Anyone with adhd children/child??

Katherine - posted on 02/18/2010

Why don't you start a community? It seems there are moms on here that need/want support. I know there are already ADHD communities, but maybe you can make it private. Just an idea.

Katherine - posted on 02/18/2010

Hi Sherrie,



Once a thread reaches 200 posts we lock it, just policy.



Thanks

Katherine

Administrator

Catalina - posted on 02/18/2010

My son is 5yrs old and he has adhd, and I notice it when I would try to teach him the colors, numbers, etc. and couldnt remember anything, and he was jumping off the walls!! So I took him to the doctor and they diagnosed him, and gave him focalin. What a big difference, Now his caught up with his eduacation, and he is still active, he played soccer and he was awesome!! The meds help him concentrate.

Maranda - posted on 02/18/2010

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and an anxiety disorder a little over a year ago. It can at times be very frustrating and a challenge. Anything I can do to help I would be more than happy to.

Jennifer - posted on 02/18/2010

Thanks Sherrie for starting this tread. Question to all replying to this post...anyone located in the Portland, OR area. I have been trying to find a local support group that does not cost money for a membership.

Stacy - posted on 02/18/2010

I have an 11 year old boy with ADHD. Been dealing with it since he is 4 years old. If you have any questions I would be glad to help you.

Meghan - posted on 02/18/2010

My 7 year old was diagnosed 9 months ago with ADHD. I have known since he was 2 that he had it though. He has other medical problems as well, but the ADHD can be a challenge for sure.

Noemi - posted on 02/18/2010

I have a son who was diagnosed with ADHD and is currently on meds....he is 10 yrs old and a happy child only thing is that he has trouble concentrating that is the only reason why I put him on meds. I try to keep him occupied with sports like basketball and football which he loves and that helps him out alot.

Jennifer - posted on 02/18/2010

Sherrie,

Our son, now 12 was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 3. We understand the feeling of loneliness. Ever since kindergarten we feel our son has been targeted as the "devil" child by both his teachers and peers. Recently, we started working with a psychologist to help us gain more control with this disability since he will be starting high school in a couple years. One action we put into play is a token system. Do a search on "18 ways to make token systems more effective for ADHA children and teens", plus a good book is "Taking charge of ADHD" by Russell A. Barkley & Associates. Let me know if you have any specific questions. We are glad to help in anyway.

Jennifer & Levi

P.S. Where are you located?

Sheri - posted on 02/18/2010

Hi, My son is now 22 and in the USAF he as diagnosed with ADHD efore the age of 6. His o;dersister was diagosed with ADD. I was diagnose at 28. In the begining it was hard but the more I read and talk to others th easier it became. Also has anyone ever told you about 1.2.3. Magic by Thomas Phelan or his work with ADD and ADHD children. It helped me and my husband be more consistant. We did medicne up to age 11 and rom then on it was behavior modification. You will have to be on a first name basis wih the teachers at school. It is worth all the effort.

Debbie - posted on 02/18/2010

Hello. I am a single mom with ADHD and my 6 year old son has ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) What a combo!! I am also certified to teach children with Mental Disabilites, Learning Disabilities and Elementary Ed. For any moms out there that have it themselves...I suggest the book Moms with ADD - A Self-Help Manual, by Christine A. Adamec. It has alot of the positives that go along with ADHD in Mom herself and living with a child that has it on top of that and it is in a format suited to us!!

I have learned through a lot of reading and living it.. that you can not follow the same parenting advice as those who have not LIVED with a child with ADHD. Until you have lived daily with this child in your family ....there is no comprehension as to what we go through. I have felt badly for my 9 year old daughter for the many things she misses out on due to the disorder that her brother and I share. However, when I come across anything that discusses siblings and their feelings in books I have tried to educate her too. I have wanted her to know that she is not the only one out there with a brother or sister with this disorder...THOUGH it feels like she is alone..and that no one else out there goes through what she has with a sibling.

Due to my son's behavior, lack of sleeping, my own ADHD, divorce etc....I basically lost my 10 year career as a teacher, which also had alot to do with the lack of support and understanding of what our lives are like. I would be happy to talk about any aspect or question you have about this topic. Also, I would suggest the website for CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) . They even put out a wonderful information and resource guide! BTW....Thank you for bringing up this topic!!

Carrie - posted on 02/18/2010

My daughter who is ten was recently diagnosed with it tried the addreall.... She was nervous all the time she bit her nail before but on the meds was making them bleed she was way more talkutive and her heart would race... She would seem to be "coming down" at night she would throw fits cry be very emotional I WOULD NOT reccoment putting your child on the meds.. I after 2 months took my daughter off the meds and shes is back to her old self AND I AM THANKFUL

Kayla - posted on 02/18/2010

My 7 yr old son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD(oppositional defiance disorder) about 2-3 yrs ago. while it has been a power struggle at times, with counseling and medication as well as med checks with the dr every 3 months it has gotten better. he still will listen to his dad before he listens to me but i think that just his age showing. he is a good boy and a wonderful big brother. structure helps and variety in your childs diet(my son gets bored with our menu choices)

Ann-Marie - posted on 02/18/2010

I also wanted to add that my son is now on 4, yes 4 different meds. He is on concerta, Wellbutrin (for depression), Strattera (to helo him sleep at night) and now Intuniv. Intuniv works with the frontal lobe which will help him concentrate at school and at home.

Kelly - posted on 02/18/2010

Hi Sherrie - not a mother but a therapist and family member to a kiddo with ADHD. I work with kiddos all day long with it - energy tapping but some of the most social, creative and gifted kids if they could just channel all of that energy and creativity :) Let me know of questions - always happy to help.

LINDA - posted on 02/18/2010

We were told that our 7 yr old son has ADHD in September & felt the exact same way. There is light at the end of the tunnel, it does take time to get there, but it's there. I reached out to all of my FB friends & former classmates. One of them also had a son w/ADHA & she said that they added counciling on top of the medication, which really helped her son w/his anger & emotional issues. Their son no longer has to take the medication & is on the high school honor roll.

LASHANDA - posted on 02/18/2010

Hey sherrie i also have a son that is adhd he was diagnosed in i want to say the 3rd grade. He is 18 now and has shown quite improvement. I know how it feels to be alone. I also don't like it when the doctor's want to put them on meds i never let them put my son on any so if u have patience because thats what its gonna take then i would reframe from putting him on meds but if you need any help im here

Ann-Marie - posted on 02/18/2010

I have a 12 yr old who was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the 1st grade. He is on meds to control his behavior and to help him concentrate. I am currently a single mom and it is a daily struggle. Especially if he did not get his meds. He sees a psychologist and a psychiatrist. They seem to help. But I am now dealing with a new issue with him. But I won't get into that right now.

Lesley - posted on 02/18/2010

Both of my boys have ADHD and my oldest is also has bipolar. Its not known yet if my youngest has bipolar too but he is acting the same way as his brother did before he started his meds. It seems like an everyday struggle for me to deal with it. You and your husband arent alone.

Shannon - posted on 02/18/2010

My son was recently diagnose with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder. Very tough, I know that alone feeling. Even though we are doing everything we can for him and ourselves, nothing compares to the support of someone who walks in your shoes.

April - posted on 02/18/2010

yes i have a 6 year old with adhd and he is bipolar i may help!!!!!!!!! my son was on vyvance then theey ssitch it to concerta and risperdal and he doing great with it if i can haelp let me know

Sherry - posted on 02/18/2010

I have a 12 year old that is ADHD, ODD, Bipolar and it is very hard at times. We just got him stable on his meds and he hit a growing spert and he was way out of wack for almost a month. I know me and my husband feel like what do you do. We have him seeing psychologist and counselors. And I'm a teacher that works with behavior challenged kids. I work other peoples children and them and still can't get my own stable. So trust me when I say you not alone.

Linda - posted on 02/18/2010

Yes i had a son with this and when doctor wanted to put him on meds.i simply couldn't do it as i had seen a friends son on the same med..i just couldn't steal my son's God given personality..i prayed alot ..got upset alot and loved him with all my heart ..and at the age of 27 God called him home ..and i can say with the clearest of conscience...My son was one of the greatest gifts i could have ever received of God and now he is home with God..and i don't have to feel guilty wondering what he may have been like without meds..he was AWESOME..hey mom and dad ..i think i am one strong mom because i chose to deal with him and all his behavioral symptoms...God will surely Bless you as He did me...

Rebecca - posted on 02/18/2010

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 5 and still deal with it now. My brother has ADHD and my son is diagnosed ADHD and has autistic tendencies. I have done a great deal of research and would be happy to give you some pointers and advice wherever I can. Just message me if you are interested!

Tasha - posted on 02/18/2010

I have two boys, one ADD and the other is diagnosed PPD-NOS, which is a mild, high functioning form of autism. I get you on feeling alone.

Lisa - posted on 02/18/2010

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at 4 We did the therapy and everything else we could. I finally had to admit her to the hospital at 6 b/c she was so out of control she was about to be removed from 1st grade. She is now 9 and been rediagnosed with bipolar. She is on 3 meds and goes to therapy. We still need to remember to take deep breaths and I occasionally need to lock myself in my room to take a break.

Tifney - posted on 02/18/2010

My 9 year old has is , my 4 year old has it. My husband has it. I grew up with a father and siblings with it. I know the struggles from sibling, wife, and mother point of view. Yes it is dificult but medication is a great help. Check into LDAU (learning disabilities acosiation of Utah) They have great support and alot of information that can help with ADHD, ADD,OCD, Learning problems, and much more. They have recorces for adults and children.

Michelle - posted on 02/18/2010

I know exactly how you feel, Sherrie. My son has ADHD as well. I love the idea of all of us supporting one another on this subject. I too feel so alone......

Jessica - posted on 02/18/2010

I have a 13 yr daughter that was diagnosed with adhd when she was 6. I also have a 7 yr old son the was just diagnosed with adhd and odd (oppositional defiant disorder). Also my husband has adhd. So I have some expierence with it. It is very hard to deal with some days. You are not alone. Feel free to contact me anytime.

Tina - posted on 02/18/2010

Yes I have a daughter who has ADHD. She was diagnosed in 2nd grade. She has been on a few different meds. She is now focalin XR. I have found giving he Mt Dew sometimes will help her calm down. You can contact me any time.

Alanna - posted on 02/18/2010

My son was diagnosed at age 3, and began Ritalin soon after. My husband didn't want to put him on the med, but it was a night & day difference after just the 1st dose. In the 3rd grade, we switched to Adderall XR to avoid the peaks & valleys. In the 4th grade he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Halfway through 6th, he had to stop taking the medicine because his blood pressure and pulse were pretty high. I home schooled for a year and a half, during which time he put on some much needed weight & learned coping skills. He was able to return to school in 8th grade-medication free, and was on the honor roll. I have experience with all of the highs & lows....

MIchele May - posted on 02/18/2010

I have 4 boys...my 2nd son is ADHD, and it has been a rough road. No one will ever know or understand unless they are going through everything we went through and continue to go through as now he is 22 years old. He was diagnosed at the age of 9, starting in the 3rd grade. Some kids grow out of it but since mine is on the highest dose of meds that they can leagally prescribe they said he will never grow out of it. He also has a high defiance disorder. We have been through so many unbelievable tough times...starting fires was one in his younger years and as we took him to the fire dept for fire safety course we had to fill out forms that is one of the questions on there about ADHD as that another thing that goes along with it. Certain things have gotten better as he gotten older...and as the same other things bloomed. As I said my husband I and have been through some very rough times with him, along with my other 3 sons just wanting out as well. I will make sure I come back to this site as seeing other comments really helps to know it wasn't bad parenting on our part, as other kdis say Mom ...we are totally different it isn't you

Lacey - posted on 02/18/2010

Hi there-



My step son has ADHD..I am not criticizing you for taking your child off their medications on the weekends but it is NOT good to do that..I would highly suggest talking to the doctor about this. They can't function without the medications..they feel as crazy as they act and need the medication. Also behavioral therapy is good to have them in as well.

Jennifer - posted on 02/18/2010

our's hasnt bn officially diagnosed yet but his regular doctor thinks he does we have to send him to counselor to get an official diagnosis and put on meds. my little boy is 5 and he has ocd as well so we r dealing with a lot from him. i love him very much but sumtimes im at loss for words. i dont know wat to do sumtimes and feel like im not doing something rite. i've read a lot of the responses on this matter and i just want to cry reading them bc they r talking about my baby. his ocd is so nerve racking. his tags have to be cut out of his shirts. everything has to b in his order and lines his cars up as well and if u move them he knows even if he didnt watch u move it. he will get so mad and thros a fit. Help me i need support as well. sometimes i think i've scraped the bottom of the barrel and there is nothing left

Danielle - posted on 02/18/2010

PLEASE check out this book. It WILL help you and change your lives. My son was being diagnosed Autistic, and a friend of mines child was labeled ADHD, and this book changed our children. I PROMISE! It is called, "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics",by Kenneth Boch.

And btw, I can guarantee, SUGAR is playing a huge part in his behavior. I would love to help you with the detox process, as far as recommending products,(and I don't sell anything, I just know it is hard to find products that children will actually take, and I could reccommend several inexpensive online products that we have tried and used) if you want to go that route, after reading the book. So if you want to become my friend on here, I would love to help. Just remind me who you are in the request. :) I have a few notes on the subject, just our personally testimony about how the change in eating helped us.

Hope I dont seem overbearing, I just want to help anyone I can, because doctors arent helping anyone it seems with these things and we had such great success by doing simple things that I would not want to not share them with anyone who needs help. Blessings!!!

Susan - posted on 02/18/2010

Ok. Moms... here goes from a mom who has an adult AD/HD and an adult ADD/Asberger's. Their childhood (they are 2 years apart) was challenging to say the least. Recommendation: have your AD/HD tested for allergies. Food allergies are the worst for them and can worsen the symptoms. Secondly: develop a strict regimen. Military-style. All hours of the day need to be tightly constructed, although the activities should vary and no activity should last more than 30 minutes (too much if the child is really young.) Bedtime and meal times must be kept on a very close schedule. It's not easy for the parents but it will do wonders for the child.

Good luck!

Shari - posted on 02/18/2010

Our 14 year old daughter is ADHD and about a year ago decided she likes herself better not medicated so we are struggling with getting her back on them now that her grades are c---p

Michelle - posted on 02/18/2010

Yes. Our son was diagnosed in 1st grade. He is now 14 1/2 and OFF his meds! He's doing great in school and great at home. It was hard work, and frustrating at times and no one in our family seemed to understand what we were going through. You are not alone, although I am sure you feel like it, at times. Plus, I have ADHD as well, and I just deal with it on a daily basis. I don't take an meds for it. I was not for putting my son on meds, but I did it because I couldn't handle him getting suspended on a weekly basis.

Rebecca - posted on 02/18/2010

No worries (or at least not too many!) -- I was diagnosed with ADD in second grade and I grew out of it.



Becky Dawn

Tracey - posted on 02/18/2010

You have no idea how happy I am that you said something about this , because we feel the same way ! My son Travis who is now 12 years old was diagnosed with A.D.H.D. when he was 5 years old.I would love to talk to you, and we can share advice and support, Hoping to hear from you soon. Tracey

Stacy - posted on 02/18/2010

My 15 yr. old daughter has had ADHD since she was about 2 or 3. She was also diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder and I have felt alone every since she was diagnosed. I have fought with her father on keeping her on medicines. If you need any advice or help, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Michelle - posted on 02/18/2010

Hello my 5 year old was just now diagnosed with adhd and we are going through so much. I dont know who to talk to about things and who to listen to.. We hear what horrible parents we are for starting our son on meds and how I am trying to find the easy way out. So Ive pretty much become a prisoner of my home, not going places, not talking to anyone.. etc. i Would LOVE to have others to talk to!!! Please add me on facebook michellekincaide

Heather - posted on 02/18/2010

Hello My name is Heather and I not only have 1 child but have 3 children all with adhd and I know my self it is a challenge but one thing my husband and I have had luck with is making sue to have a routine and too stick with it weather it is in the summer or winter keep the same bed time and every thing watch what they eat red food die can get them fired up even more than they normally are also make sure to keep close contact with the child's teacher to monitor how they are doing in school that way it will help you to let the DR know if the medication or what ever the treatment plan is that you are doing is working or not

Susan - posted on 02/18/2010

Yeah we feel alone as well....due to the nature of our son having ADHD,ODD and mild autism....it really is a hard one and we have lost friends over this as he can be very noisy and full on...just know that I am here if you need an ear.

Beverly - posted on 02/18/2010

yes,my daughter who is now 17 has adhd,bi-polar,odd,ocd,and anxiety disorder,i understand comepletey,i used to feel all alone also,people didnt understand,they would think she was spoiled,hateful,hyper,u name it,she was made fun of in school,and even by some family members,believe me i understand,i can say it get better when they are older,but sometimes she still has problems,she also has some learning disibilities,and sometimes my heart just breaks,i dont know if you are a spritual person are not but pray really does help,i prayed for yrs for her and still do,she is not on any meds now,but they did put her on meds when she was just 4,and i took her off when she was abot 8,just couldnt stand to see what it did to her,so we got help with the emtional part. Im here if u need to talk.

Mary - posted on 02/18/2010

Have him to take is at school in the mornings with the school nurse during the week!

Mary - posted on 02/18/2010

My bf's oldest is 6 and has ADHD and I know its hard sometimes but we have got times when things aren't going so great but we try everyday to understand him and the things that he does.

Lilly - posted on 02/18/2010

My oldest son has ADHD, trust me your not alone. He was 4 when he was diagnosed, sometimes it seems like my son is the only one around that has ADHD. We have tried every stimulant medication on the market, they all worked but not @ getting rid of the violent tendensies. He is 6 now and currently taking Abilify. Which I must say I didn't want to try because of the label (anti psychotic) but it has worked wonders for my son. The best decision I have ever made. People will always try to knock you down for medicating, but those people have no idea what its like to have a child like this. I have come to realize that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you as long as you are comfortable with your choices to try and do what is best for your child. Hang in there your not alone. =)

Holly - posted on 02/18/2010

My son was diagnosed with adhd about 2 years ago with his medicine he does well but I think his dose may need to be adjusted lately it has been really frustrating.

Shannon - posted on 02/18/2010

My daughter and I both have this. My daughters counselor recommended a great book "Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention" by Kathleen Nadeau and Ellen Dixon. It gives a lot of tips on little tools and ways to help you child and to help empower your child. I am not sure how young your child is... but it has helped us a lot to frequently review it. It is super kid friendly as well. Another thing I have noticed is teaching my daughter by doing is a great way to keep her on task. Especially with simple things like a recipe. Also extra hugs that are just mellow help my girl calm down. She is 13 now and it is really hard for her to deal with. She seems to feel more alone than I do at time. I am sure your child will have different things to help, but that is my two cents! I hope it helps. :) Good luck.