are your childs drugs not helping? | ADHD Information
oh brookleai didn't mean to assume --- i can see my post could come across that
way. but i am sure that everyone knows a h*lluva lot more than i do (even
though i am ADD myself - that only really means i know the symptoms
rather than any solutions i am just starting to look into books and
solutions etc. now).
really no offence intended and i poll off and have a look at the other sites
you mentioned ---
i brought it up due to sort of being sparked off by kim's post. you know
typical blurty-out kinda thing.
i still feel in my gut though (and perhaps this is a defensive thing) that we
are going about the whole ADD/ADHD slightly backwards. i know that we
are not quite normal but i don't see why we can't cherish the differences
that often enough have probably produced the Mozarts/the
Dostoevsky's/the Van Goghs of this world....
why must we medicate these children --- is the answer simply because
they won't turn out to be a Captain of Industry and that is the GOAL... of
every loving parent.
i know my mother is disappointed in me, i am disappointed in myself but
how much of that is to do with an extremely narrow viewpoint of what is
acceptable. i have heard of families who have a down-syndrome child
and they tend to say how much LOVE, how special, how different, how
pleased they are to have that child in their life. they give something
different to society --- not useful in capitalistic, profiteering terms but
perhaps in human terms.
i am off-again on my high horse. and it is obviously a 'sore' spot i have
to get over. i am SO glad i was not medicated when i was a child.
i know i am a f*ck-up. i am aware that were it not for my family i would
be living on the streets like so many of the homeless --- but i keep on
thinking that the change has also to come from society. that we have to
learn to cherish and love those who perhaps are not as able... but who
have other gifts than this standard 'captain of industry'-style personality.
that to medicate in order to force a square peg into a round hole isn't fair
to the square peg. stop chopping corners off them and allow them to be
square...
i'm probably all wrong. but yeah, i do think if you were to take all the
expectations and awareness of parental disappointments away from many
add/adhd kids they would be happy with who they were.... they only
become unhappy when it is re-inforced into them that they are wrong/
they are not doing right/they should be some other way/like those other
kids... i was lucky to go to a school where bullying simply was not
tolerated, it was not considered acceptable behaviour.
i would rather change society to be more like that - than force a child to
change because of bullying attitudes by judgemental and non-
compassionate people. that's all.
i don't know WHY it is so personal to me. and also, of course, i don't
know what it is like to have an add/adhd child either.
i realise i am coming across as opinionated (with no right or reason
because i have no add/adhd child). i AM opinionated on this subject -
not that i think my opinion is necessarily right. i have a very strong
feeling because i am an add child... so my opinion is coming from my
personal emotions. it is NOT any form of attack on anyone - and i would
never have the gall to tell someone what to do with their child or their life
for that matter...
i just want to put out this side/my side because i feel that this point of
view is rarely considered. that the automatic response to a diagnosis of
add/adhd is to medicate or to force change upon the child and that is
seen as the obvious and only response. but I don't think it is. that's all.
and i guess that is my main question - that is what i want to know (both
from those who have had add and gone on the pills and parents who have
taken the decision to medicate) tell me how it has helped! tell me
whether you think it was worth it! why! what were you expecting? what
was sooo wrong? why (and i believe it will always have been a long and
hard thought out decision) did you choose to medicate - what were you
expecting to get out of it? and all of that.... anyway, i guess if i read
around more i'll get most of those answers. i blame the current climate
of fear --- to some extent i really do. it is not OK to be different because
the world is so harsh. well then, change the world! and we are never
going to change the world if we keep medicating the most non-
conformist/compassionate elements of it.... trying to turn them into
people who will just become part of the status quo!
and thanks for letting me vent (again). i am just coming to terms with my
add/adhd so perhaps i am in that confusion of deciding whether to
accept it myself or reject it and all the funny, peculiar side benefits that i
think come with in order to CONFORM......
who knows. chjones38607.4379050926 kam12
making the drug companies and ruining your kids.
i know thats harsh but its the truth. most people put their kids on drugs
after being told from a teacher that their kids are difficult or unable to
focus. teachers want robots, they want an easy job and your giving it to
them at your childs expense.
Wow, very interesting spin. Can you please explain your educational background in terms of childhood disorders and how you determined that 'THESE DURGS' cause Tourettes syndrome? You have made several claims in your posts and I'm just curios to know how you substantiate your claims because your refer to them as the truth. Please provide us with the data that has led you to draw these conclusions and explain why, because you say it, its the truth.
I certainly wouldnt drug my child either but if you are an expert in the field, you would sure know that parents medicate their children, they dont drug them. There is a vast distinction between the two. In any event, since you state your son is "just a little hyperactive", I assume you dont deal with issues of impulsivity, lack of focus and inattention. A "little hyperactivity" doesnt interfere with quality of life and hyperactivity can be caused by many other things like allergies which do mimic the symptoms of ADHD.
After reading your post, I sure do wonder why my son, who was on ADHD medication for 10 years and then was taken off as he seemed to learn to compensate for his limitations with the use of medication and other interventions, is now in college pursing a very lucrative career. He doesnt drink, do drugs nor is he in trouble with the law. Strange huh I sure would like your spin on that and its too bad your not coming back as everyone is entitled to their opinion but please dont stay away because others dont agree with you. As parents, we all know whats best for our children. Since you only know your own child and not anyone elses here, being so well versed as you claim, I wouldnt think you would just make assumptions. Please dont pass on your information as fact instead of opinion and if what you say is a fact, please provide us with the data and your background int terms of knoweldge.
the problem is that ppl like kam12 have very low selfesteem and confidence thus why they have resorted to offending parents with their patronising rhetoric..their daily lives must be so simple and mundane - you can only pity them.. this may be the only opportunity that they have to feel and sound important..
Brookelea wrote:
the problem is that ppl like kam12 have very low selfesteem and confidence thus why they have resorted to offending parents with their patronising rhetoric..
Very well said Brookelea
child to behave. my cousin did that to her daughter. she was on ritalin
for over 5 years and when she got off of it she was really depressed and
had very low self esteem problems. i eat organic foods and i have been
feeding my children that too. my son eats his regular icecream and some
junk food but rarely. as soon as i took the refined sugar and food dyes
out of his diet, his behavior turned around. he's not a robot, he is still
active but in control. I know there are alot of parents out there who think
that food alone couldn't help their children but they need to try it. that
includes all processed foods, no pop, candy. anything that has artificial
color or flavorings. ALSO, i don't know if it was mentioned but there are
dyes in detergents. you can get almost any detergent in the dye free
form. you might think that it won't hurt you but dyes absorb into your
body and can cause unseen allergies, they can cause "behavior allergies".
drugs are not the answer. these drugs can cause terrets syndrome and
make kids very depressed. take your kids off these drugs your just
making the drug companies and ruining your kids.
i know thats harsh but its the truth. most people put their kids on drugs
after being told from a teacher that their kids are difficult or unable to
focus. teachers want robots, they want an easy job and your giving it to
them at your childs expense.I agree which is why we are going to see allergie Dr. who sees add/asd kids daily.He sees parents first with childs history. Then child next visit. DR. RAO Plano, Texas 972-964-7373. Carrolton office 972-394-1300. Organic foods not everyone can afford either. This also doesn't allow them to go anywhere else. Some food issues can be outgrown also.sad parent38603.4885532407 well word woman, I knew this subject would be touchy especially when
dealing with someone who is using any excuse to justify DRUGGING your
child. That is exactly what it is. When your child grows up to be a violent,
depressed adult with low self esteem you will have only 1 person to blame.
YOURSELF. You are about as ignorant as they come. Just think to yourself
how many children in the U.S. are on some kind of mind altering drug. Is
that supposed to be normal or ok. Everytime you give your innocent child
those drugs just remember what I said, i now you will. also, don't bother to
respond because after this I am no longer returning to this site to read
everyone's excuses for bad parenting. I know many parents who've struggled to find solutions to their children's
brain disorders (from ADHD to outright mental illness). But I don't know
one who is "drugging their child to behave." Would you drug your child if
he had diabetes, or would you pursue a dietary cure? Just wondering.
Why do you think your judgement is better than that of other parents --
do you also have strong opinions about how parents should treat their
children's asthma, cancer, or acne? Or is your expert opinion just limited
to how parents should treat their children's ADHD? And since you are so
expert -- what are your credentials? Do you believe that adults who take
medicine for brain disorders or mental illnesses are also similarly
mistaken -- would they, too, be cured by diet? Why so much passion?
Just wondering. By the way, what's terrets syndrome? Does it cause an
inability to spell? :-)
[QUOTE=kam12]most people put their kids on drugs
after being told from a teacher that their kids are difficult or unable to
focus. teachers want robots, they want an easy job and your giving it to
them at your childs expense.[/QUOTE]
Not all teachers want robots - I am a teacher and I admit, the children without ADD and ADHD are easier to deal with. I am very tired at the end of the day - just as tired as all you parents out there who struggle with your children at home - I struggle with them all day long - a longer time period than you do in some cases-
Be that as it may - I love the ADD and ADHD kids. I understand them because I have the same condition.
The reason I have a desire to talk to parents about their child's struggles is FOR THE CHILD. I watch them struggle with work, I watch them struggle with tests, I watch them struggle with friendships, with sports, with all the things that affect an ADD or ADHD child. It is so hard to see these things take place in a child's life and not be able to do anything to help them, except give them reminders, and refocus them, change my curriculum, etc. I can't solve the problem. I have seen totally frustrated children who have melt downs at the smallest problem - get treatment and turn into a different child, one who can finish his work, sit at his chair, play fairly with a group, have CONFIDENCE in his work. These can all be accomplished by medication. I am not saying that I like medication. I don't! I hate knowing that children are on it. I wish that there were some other way. But I do see the results and I wish those successes for each of my students. I do not want robots in my classroom - I want successful students.
I'm sorry if I have come across as harsh - but most of the teachers I work with care more about the child than the behavior. I admit there are some teachers out there who don't care, but my experience has been that the majority do care.
Anyway - sorry to vent
You might try the exercises in the book called "Stopping ADHD" They have really helped me. there is a study the authors did in a school and the teachers were asking for the control group to also do the exercises. I think that people who read my posts are tired of hearing about this book, but it is REALLY helping me now. I've been doing them myself.
Good luck and I hope for your child's success in school this year.
do u also take medication, anni? or only use the book. i am going to
look for the book - would it be at a general barnes&noble???chjones - i didn't take it personally .. you present some very valid points..
accept your adhd, laugh at it.. i always do!!
add/adhd are not the only cause of lack of concentration either. Yes there are many causes of lack of concentration.I keep hearing liquid is best for absorbtion reasons. If so why then are not all meds given this way. It does work better cause it goes straight to the blood. You usually need less then also. To me this makes the most sence. there is an alternative forum on this board that ppl use to discuss various alternative treatments..
this forum, medications, is purely for ppl to discuss their medications and issues concerned with this..
you can however debate on the parent's forum..
please don't offend ppl by assuming that they have no prior knowledge.. many parents and adults alike have struggled with their decision to medicate.. don't trivialise their feelings, intelligence and their common sense..
While I also agree that kam12 was completely over-the-top in the tone his/her post, I would also like to emphasize the importance of at least trying an organic diet to see if it might help.
When my son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 5, I had already had quite a bit of experience (bad) in dealing with this condition through my step-son (then age 19, diagnosed when he was 7). Most of the common ADHD drugs like Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta are prescription amphetamines (i.e. Class II drugs that are illegal on the street); they are chemically very similar to cocaine (I think this is where kam12 was coming from in his/her reference to "drugging" our children). This is why when my son was diagnosed, I was willing to try almost anything before allowing him to take these medications.
I think it's pretty common knowledge that there are a lot of children out there who are probably taking these drugs when they don't really need to be. To begin our journey, I took my son to a board certified nutritionist and found out he had numerous food allergies in addition to being chemically sensitive. I had him on an organic diet for about 2 years, in addition to other supplements to help heal leaky gut syndrome and maximize his vitamin and mineral levels, and although we cleared up all the food allergies, he still doesn't drink cow's milk but opts for rice milk instead. However, he is still sensitive to chemicals and preservatives in food, especially aspartame and food dyes (which are in just about EVERYTHING). If we continue to steer clear of those, we tend to do better. As a result of all this, we did see a marked improvement in his behavior, but the ADHD was still preventing him from concentrating in school. So, knowing what I do about these meds, I wasn't too happy about choosing to go the medication route, but we have to do what's best for our kids. Right? In the end, it was a better choice for him in school and for our relationships at home.
i'm just gonna butt in here as an adult with add --- and one who, lookingback, knows that i had it ALL my life. (i do not have the adhd - i have
never been hyperactive.)
i have NO idea what it is like to parent a hyperactive child. but despite
kam12 being radically over-defensive and rude....
i think her initial point is one worth debating? (not necessarily with kam
because she has shown herself to be defensive and negative and
generally abusive when questioned)
but food has to be important - i am aware that they have now done
scientific surveys which have shown the beneficial and radical changes
that adding some omega (the fish oil thing) and taking away stimulants,
sugars, food colorings etc. has made particularly in young boys with
hyperactivity... absolutely mind-blowing results in the UK at least. there
was a documentary and the turn-around in behaviour shown in this
documentary practically caused a national run on the 'omega' product
plus a huge outcry in the media over foods and has consequently led to a
governmental national re-evaluation of the food given currently in
schools (school food is now being totally overhauled - and sodas are
being banned from vending machines within schools)... that is HOW
important this study was seen to be in the UK.
it is a vitally important thing isn't it. to know that and be aware of it?
i would never be one who said that add or adhd doesn't exist. i HAVE it.
i have always eaten heathily - we were never allowed sodas or sugar as
children and i have never eaten junk food - so, food isn't responsible for
creating add at all (it may have something to do with the 'h' part perhaps).
however it may exacerbate it...
i am glad i wasn't put on drugs when i was a child --- i am glad that i had
the experience of being dreamy and different when i could be, when it
was not important to be some kind of corporate drone... in order to
survive.
now i am an adult - i have to take responsibility and perhaps modify my
behaviour to fit in with the contemporary, consumerist, cash-driven
society in which i live. i am by nature forgetful, dreamy, unable to cope
in most modern workplaces, unable to 'get on' with things... this
'personality-type' is almost unable to survive with the current culture. we
are/we must be a 'dying' breed....
but at least it is now my choice.... and i am GLAD i was allowed to be add
when i was a child - honestly, i am. as weird and dreamy and different as
it made me - i am.
how much of this medicating is not for the child but for the parent. their
desires, their wishes, their expectations? or those of the teachers/other
adults around?
what ARE the statistics for the amount of young children now being
treated with drugs. this is important. how much of it is down to the
food. the society. the lack of time mothers are allowed with their
children due to outside financial pressures. the expectations that
everyone must be a genius. the horror of being different. non-
conformist. the unwillingness of schools to discipline.
are these not all extremely valid questions - that could and should be
looked at. with no offence intended toward any parent who does
medicate their child.... i do not judge i am just open and questioning. i
wish my adhd had been diagnosed earlier so that at least i would have
UNDERSTOOD why i was so different but then would not have wanted
necessarily to be medicated for it until i felt it was necessary. i got by at
school fine - yes, i didn't fulfil my potential; i was too dreamy and scatty
and couldn't bring myself to get my homework done on time but i still
stand by the fact that i am GLAD i wasn't medicated then.
is medicating ones child going for an 'easy' option? would it be more
beneficial not to? is it possible? i think these are seriously important
questions and i don't have a child --- but seeing as i, my sister and my
father all suffer from adhd i should think there is every chance i would
pass it on if i can ever get together enough to have a family etc.... so i do
have a vaild interest.
i don't have any desire to 'parent-bash' but i think these issues are vitally
important. why is it so prevalent in the US. why do other 1st world
countries not feel the need to medicate their children to the same extent.
how much of this is a social problem rather than a chemical problem?
well, would be very interested to hear any views out there --- if this
hasn't already been discussed to death earlier on in the forum. thanks chjones There are a lot of young children in Canada being medicated for ADHD. So this doesn't only happen in the US. My only issue is if the childs learning style isn't visual are school staff haveing kids drugged for their pleasure. This concentration will just be forcing a child to try to work in a style that's not how they learn. This is why I think different types of schools are a better choice. Govt. kids don't attend public education so to me they don't care about the outcome of other kids. This is sad cause this generation is our future. The other issue is public schools are not all good at enforcing all their rules. This is why I think alot of public education is failing kids. I also say if work isn't redone at less than 80 % then has the child really learned that iteam. No my opinion. Some of the new ways things are taught is a big amount of the problem. All kids speeds and readyness are at different times. The only education system that works to me is a not grade level type. We are all different and should be aloud to do things when our Brain is ready. Kids are growing up to fast as is. It is also sad to me kids can't just be kids anymore either. Their life is to competative now. Recreatinal sports are now about are you good enough for Competative leagues instead of just having fun. What ever happened to being a kid? schools rarely use visual - its mainly auditory, chalk and talk.. visual would entail using much visual stimuli and allowing a child to draw, design or create their own work.. this allows a child who may be linguistically challenged but be artistic to thrive..
the rudolph steiner system doesn't teach kids to read until they are ready - over the age of 7!!
whatever happened to being a kid?? i wish i knew the answer.. the competitive nature of our society, the parent's offspring and achievements as a status symbol.. the list just continues, sadly..
I just believe traditional schools are not for all. no there not.. its not 'one school fits all'..
my dd doesn't attend a traditional school..