addprogrammer

CorrieAnn,

I try not to post parents with ADHD children because I have no kids and am 54 years old. Nevertheless, I once was, milleniums ago, an ADHD child and at a time when ADHD was unheard of in the school systems. That being said, I believe that ADD meds along with therapy would have made a radical difference in avoiding some serious mistakes including drug abuse in my late teens and early twenties. Why? Because I interpreted my failures as character flaws and ended up with very low self-esteem. Low self-esteem IMHO is the root cause of drug abuse. If I had known what I know now, namely, there is nothing wrong with me but THERE IS something wrong with my brain, it would have made all the difference in the world.

Also, you must read "Healing ADD" by Dr. Daniel Amen. Dr. Amen correctly identifies 6 subtypes of ADHD some of which respond very well to dietary changes and therapy without stimulant meds. Others, though, such as primarily inattentive type ADD, (what I suffer from) respond exceptionally well to low doses of stimulant meds along with good diet and exercise.

I tried some natural alternatives. None work alone. However, 1000 mg of L-Tyrosine, multi-vitamins and a teaspoon of natural bee pollen per day have noticeable efficacy. I also exercise regularly. That receipe with 20mg of Adderal XR has got me running at my true potential. I cannot tell you how good it feels to do what I know I am capable of doing.

So, do not promisculously drug your child. On the other hand, do not deprive him/her of the life God intended.

Every time I read a post like yours I feel this terrible pain in my heart. ADHD can be and often is a devastating disorder that many professionals seem to think is non-existant. Do not believe it. I live it. So do many others that post to this board. As far as I am concerned, it is as serious as cancer.

Bob

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Bob