Overcoming Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Gabe was struggling with sadness after experiencing another move. Frequent moves were a pattern in his life, and Gabe was feeling vulnerable as he started a new school once again. As a result of this change, he was distancing himself from others and became a target for bullies.
Children thrive in stable and nurturing environments where they have a routine and know what to expect. Without that, children can face serious risk factors that may increase the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.
Gabe doesn’t live with his parents, nor does he see them on a regular basis. He didn’t have a friend to speak of when Gabe’s mental health therapist referred him to Great Life Mentoring (GLM). She believed a mentor would help balance out the negative impacts of instability and loneliness in his life. GLM utilizes trained community volunteers as mentors to bolster mental health treatment effectiveness for children living in poverty.
Making and keeping friends was not something Gabe had the skills to do. He suffered from Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), which is a fairly new diagnosis, appearing for the first time in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013.
For Gabe, symptoms included being irritable or angry most of the time. He could have a bad temper at times and trouble functioning, which negatively impacted his self-esteem. These behaviors are common for children facing adversity (such as the ones that GLM serves), but they are noticeably absent during mentoring outings.
Interestingly, GLM has found that, over its 22 years in operation, children have not acted out while with their Great Life mentor. The University of Massachusetts evaluated GLM and noted that “children reported that time with their mentors was a relief from their own behaviors.” Further, this weekly stress-free opportunity can help the child begin to see themselves in a new light.
In GLM's view, negative behaviors are a result of unmet needs stemming from loneliness and isolation. But when GLM children are with their mentors, they are no longer lonely or isolated and, thus, their behavior changes.
Connecting with GLM was a meaningful step for Gabe when it came to managing his life and learning to overcome challenges.
Gabe’s mentor, Tim, was faithful to his friend week after week for more than a year. At first, Gabe was demanding and not open to compromise, but Tim had been trained in how to respond and, with time, Gabe began to open up, and change came naturally. He became polite and started to take his mentor’s feelings into consideration. Tim’s presence helped to destress Gabe’s life.
Gabe looked forward to time with his mentor every week. Though he was nearly a teenager, playing freely was not a luxury afforded to him as a child. So Tim took him to the park where they did just that.
Every week, at the end of their time together, Gabe gets out of the car and turns to his mentor. They do a secret handshake, and Gabe says, “I’ll see you next week!” He has come to trust that his mentor is faithful and someone he can really count on in life.
If you would like to volunteer as a mentor in Vancouver, WA or volunteer as a mentor in Portland, OR, contact Great Life Mentoring, which will train and support you to help a child like Gabe.
For more information on child abuse and neglect prevention as well as risk and protective factors visit the CDC. Information on disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can be found at the national institute of mental health.