Hi ,

so sorry to hear of your troubles with your stepdaughter.As you may well know no diagnosis can be made before a child is 18.To be honest I feel the clues are in your first sentences ,this child suffered an unimaginable loss very early in life....I was abandoned in hospital at a a day old by my birth mother and wasnt adopted til I was 13 months ,at which point my adoptive parents changed my name !!

I can understand some of what your daughter is feeling ,she is testing you all big time and of course she must show she doesnt give a damn thats what the whole act is about ...

I hope the pediatrition is a good one and can offer this little girl the help she needs and also you guys the help you need too.

I had a shocking rebellious streak at her age but was so terrified of being abandoned again I was  as good as gold......it wasnt until I was in my late teens I relaxed .I have a P son ,he is 22 soon and he didnt start to manifest signs other than the sort of mischief you'd expect from the eldest brother of 4 boys until he was about 14.

I wish you well

Este