Seren was just six years old when she was diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and 'extreme' anxiety
A young innocent girl who was once obsessed with barbie dolls developed a dark fascination with death just weeks after she was prescribed anti-depressants to help with her crippling anxiety.
Seren was just six years old when she was diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and 'extreme' anxiety.
She and her two younger siblings had only recently moved to Perth from the UK with her parents, and her mother, Susy Parker, wasn't sure how to manage her beaviours.
On the advice of multiple medical practitioners, Mrs Parker chose to medicate Seren.
She told Daily Mail Australia she was initially prescribed Ritalin to help with Seren's ADHD.
While both she and Seren's school saw improvements in her behaviour, she made the decision to take her off the medication in favour of a more natural approach.
But Seren's panic attacks and significant behaviourial issues continued. Her anxiety often presented up to six times a day.
'Her panic attacks weren't with her breath. She would just lose it, she'd start screaming and shaking. Her hands and feet would curl. At first we didn't realise they were symptoms of panic attacks.
On the advice of multiple medical practitioners, Mrs Parker chose to medicate Seren
While both she and Seren's school saw improvements in her behaviour, she made the decision to take her off the medication in favour of a more natural approach
'It would be frantic screaming over the tiniest of things,' Mrs Parker said.
A second pediatrician 'strongly recommended' Seren receive treatment for her anxiety, and with further advice from the doctors, Mr and Mrs Parker started Seren on Prozac.
But Mrs Parker said within two weeks, her daughter's demeanor had completely changed.
Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is a childhood disorder defined by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors directed at adults or other authority figures.
ODD is also characterised by children displaying angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive behaviors.
Seren went from a bubbly, bright and happy child to what the couple could only describe as macabre.
She developed an obsession with death, dying and knives, the mother-of-three said.
'She was obsessed with what it would be like if she died, what it would be like if she would hurt herself, what would it be like if 'I jumped off this bridge now. Would I die? Would you miss me? Would anybody care?'
'Yes, she was more compliant. She was calmer, easier to teach and easier to parent. But she lost her spark and her happiness.'
Seren went from a bubbly, bright and happy child to what the couple could only describe as macabre
Mrs Parker said her intuition told her it was the medication, but her pediatrician dismissed her concerns.
'He told me she was just manipulating me and seeking attention. He told me not to worry about the dosages and medication she was receiving.'
She developed an obsession with death and dying.
Eventually she was recommended another medication to deal with her defiance
