Comments on ADHD Thoughts and Reflections

Go to The Opinionated Critic - Add a comment - Go to ADHD Thoughts and Reflections

Meds

Meds are hard on the kids and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone unless the situation is severe enough that it is creating a hell on earth for the child and the families.  Unfortunately, this affects the whole family.  I believe I read somewhere that parents of ADHD kids were 25% more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol themselves than families without these problems. 

Can people with ADHD succeed?  Yes.  Can they do it without the desire to do so, I don't think so.  As a parent, I can tell you it is extremely hard to teach my ADHD kid basic survival skills to the point I feel comfortable with his ability to survive on his own.  Finding means, beyond dire threats, to create the desire needed often feels impossible. 

In this household, we do a lot of regrouping and moving forward, fall back, regroup and move forward.  I often wonder if we will make it until he is an adult.  Then again, we aren't totally failures.  He isn't on drugs.  He doesn't cuss us out, and he has more education than many adults. 

And, although they can think outside the box, it is often tough to get them inside the box again.  With mathmatics particularly, mine is constantly arguing that centuries old principles will not work.  We have finally agreed to do it according to the established rules until such time as he has completed his bachelor's degree, then he can dispprove the masters. 

posted by Whim on April 8, 2005 at 9:42 AM | link to this | reply

My only concern with medication for ADHD is that in addiction counseling...

probably sixty percent of my methamphetamine addicted clients had been prescribed ritilin or adderal (both amphetamine salts) for treatment of ADHD as kids. It enables them to consentrate, but when abused makes them psychotic and ruins their lives. A friends brother got shot to death last week by the police while in a psychotic Meth rage. Amphetamines are bad. There are a few newer drugs available such as straterra which are not amphetamine based, these might be a better idea...

posted by jimmy68 on April 8, 2005 at 12:10 AM | link to this | reply

Good points! Being an AHDH sufferer...

We can do anything "normal" people can do. It's just that we have to be interested in doing it.
We can find ways of getting around the problem when we need to, but we decide if we need to.
It's not a lack of discipline - we usually have that, if we want it.
It's not a need for medicines - they cover up the problem rather than solve it.
We have a tendency to be kinesthetic; don't tell us how to do something or tell us to read the instructions, SHOW us. Lead our hands, feet, etc. through the process - we'll learn as fast as you can teach us.
We're smart, probably smarter than the "normal", because we have to be. But don't ask us to prove it through meaningless routine methodologies. Give us the problem, show us the kind of answer you want, and we'll find a way there. It won't be what a "normal" thinks as a solution, but it will work.

And, no, I can't spot an AHDH sufferer except by being with them for a long spell. Other than the above, there is no advice or medicine or anything that I would recommend to help a sufferer through the process. Our biggest handicap is the "normal" person, because we can't see things the way they do, and don't respond in the same way.There's also too few of us to make it worth Society's time to create special schools, but we do learn best directly from our parents and guardians who can give us the tactile support we need.

posted by L.E.Gant on April 7, 2005 at 7:53 PM | link to this | reply

I have a medically diagnosed ADHD child in my classroom. It was recommended that he go on medication - one parent is for it and the other is against. It's their choice - but sometimes I wonder whether his behaviour is affecting what he should be getting out of school. I'd be interested to hear which public forums or support boards you recommend for ADHD.

posted by littlemspickles on April 5, 2005 at 7:31 PM | link to this | reply