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Q: I read your
column regularly and find it very informative. My 11-year-old
grandson has been displaying very aggressive temper tantrums when
he is told "no" to something he really wants to do.
These episodes occur about once or twice a month, and his mother,
my daughter, doesn't know how to respond. The boy's anger is so
intense that he says he is going to kill himself, run away, and
never come back because "I'm no good." He bangs his
head against a wall and punches things.
My grandson is an only child (a twin brother
died at birth). He has no physical impairments other than wearing
corrective lenses. He displayed separation anxiety when starting
kindergarten, and each fall when school starts, he has a very
hard time emotionally while in school. He is currently on a mild
sedative at the request of his mother. He was tested in school
for hyperactivity, but was not diagnosed with it.
His father is very strict with him, by assigning
chores for him to do. Despite his strictness, he does spend a
lot of time with his son bowling, fishing, playing baseball, and
so on, but he doesn't show any affection towards him.
Is this behavior simply an expression of anger,
or is it a plea for help?
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