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Monday, June 30, 2014

Try ADHD Medication

I am an adult with ADHD and I didn't get meds until I was an adult. They changed my life. I only wish I had been given them sooner. I missed out on so much. Whereas I do believe you can help your child without meds - it's all a matter of degrees. If they are helped at all without meds, then they can be helped exponentially more with them. It might seem like "good enough" for you the parent without meds but your child is missing out on their true potential. The main way people manage ADHD without meds is by avoidance. Avoiding anything challenging which, for some, is nearly everything.


And even though I could get by without, I see no reason to even try. Why accept just getting by when there is so much more potential?


I can understand the gut reaction to try to stay away from meds and "go natural". But the reality is when you do that you are leaving much of your child's potential untapped. I missed a lot of life before meds. It's like I had to get to know myself again. I discovered a whole new world.


I agree that exercise and diet are key and extremely helpful. I know I have to exercise first thing every morning. It helps get me in gear. My son's school which is for ADHD kids - the first period is P.E. for this reason. Sleep is also very important. ADHD persons benefit highly from an extra 30 minutes of sleep per day. My son gets 11 hours per night and those nights he doesn't - it’s obvious the next day. None of it replaces the right meds though. The right ADHD meds do not make you like a zombie. They don't change you at all - they just make your brain work correctly. My son won't go without his. He loves them. He says they stop him from "being random." And I know just how he feels.


Beginning in third grade if you don't at least try medication for your child, you are doing them a disservice. That is what I believe. Until you see what medication can do, you have no idea what your child can do or who they can be. Of course, for those people who have tried and can't make any work because of multiple diagnosis or other reason, I feel for them. I'm really talking about those people who are staunchly against any meds ever.


I am a staunch believer in medication.  I volunteer at my sons school - 100 kids - all with ADHD.  I can tell without even looking at their paperwork which kids are on meds and which are not .  The ones that are do much better and are much happier.


I think it is good information and parents need to ask themselves "Why am I so against even trying medication?"

I would love to hear your thoughts!

(Our ADHD Story shares thoughts from others that do not necessarily represent our own. Want to share your thoughts on ADHD? Message lles86@hotmail.com)

Friday, June 27, 2014

When Not Medicated...

My brother didn't get medication either - he is a drug addict.  He self- medicated.  He also can't support himself.  He is going to be 60.  He did get married but then went bankrupt .  She divorced him.  They never had kids.  Now he is totally beyond repair. He gets SSDI and can't manage to live on it.  If he had had meds, he might be married with grown children.  Who knows.  Kids who don't get meds are much more likely to self-medicate later I think.

ADHD kids are automatically more easily seduced by dangerous things - for me it was extreme sports - for my brother drugs.  (lucky me).  They are also more impulsive and don't think through consequences.  When I think of all the things I did as a kid and young adult - I am SHOCKED that I lived to tell about any of it.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Is ADHD Our of Control Hyper?

I hate how people assume adhd is just "out of control hyper" or just bad parenting etc. Ive 

heard where it concerns my son sooo many times "well I just think his mom isnt teaching 

him like he needs to be. poor kid" when I work my ass off trying to find more things to 

help that works with him on top of dealing with my own ADHD. I dont have the hyper part 

that so many assume it is only. Maybe when I was younger I had some but nowadays i have

a lot of health issues that go against me having any energy at all. I am still  tho. My 

mind is all over the place and I'm messy n cant keep plans like I mean to n want to. I am 

always late even when I set 5 alarms through the same hour period to keep my butt in a 

"hurry" yes I literally do that too. I have to be at church at 4 so Ill set my alarms for 3:20,

 3:35, 3:45, 3:55 etc just to make sure I am gathering n moving along as I should. It 

sounds stupid to some ppl but I'm sure other add'ers understand it. Especially when you 

have kiddos/baby to get ready too. It can be frustrating having others assume they know. 

Like my friends bf was complaining the house was a mess n made the mistake of asking me 

my thoughts. I said it was actually really really clean, which it was. He went on about it n i 

cut him off going on about how adhd ppl have some struggles anyway or some of us. He 

claimed she should be a clean freak if shes adhd. I laughed said yeah dude ur confusing this

with OCD. Not the same. Some have both some dont. On the flip side, there are A LOT of 

fun quirks that I love about being ADHD :)


(Our ADHD Story shares thoughts and ideas that do not necessarily represent our own. To share your story write to lles86@hotmail.com)

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

In The Middle

I throw my hands up and trying to embrace it... While I see some have it all together, and I see some define their child as their diagnoses, and I'm in the middle... (I am not judging just stating what I have seen sorry in advance ) My son who happens to have Adhd, visual SPD,and possible Tourette's, and I feel such guilt for him, I know I wasn't doing everything to help him, in he beginning we just needed a "quick" fix for school(though they said they would teach even if we didn't med him) but he was drowning, he wasn't happy, we weren't happy! Now we are switching it up and going med free, and he goes for a blood test on the 16th so we can start a new journey from there of eliminating or adding things.



Okay I'm getting of course...our daughter who is almost 12 doesn't have a Dx and he sees her hanging out with friends and walking to the pool(which we go but he always supervised always a life jacket, and seems socially out of place) I look at him and think why, why him, why these kids and why this... I know ADHD is something he can not control but it is the LEAST socially acceptable diagnoses and to many doesn't exists! And they don't see what I see, they see a little boy who doesn't listen, who is all over the place, that says very inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times or places, but what I see is a little boy trying to fit in a world that won't accept him, but he accepts it, I see a little boy who is THE funniest thing next to Larry the cable guy(lol), and then I see a little boy alone in his room crying because there isn't anyone to play with, there isn't anyone to call, and there lives the guilt, of not knowing what to do, wishing he didn't feel the wrath of society and wishing he didn't feel aware of it... This boy is the sun and the moon, he is what pure joy is, and I wish he could feel that! Sorry, I'm a little emotional today, though we are having a great day, just thinking outloud...

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Stereotyping ADHD

What is your biggest issue with people who don't have and/or don't understand ADHD? 

Me:
It really bothers me when people make stereotypical statements about me or others having ADHD (ex. you'll never finish it so why start, you can't do that, your parents didn't raise you right, adults can't have ADHD, etc). Others think that I'm less competent to do certain tasks because of my ADHD, when they really don't know me or my abilities. In all actuality, I know more about that particular subject than most people, I just tend to get side tracked a little. Then there are those who have bought into the idea that people who have ADHD are "mentally retarded". They treat people that have ADHD almost as if we're diseased. I've been told that my parents should've whipped me more as a child. My parents beat the crap out of me when I was younger and guess what, I still have ADHD. What's even worse than any of that is having multiple diagnosis. I have BPD, OCD & ADHD. Let the stereotypes fly when someone finds out that I have all of them. All I can do is roll with the punches and try to educate anyone who'll hear me out. 


~Doc

One of our Admins on our Facebook page Our ADHD Story 

(Our ADHD Story shares thoughts and ideas that do not necessarily represent our own. To share your story write to lles86@hotmail.com)

Monday, June 23, 2014

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I thought if I shared this with you all, it might help anyone that is having a bit of a difficult time with their child like we have had. My Son Liam was 3 years old when we noticed that there was something different in his behavior compared to our two older children. After a really difficult time, periods of not being able to cope and feeling like nobody wanted to help, we were referred to a specialist. Liam was badly behaved at school and we were told that he was disruptive and that he would never make it through mainstream school, and they all but gave up on him.

Our home life was extremely stressful and I would end each day in tears AGAIN. He was violent, verbally abusive and strong, but he was our Son and we were never going to give up on him. When Liam was 10 years old we finally got a diagnosis, he was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, ADHD and mild tourettes and OCD. After trying several types of medication and finding that Concerta was the one for him, he settled in school and then secondary school. His behavior was still challenging at times but he did well in his GCSE'S. He has been to college and passed his A levels, he is now at our local University studying a BA in music and movie soundtrack.

This week he had to go to London all by himself, get the train and tube to do a weeks work experience with a TV company, they were so impressed with him they have offered him a job during the holidays and one when he graduates from University. We are so proud of him and never thought he would cope with the travelling alone and things are looking good for the future, he is 21 now and things can still be tough at times. So all you parents, when things get really tough and you wonder if there is light at the end of the tunnel, like we did, stay strong, dont let anyone give up on your child, keep fighting even if you feel like giving up, because with the your support and the right support from others and if they are determined enough, children with these conditions can succeed, can prosper and can be good achievers.

Thank you all for reading this. Thought I would share our story hoping it will show people that there can be a light a the end of a very long tunnel at times I wish this page had been around when Liam was 8 because we would have been glad of the support, at times we felt so alone so I hope it helps parents in some way.

Friday, June 20, 2014

'Accidental' Help


Hello.  I am a 37 yr old mother of two.  I have been struggling with focusing and daydreaming ever since I was in elementary school.  I was making bad grades up until I got in high school.  Weird huh.  I joined the track team and started making the honor roll because I didn't want to get kicked off.  I started seeing the commercials with adults with ADHD.  I was always told that a person grows out of it. I mentioned this to my Dr. at the time, but she just told me that everyone is starting to claim it.  That was the end of that.  Well, when I had my first child, I remember getting distracted with her in the car.  I zoned out and ended up running a red light.  When I got side swiped by another car, my baby girl happened to be on the driver's side as well, that did it for me.  I finally went in to see a specialist and they diagnosed me with anxiety.  They told me to make an appointment to come back in, but I could never get in contact with anyone.                                                                                                             

Several years later, I decided to go back to community college.  A new Dr. replaced the old one and he listened to my story.  He finally prescribed Concerta for me.  It actually helped me focus and I felt relieved.  I was finally diagnosed with ADD around 6 years ago through vocational rehab. This was a relief to me because it explained a lot of things and that I wasn't dumb after all.  My son has ADHD, but my daughter doesn't.  I was able to get him in the IEP program early.  I feel that he will not have to go through as much as I did, because there are resources out there to help.  

Tonya Evans Beatty is a Massage and Bodywork Therapist.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Rant

Why is it the solution to ADHD is becoming organized and scheduled. Why are the answers to my problem the thing I struggle with? I have expressed my severe anxiety over forgetting things only to be told to get a calendar. Now why did I not think of that? Maybe because one is on my fridge and I still forget. Maybe because someone can call me 2 hours before my appointment and somehow it leaves my brain and I completely forget I even had to be anywhere. I am trying my best here. Don't tell me if I can just make sure to read and schedule homework time with my kid and he will struggle less. It is a fact that I struggled with school when I was younger and guess what it has not changed! I hate homework, it gives me anxiety. I am trying! I am trying! I am trying!

If you are going to tell me advice at least try and make it seem like you understand that it is a struggle and not just a no brainer. Don't make it seem so simple and easy because guess what, it isn't. It is much more complicated than you can understand, heck I don't get it and it is my head.

It is not for the lack of desire either! I have this idea in my head of who I want to be. I want to be the organized mom who sits down with her kids after school and does homework. I want to be the person who remembers their appointments and gets to places on time.

I am tired of hearing simple answers to my complex problems.

He's Just Being a Boy?

Our story. Family always saying "He's

just being a boy - he will outgrow it. Boys mature more 

slowly". He is now 6, has been in speech therapy and OT

every week for over 3 years. Is in regular kindergarten but 

has a 504 plan. Little behind academically but doing okay. 

And now family is like "See told you he was fine......... He 

just needed to mature some". And I'm like "yeah that's it - he

just needed time. Didn't have anything to do with the last 3

1/2 years of therapy not to mention all the accommodations

we made at home.........

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Wondering What a Pill Will Do to Me

Those who have ADHD were born with it. You learn everything with an ADHD brain and never know what learning, living or executing a plan are like for folks without ADHD. When you figure out that others have better emotional and executive self-control than you, you can’t really imagine what it’s like to be them. Imagining better self-control is about as easy as imagining living on the other side of the world. You can guess dozens of details, but thousands never occur to you, till you get there.
pill in handWhen I held the very first ADHD pill I took in my hand, I tried to imagine what I would be feeling in an hour. An hour later, the answer was ‘nothing’. By the end of the day, the answer was still ‘nothing’. I felt no joy, no elation, no energy, no buzz, no euphoria, no calm, no peace and no different. But looking back on the day, there were a thousand differences from the patterns of the previous forty years that were all small, but collectively stunning.
I learned a lot about ADHD in the first few days after I started medication for it by what changed and what stayed the same. I found myself able to do things that I had never been able to do before. It was far more exciting for me in some ways, than for my wife.
“Guess what I can do?” I prodded her excitedly. “I can simultaneously talk to patients AND keep mental track of the time!” This was very new and different. I could think of a world of useful things that could be done with such a super-power. Not get an hour behind my schedule every day for example.
Her response couldn’t have been more deflating. “Yeah, hon, everybody can do that.” She didn’t even look up from the book she was reading.
“Well I couldn’t before the meds, and I can now,” I replied.
She looked at me with utter incredulity, like I had just told her I’m Martian and need to catch a shuttle back there now. Her concept of ADHD was changing just as fast as mine. The surprise in her eyes relaxed, and she grew more reflective.
“I never imagined you couldn’t do that,” she said. “I thought you were choosing not to.”
We had been married almost 20 years, and she had never known this stunningly basic fact about me. She assumed that I wanted to come home late every night more than I wanted to be with the family. There were plenty more surprises those first few days.
I drove home from work one night (an hour earlier than usual) in crowded, but fast-moving traffic. The driver in front of me was very erratic and irritating. I felt the manly impulse to drive right up her rusty tailpipe, flashing my lights and generally intimidating her into driving less erratically. (“Great plan with a high chance of success!” you’re probably thinking.) The thought of arriving home safely and calmly also flashed through my mind, and I backed off a couple car lengths.
“Does this pill make me a driving whimp?” crossed my mind. The only answer I could think of to my own question was “No, given the choice, I’d rather relax and think my own thoughts than to be a butt-head.”  Once again, it was a brand new thought for me that I had a choice of reactions to this annoyance, and the simplest choice was to relax and not be obnoxious.
The most remarkable thing, though–and it occurred time and time again–was how simple small work tasks became. I could look at several necessary jobs, pick the top priority and start working on it with less effort than it takes to read this sentence. People who don’t have ADHD probably never imagine how much effort goes into the smallest task, the simplest morning routine, nor do they know how frustrating it is to spend that much effort and still do it badly.
With ADHD, the amount of internal wrestling you go through to start a mundane task is many times the work of the task itself. If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes getting your teenager to spend 2 minutes taking out the trash, you know what I mean. People with ADHD cajole and plead with their inner teenager to finish every item of the morning routine, to start every simple task of the work day, to pick up every piece of clutter.
Experts refer to this as “motivational impairment”, but it really deserves a much more descriptive name, such as “the soul-wrenching effort to shame yourself into doing small, mundane tasks, by imagining that God and your ancestors will hate and disown you if you don’t”. “Motivational impairment” is the short-cut the experts use to save time in their busy research labs.
The need to start a task occurs hundreds of times in a day. People who do hundreds of tasks in a day deserve to feel tired, and they deserve their rest at the end of the day. People with ADHD may only accomplish dozens of tasks, because of the exhausting inefficiency of wrestling our minds from task to task. We may be working harder than anyone knows behind the scenes, but only get credit for the work accomplished. There is no credit for the motivational “pre-work”.
Being able to do a full day of simple work is the most amazing thing I experienced after starting medication. It’s like waking up and taking a deep, delicious breath of the morning air, and realizing that—as far back as you can remember—all you’ve ever known is breathing through a straw.
See more at Attentionality

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Quiet and Reserved

I’m 26 and living with ADD since I was 7.

I was highly medicated at school but I still found I never really had any good friends to be with, I classed myself as a floater dotting to different crowds of people I new but stayed in the background so sort of a loner but tried to look like I had friends.

With the lessons because of my ADD I had a teaching assistant in every class apart from sports, music and IT, after my exams 2 of which were gcse I got a G in music and U in IT, that just proved that left alone I either I played up or switched off even when on meds, the rest of my gcse grades were in the d's and e's but it was still a major struggle just to get them.

Even today off the meds for 10 years, I work in a suit shop and in general when I get highly stressed and overwhelmed I go quiet and reserved.

My biggest problem I can't budge is my compulsiveness especially to dvds and having a food box under my bed, cause of not being allowed certain foods when I was a child I buy them and put them in the box.

The main one that people get annoyed at is that I can’t do restaurants, I can go but I won't eat, I feel sick, I never look at the people taking me I look at my surroundings and people watch and when I get really overwhelmed I disappear to the toilet and stay there until I can face just sitting back into the surroundings could be up to 30 mins.

Severe ADHD

This is my 9yr old boy Malichi!! He was diagnosed at 5 years old with severe ADHD. We faught back medication for a great deal of time until we realized how bad he was suffering in school academically. We have been through so many different medications and to so many doctors appointments and not to mention all the trips to his school. He has taught me so much more than I have him. I never had an ounce of patience until Malichi came into my life. There is not a day that goes by that I don't feel like yanking my hair out, but in that same moment I want to hold this precious boy so close because he has so much to offer. Its a crazy rollercoaster ride everyday and never a dull moment, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I should also mention that I have a 12 year old daughter who is a complete opposite of my son. But she has been a great help when many people do not understand our worries of having an impulsive ADHD child. My husband was diagnosed with ADHD as a child but he has found a way to control it. Sorry for the long rant! I just like to express my life to people who I know will understand!! 

ADHD Support: Poem


Celebrating being a member of great support groups!

To have a laugh. To share a cry. To keep hope.
To have faith.
To give love. To move ahead. To make ammend.
and get ahead.
Understand and Speak. To touch the Snowy peak.
To raise above the water and protect our Sons and Daughters.
A sky above a core below. The sky at night a lesson thorough.
A morning of sorrow. Another tomorrow.
The Passing time with less than a dime
No, it ain't no crime. Just be yourself and not a mime.
A breeze that touched. An idea that buzzed.
The chocolate that fudged. The black the red.
The Greenish flame is rising.
Don't take the blame Arising.
The matter of Life, the matter of love.
Why live a lie, just release the dove.
A group of people To Trust, To show beneath the crust.
Leave behind the past and Journey towards the thrust.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Is ADHD a disability?

I was asked the question, "Do you see ADHD as a disability?". For a second I thought and said "Yes and no". How's that you may ask, I'll explain. 

I see ADHD as a survival trait. What does that mean? Well, not in the modern society that we live in today but speaking of like an "animal" trait that helps a particular species survives in a "real" world environment. 

If there was no markets, schools, needed jobs (to pay rent, clothed ourselves, etc..) and we relied on basic needs; Food, water, and shelter. We would be able to survive, in my opinion far better than most.

Example- We are easily distracted in "modern society" by movement, noises, and take notice of things where most don't. These modern day hindrances, in my opinion, great for survival.

This is speaking of a place where we build our own shelter, gathered our own food, and hunted animals to eat. The fact that movement catches our eyes is great for hunting. I hunt and eat squirrels (I live in Louisiana) and believe me, I can see a branch shake from one in the woods without missing a beat. Also, the movement of things could alert us to danger. We may notice a dangerous animal as a hunt is taking place. Gathering food items, like berries, plants, or similar items we may take notice to them quicker.

Add to the ability to see things suddenly with a lot of energy, imagine the possibility in a non-modern world. One where building a shelter or improving it and having to gather or cut vegetation to do so, our energy levels would be an asset.

So, ADHD as an disability, no. We are capable of eating when hungry, drink when we are thirsty, clothed ourselves according to the weather. We really don't rely on anyone to ensure we take care of ourselves. If you look at some of the other mental illnesses, such as autism and downs-syndrome, without any assistance, people whom suffer from that would not be able to survive in any environment.

In a modern society, ADHD is a disability. Having to succeed in school and work, pay bills, buy our food, rent/buy our shelter, etc.., is something that we ADHD'ers have trouble with. ADHD, is a modern day society driven mental disorder. We are made to conform to what society dictates. However, if we went back to the stone age tomorrow, we have the ability to survive with our modern day society disabilities. ~Scooter

Hope this makes sense.




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Sunday, June 15, 2014

A ADHD parent with an ADHD Child

One of the hardest things to do, as an ADHD parent, is to raise an ADHD child. Just as an example, imagine your child has a field trip coming up. All of these things have to happen:

1. Kid has to remember to put permission slip in her bag.
2. Kid has to remember her bag.
3. Kid has to remember to hand the permission slip to Mom.
4. Mom has to find a pen.
5. Mom has to find her checkbook.
6. Mom has to find an envelope.
7. Mom has to read and sign the permission slip.
8. Mom has to write out a check for the proper amount.
9. Mom has to hope there's sufficient funds for the check.
10. Mom has to gather permission slip and check and place it in the envelope (I just had that; where did it go?).
11. Mom has to give the envelope to Kid.
12. Kid has to put the envelope in her bag.
13. Kid has to remember to take her bag to school.
14. Kid has to remember to turn in the envelope.
15. Oh, crap. What day was that again?

Mom lost her half of the permission slip and didn't put it on the calendar! To normals, such a simple task. To us, a nearly impossible series of events that must be executed. Are you exhausted yet? Well, that's the life of a ADHD parent with an ADHD child.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Teenager ODD

I am the mom of a 15 year old son diagnosed with ODD since the age of 11. The past few years things have spiraled out of control, due to his drug use, temper, lack of respect for me and his dad, or any figure of authority. He's been in therapy since the age of 9. He's been a liar since the age of 6. I honestly wouldn't believe anything he tells me. He takes intuniv and depakote, and when he doesn't there is a big difference. I cannot keep cash in my purse he steals it. I hide my purse when I go to bed. We live in a pretty nice home and several times last year, while high, he got mad and tried to destroy it causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage each time with the deputies having to be called out. 

He was in and of juvenile detention and finally the judge put him in there for 6 months in a program that I told everyone the lady that ran it, his PO, my family, his therapist, that he was riding the system to get out. When he got out in Jan he tested positive for pot two days later and has 2 times since, we went to court again today for him violating his probation and possession. We didn't press charges for the damage to the walls in our house. I am at wits end. My son is quarterback on the football team, plays basketball, tennis, golf, and is on house arrest except for practice. This sucks. Thanks for listening.

Ways to Remember Your Medication

Have you ever wondered "Crap did I take my pill today? I know I thought about it but did I actually do it?" well here are some good pill tips for you or to help you give them to your ADHD child. That is if you can remember to do them! 


  • If you take two doses turn the bottle upside down after your first dose so that way you will know if you have taken it or given it to your child.
  • Pill containers help keep your pills organized and if that day is empty you know you are covered!
  • Put the bottle in a different but still secure location of the house after your first dose.
  • Take your pill and put it in your pocket so you will have it while running errands or at the office.
  • Put a paper by your medication and sign off when you take/give a pill. 
  • Set your alarm on your phone to remind you just don't turn off the alarm until you have taken it.


How do you remember to take/give medication? Share some helpful hints!


Judging ADHD

I will admit I used to be a judgy person. My oldest son (10 today yay) has adhd as well . He did not start medication until 8 years old . I used to judge the parents giving their 4 year old meds , I did not know how severe adhd could be . That is until I had my youngest . He has always been active , always busy . I fig he'd be another Nick ( my oldest). Boy was I wrong at age two it went downhill . At age 4 he was evaluated and diagnosed with adhd/ODD . I had tried spanking, time out, toys taken away . Everything I possibly could , even therapy . Nothing worked . He was a whole different level of ADHD . After his diagnoses I kept him off meds for a while . Preschool was giving up on him . Kids did not want to be around him , he learnt nothing and cried in sadness begging me to help him . His therapist told me she had never came across a case of ADHD as bad as his . He is very severe . He simply could not function . I think even as parents of adhd children ourself we forget that there are different severity for each case . I thought my oldest was bad , and kept thinking if I could handle him and teach him things why can't other moms do same with theirs ? It is not that easy , it is not black and white . With 4 kids I see how different the once with adhd are from each other, and how my non adhd children are . I never realized how sever ADHD could be , but my son sure shut me up He taught me never to judge because everyone's story is different

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Baby Boomer


    • My story..... (Robert)...Like a lot of Baby Boomers, I was diagnosed as an adult. I grew up in New York City, and struggled in school. After I got married & had a child, my first child (a boy) was having some attention problems in school. We spoke to a doctor who suggested that our child might have ADHD. No one knew what that meant in 1992 or 1993. The doctor said it was likely that one of us (as parents) has it.. I was the parent who was identified as having it... I went to a few doctors, and took the usual meds (Ritalin, Cylert, etc)... None of them worked..... We heard about a support group in New York where I could get information & meet peers who have the same issues.

    • After going to several meetings, and becoming friendly with the "regulars", who seemed to attend meetings frequently, I realized I had found a "home"....
    • The coordinator asked us a dinner one night (after the meeting, it was customary to go out to the local diner after the meeting for a snack) if anyone wanted to help him run the group... A few people said yes, and we formed a steering committee..
    • The committee lasted for several years. Like everything else associated with ADD/ADHD, it eventually became just myself & the coordinator. We've been running it alone for about 10 years...

    • We agreed long ago to divide responsibilities.... He was always good in dealing with the clinical side.... I worked in sales & marketing, so I always handled advertising the meetings & getting the word out to the community.....

    • We have a combination of lectures & support group meetings. I use a variety of social media sites, including FB, Twitter, Linkedin, etc, as well as older formats such as Yahoo Groups.... Our FB page is The Manhattan Adult ADHD Support Group

Choosing ADHD Medication

I have ran in to so many parents refusing to even try medication . They have told me it will ruin their mind , that children on stimulants are zombies and so on . Yet my adhd boys on stimulants are doing great in school now, while my friends are failing . My boys are keeping the friends they make while my friends kids do not have friends as it gets to muvh for "regular" kids. My boys don't get in trouble in school while my friends get called from school all the time . My friends kids spend most their day grounded, punished or alone , while mine play outside with friends, ride their bikes, and have a blast .

So tell me how is medicating my children harming my children ? I am all for parents trying natural way if it works . But if it clearly is not working without medications then give your child the help he needs .My Boys Are happy , Active And enjoying life . While my stubborn friends have kids that are fighting with them every min, struggling in school and feeling alone because the kids in their neighborhood won't play with them .

Sometimes you have to step down from the I'm better then you throne and take the help that is out there. I just wish they would listen , I know their children would enjoy life so much more .


My 5 Year Old ( Just turned 5 :)) Started Meds 3 months ago like I said . He could only count til two . He now helps my 1st grader with her math homework. That's in 3 months . Adhd children are brilliant but they need help to channel it all so the world can see their brightness

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Climbing Higher with ADHD Medication

My Aidan just turned 8 & completed 2nd grade. It was his first full school year being on meds since diagnosed with ADHD last spring. His grades climbed & even tho his state test which he took in 10 mins (hello ADHD) would make him take summer school, his daily work & comprehension levels tested him out of needing summer school! He works very hard & gets extra help with Chinese & Math but he did it! He didn't get into trouble like years before. Not one phone call from school for behavior.

Aidan went from first grader sitting on my steps crying that he hated himself,he was stupid & why should he go to school cuz he just gets into trouble (that's when we knew no diet, routine, yoga would be enough we needed meds) to a boy with confidence with grades all 3 (4 is highest) and crying on last day of school saying he loves school & didn't want it to end. Aidan himself can tell anyone that his "listening pills" work! Trust me did I hear many unasked opinions about how meds are bad etc. my response he isn't your son. Each person is different. I know many kids/adults that are not medicated who self medicated with drugs/alcohol & gave up on school. I'll give my son the tools to be successful & see ADHD as a gift

A New Look


My story began when I was really young I was told I had ADHD they put me on ritalin which was their way of covering what the real problems were I felt that I didn't need to be on it but I could not refuse to take it until I was 14 so I was forced to take drugs it made me feel sleepy and just plain groggy when I was on them people who had no idea about my situation would put me down called me dumb and stupid because they did not understand why I was the way I am they thought I could just change it and it was hard to deal with because I felt angry because I wanted to change it and I could not but after I turned 14 I stopped taking the meds they put me on and I began to look at my learning disability not as a learning disability I began to say I am learning different that is all and I still struggle daily but I struggle less than I did as a child

Different

My story: my 6 year old has been 'different' from other kids since he was 2. Only recently did my husband and I suspect ADHD. He is affected only mildly, which makes it difficult to get support from teachers and family members. Only those who are with him for an extended amount of time understand. He has his challenges, more I have my challenges in parenting him. But he has so many strengths that I wouldn't change anything about him! He is kind, loving, complementary, incredibly smart, well-rounded in his interests, and overall a good kid. We will have more challenges, as it seems the ADHD becomes stronger and more apparent as he gets older. But he is my pride and joy!

When ADHD Medication Wears Off

  Do you ever wonder why by the end of the day your kids may struggle even more? ADHD medication can be like glasses; in the morning you don't notice how badly you can't see but you put on your glasses and realize now all you were missing. Move around with glasses for 8 hours and try to take them off you will suddenly realize how bad your vision really is and it is very hard to see without them. I know for me by around 7:00 I need more patience from those around me because I am suddenly only 'seeing' half as well.

Monday, June 9, 2014

ADHD finding Normal "base line"

I'm the bipolar, major depressive ADHD one... overachiever, fear of failure and no one can tell. The mask has been firmly attached for over 30 years..I'm now 47. onto my 3 rd psych who is finally digging deep enough so we can work on meds that work. I am exhausted playing the charade of normalcy...I'm an expat as well, so being in a foreign culture has its own drawbacks...Aussie, then Indonesia for 3 yrs and now Turkey for 2 so far. Compulsive shopper, get bored easily, don't stay in a job for more than 2 yrs cos I provide solutions but maintaining them is boring. i have been a research scientist...never submitted ½ finished PhD thesis in mineral chemistry cos i got bored), sales, recruitment then HR. now studying psychology - i believe I can make a contribution by servicing other expats in whichever country we are living in. 

Keeping it together for my daughters sake, let the mask slip slightly with my husband of 27 yrs and finally last week took it off at the psychs. my sisters are bipolar and major depressive, my mother is totally manic. have developed arrhythmia due to meds, so now experimenting to see what I can take in combination to treat all of the above and not have a  attack or kill my liver, also have hypertension to throw in the mix. I am a practicing Buddhist (Vajriana - Tibetan) which is very cognitive based. hoping to one day have a normal "base line" and experience joy again!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Teachers Commit to the Full Year.

Teachers please don’t plan on taking a teaching job unless you can commit to the full year.


I get it unexpected things can happen and sometimes you have no control over having to leave or take an absence. I am not talking about those moments. I am talking about the teacher who is actively trying to get another job while teaching. The teacher who is well aware they will be having a baby and take a 3 month absence during the school year.


I get you want to be promoted, change locations, or be a mom. These are all great goals to have but as a mom who has seen my son struggle more than he needs to I feel these have to stop.


All kids need structure, all kids need a routine, and all kids need a teacher they can count on to be there all year. A sub on occasion is not a bad thing and just fine but we are talking about changing teachers, dealing with subs for more than a month waiting to find that replacement teacher.


My son’s first year of kindergarten his teacher left teaching to be a Vice Principal. He had a substitute for almost 2 months and then another different teacher to finish the school year. ALL of the kids struggled with this so imagine the child dealing with other delays and learning disabilities on top of that.


So what did we do? We made the VERY hard choice to have him do kindergarten again. Hoping he could have a chance to not be so behind all of his classmates. Only to find out his teacher was pregnant and would have a substitute for 3 months in the middle of the year.


I wish I would have at least been told before the school year started but more than that I wish some planning or just deciding to not be a full time teacher that year could have happened.


You need money and a career but my child needs a good education so one day he can grow up and be a well educated man and have a career.


I was in 9th grade and in my math class my teacher transferred to a different school. The rest of the year (probably a good 6 months) we had a substitute and we just goofed off in that class. You can blame me a kid or you can blame the school system for dropping the ball. Since then I have struggled in math, that once was my favorite subject, because I was behind and confused working twice as hard to keep up.


One year may not seem like much but it can make all the difference. It can shake a foundation or as a kindergarten teacher it can stop that strong foundation from even being built properly.


I shouldn't have to ask if my child’s teacher is planning on being committed and present throughout the whole school year.

I love teachers and I think what they do is amazing and  

important, that is why I know a sub can never replace them.

That is why I want them there all year.


For those who say this is ridiculous and offensive: 


To expect me as a parent to not want a teacher that is there

all year is ridiculous and offensive.