional needs of the child (and any human for that matter) is the first step.
I am interested in your topic and will be visiting regularly.
Marilyn

-- posted by joyfulplace

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