I am totally new to this board---my first post was over on the thyroid board. I have read a few posts and a lot of the titles. My dh and I never believed in ADD/ADHD and thought it was all bad parenting. Then we had my daughter. She is my second of 3 children. She is a challenge. She has been diagnosed with ADHD. The doctor we took her to told us at our initial interview that he doesn't like using the term ADHD and tends to avoid it as much as possible -- looking for other causes of the behavior. Well, by the end of the sessions, he said he couldn't do anything but with her. The first thing she did was go in and rifle through his desk with him there. He had to laugh. He said she had him on tangents like no other child had ever done. There is no brake with her. She would run right out into the street in a flash---in fact she has and if I hadn't caught her long hair a few times, it would have been close. She is 8 and she is the one of the 3 who is most like me.
What I find most interesting is Barkley's way of approaching the whole topic. He says it isn't inattentiveness, but rather hyper attentiveness. That individuals tend to focus on everything. Their reactions to the environment can be hyper, their movements are hyper, their attention is hyper. They don't have the ability to inhibit anything so there is no filter to the emotions, ideas and actions. They can't learn from their mistakes because that would mean that they take those few precious seconds to STOP and think. But, that also gives them the ability to be passionate about life---to be more creative---unique.
I don't see it as a label or anything to run from in life. It is my daughter. She is a beautiful young girl with black hair, hazel eyes and adhd. I embrace all that ADHD is for her. We are still struggling with managing the difficulties, but I am also looking forward to the uncontrollable laughter she gives me when I lightly touch her neck. The stories she comes up with are amazing sometimes. She sees things that most kids just pass by.
Just as an FYI, she is on Ritalin. A small dose every morning and only on school days or other days she needs that little extra help.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and try and add some positive thoughts. Don't get me wrong, we have our battles and my getting frustrated. I struggle with it everyday. To add to everything, my youngest has some developmental delays which only add to the mix.
That is my 2 cents---or 5 cents with inflation. I will definitely be hanging around these boards in the future.
It's great to see that there are other mothers who are going thru the same thing i am.
My child is 5 years old, and he's on Ritalin. He was on 10 mg am and 10 pm however i was getting comments of teacherrs (which by the way he just started new school 3 weeks ago) that he was kind of like in a "zombie" state.Now this wasn't everyday but sometimes, and his speech therapist did comment the same, "sad" face. Did you get any reaction like this?
Anyhow, today i have decreased the dosage. 5mg am and 5mg pm. His speech therapist today tells me he was much "happier", stood the whole time, had to redirect him but it was manageable, not a problem. But this is also the first day on 5mg again. I know for a fact 20 mg for a child who barely weighs 40 lbs is too much. Its that mood i dont like to see him in.
I also try not to give him anything on the weekends unless necessary, like if we need to go out. He is such a creative, funny and loving child that i love to see him happy and active but not in that depressive mood i see him on when hes on 10 mg.
It is very frustrating for us mothers with ADHD children, because it's hard for them and making friends etc, they need a lotta love, understanding and they are the brightest kids.
I am totally new to this board---my first post was over on the thyroid board. I have read a few posts and a lot of the titles. My dh and I never believed in ADD/ADHD and thought it was all bad parenting. Then we had my daughter. She is my second of 3 children. She is a challenge. She has been diagnosed with ADHD. The doctor we took her to told us at our initial interview that he doesn't like using the term ADHD and tends to avoid it as much as possible -- looking for other causes of the behavior. Well, by the end of the sessions, he said he couldn't do anything but with her. The first thing she did was go in and rifle through his desk with him there. He had to laugh. He said she had him on tangents like no other child had ever done. There is no brake with her. She would run right out into the street in a flash---in fact she has and if I hadn't caught her long hair a few times, it would have been close. She is 8 and she is the one of the 3 who is most like me.
What I find most interesting is Barkley's way of approaching the whole topic. He says it isn't inattentiveness, but rather hyper attentiveness. That individuals tend to focus on everything. Their reactions to the environment can be hyper, their movements are hyper, their attention is hyper. They don't have the ability to inhibit anything so there is no filter to the emotions, ideas and actions. They can't learn from their mistakes because that would mean that they take those few precious seconds to STOP and think. But, that also gives them the ability to be passionate about life---to be more creative---unique.
I don't see it as a label or anything to run from in life. It is my daughter. She is a beautiful young girl with black hair, hazel eyes and adhd. I embrace all that ADHD is for her. We are still struggling with managing the difficulties, but I am also looking forward to the uncontrollable laughter she gives me when I lightly touch her neck. The stories she comes up with are amazing sometimes. She sees things that most kids just pass by.
Just as an FYI, she is on Ritalin. A small dose every morning and only on school days or other days she needs that little extra help.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and try and add some positive thoughts. Don't get me wrong, we have our battles and my getting frustrated. I struggle with it everyday. To add to everything, my youngest has some developmental delays which only add to the mix.
That is my 2 cents---or 5 cents with inflation. I will definitely be hanging around these boards in the future.
DG
Thank you for that post. Know it or not, you gave me information that realy helped. I am the one with ADD, or so I highly suspect.
I found the explination by Barkley very comforting. That we focus on everything - that we do not have the ability to inhibit anything including our emotions - ideas or actions. As a child my mind felt as if it was going 3times the speed of the Indinapolis 500 cars.
I haven't been diganosed as of yet - my grandson has and is on medication. For me I'm hoping an appointment with a new doctor - next month will help.
He says it isn't inattentiveness, but rather hyper attentiveness. That individuals tend to focus on everything. Their reactions to the environment can be hyper, their movements are hyper, their attention is hyper. They don't have the ability to inhibit anything so there is no filter to the emotions, ideas and actions.
Re: Don't forget the positives 
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