ADHD/ODD Please help??? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

WorriedMom1 · 07-22-2007, 10:27 AM

I am brand new to this board and need to see if there is anyone out there that may have information to help my son! MY son is now 24 years old and was diagnoised with ADHD/ODD as a small boy. Needless to say life has not been easy. He has a heart of gold and is very well mannered. But trouble seems to follow him. He has an alcohol problem, when drinking beer he seems reasonable, when drinking liquor he is MEAN! His problem is not that he has to drink on a daily bases but once he starts he can not stop! He has all the classic symptoms of ODD. Always blames someone else when he is at fault..(ie: got a ticket 2 weeks ago, lost his liscense pending court, we took the car and he has now not spoken to us in two weeks!, somehow this is our fault?) however is just the opposite when it comes to protecting a friend.. he will take the blame to keep somone else from getting in trouble. NEVER tells on somone else no matter what may happen to him! Loyal to a fault! Suffers greatly with headaches, we have taken him to have cat scans, nothing shows up.. but they are unbarable!
This story could go on and on and on... Low self-esteem, low self-worth.. extremely smart with anything hands on! Learns fast... but is so lost!! How do we help him???? His tickets have happened over and over again..Had small run-ins with the law when he was younger.. Has no respect for any type of law!or Authority figure.. (when he is drinking) I am so afraid, he desperately needs help and I no longer know what to do to help him get his life in order. He doesn't need jail time.. .. he needs medical help!!! A rehab center, school, something????????????
What to do????????

addprogrammer · 07-22-2007, 02:51 PM

WorriedMom,

I recommend reading/studying "Healing ADD" by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. I have my copy in front of me.

In chapter 11, "Head Trauma - Induced ADD," Dr. Amen discusses the ADHD like symptoms that childhood head injuries can cause. Unexplainable headaches often accompany Head Trauma - Induced ADD according to Dr. Amen.

The ADHD like symptoms always occur after the head trauma. However, if the injury occurred at birth or at a very young age, head trauma ADHD can become indistinguishable from ADHD the named disorder. And, according to Dr. Amen, if the injury affected the temple regions, can cause mood instability.

I highly recommend the book and you might consider getting your son an appointment at one of Amen's clinics.

Bob

PS Welcome to the board.

WorriedMom1 · 07-24-2007, 10:01 AM

Thank you so much for the information, I really do appreciate it.. however from all I have been able to determine over the years is this seems to be a family trait on my husbands side. Many people in this family have either ADD, ADHD, ODD, etc.. My husbands first cousin on his fathers side has ADD, gave birth to a son with ADHD, ODD and OCD.. Needless to say this ended tragically last year in a car wreck. At 23 he was killed accidently. My husbands sister has ADD, who gave birth to a son with ADHD. My husband has Non- Diagnoised ADD and we gave birth to a son above. For many years we took our son to therapy, never seemed to help. Had him on meds for a very short while, it took his personality away so we removed the meds and moved forward without them. All seemed well, he finished highschool ( homeschool) . Got himself together, but the headaches are really bad.. and any little thing he sinks into a depression and self medicates with alcohol! Bad!!! And there our problems begin again... He is 24 years old now, and needs to find his way in life.. we just do not know what to do to help him anymore. He is employed full time. ( also that we are aware of he has never had a head injury)

WorriedMom1 · 07-24-2007, 10:05 AM

Bob, I will most certainly look into this book and the clinic!
Thanks!!!