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. WHAT IS OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER 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 disorder. Again, Mrs Parker put her faith in the professionals and tried the medication. But it brought on 'promiscuous puberty' - an early onset puberty which began changing her seven-year-old daughter's body and moods. So again, the doctors decided to try another medication. But when Mrs Parker properly looked at the side affects, she realised it was not designed for children younger than 14. Some of the medication brought on 'promiscuous puberty' - an early onset puberty which began changing her seven-year-old daughter's body and moods 'There at the very top, in big bold letters, it said 'under TGA this must not be given to children under 14', and Seren is seven. I phoned him (the pediatrician) and he says 'it's fine, I'm able to prescribe that to her, it's called off label.' 'At that point, I just stopped all medication, said goodbye to the psychologist and pediatrician,' she said. 'I went through a lot of anger, thinking 'how could this have happened?' We're not being told this.' The medication, Mrs Parker later learned, was often used in prison to sedate hardened criminals. Since coming off the medication, the dark thoughts and macabre statements stopped almost immediately. Seren is now going on 12, and is the best she has ever been. Mrs Parker has since adopted a more holistic approach to her daughter's wellbeing, monitors her eating habits and worked on fixing Seren's gut health, which she later learned is directly linked to the brain. Mrs Parker has since adopted a more holistic approach to her daughter's wellbeing, monitors her eating habits and worked on fixing Seren's gut health, which she later learned is directly linked to the brain They later learned Seren was bordering on anemic - which often impacts concentration - and removed gluten and dairy from her diet for a six week cleanse. The results, they said, were remarkable. 'The school told us they were seeing a completely different child.' I made the decision a long time ago to stop making apologies for her. The mother-of-three said in addition to the adjustments to Seren's life, when they took her off medication they had to 'radically adjust their parenting style'. 'We were quite controlled. Don't do this, you'll get a penalty for that, but these kids don't respond to that. 'It makes their behaviour worse. These children are quite intuitive, they know when people are being rude or unkind to them and it is triggering. When she has an outburst, you almost have to just let it go. It feels so alien, but it works. She now has the ability to focus in school and is a budding horse rider and self-taught contortionist 'I made the decision a long time ago to stop making apologies for her. She's a great kid in so many ways and I needed to accept that yes she is a bit different and no she doesn't have to be normal.' She now has the ability to focus in school and is a budding horse rider and self-taught contortionist. Mrs Parker said she has developed an interest in helping homeless people in the community and has gone back to her bright, bubbly self. She said parents in a similar situation should 'trust their intuition more', seek alternative options and do their own research. But she said the most important thing for her family was to simply appreciate her daughter's individuality. 'These kids are so beautiful, but because they don't fit in and conform, we miss all the lovely things they bring to the table and to this world.' Mrs Parker kept journals to document Seren's experience, and has now reproduced them into a book to help other parents. She also runs a blog and Facebook page where she offers advice to parents who may be struggling. All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility