Sometimes I just don't understand. My 12 year old does fine in school...I'm mean not perfect but I get no phone calls. He's on Focalin XR though I don't put him on it on weekends and don't quite notice a difference myself.
He has a few friends, but not many. For some reason though, after school at scouts or religious school he says he gets what he calls "sugar rush" behavior...I call it plain old hyper. And I ask him what the kids think...and he says they are annoyed by him and don't like him. So he wants them to like him but he keeps repeating this behavior. At home though, he's not hyper..just in a group setting. That's why I'm wondering if behavior mod is a better choice than meds.
Is it that the meds have worn off? Is it that his dosage isn't right? He's going to sleepaway camp this summer which is a regular camp and I'm not sure what to do regarding meds.
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I am an adult with ADHD, but I have the same problem with hyperactivity in group settings. Everybody is different, but I can tell you what goes on in my brain - if it helps any.
When I am at work the day is pretty structured and quiet. At home, I have tons of things that interest me, and I can drift from one to the next whenever I want/need to. In group settings, I have neither.
I am expected to sit still, be quiet, wait my turn, listen, and generally do all the things I am not good at. Add to that all of the distractions that happen in a room full of people... My attention bounces around and I get really wound up and tense. What I really need in those situations is to leave - even for just 5 minutes to calm my brain down. If I can't, the figeting gets worse and my impatience harder to control. Meds only help some. To be honest I would rather do something painful than go to a crowded restaurant or a group activity.
I have learned to just get up and go outside for 5 minutes when I need to. As an adult that is easier to do - and I pity anyone who tries to stand between me and the door. I don't know how that would work for a kid though, I can remember not being allowed to deviate from the program when I was a kid.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
Reisa38816.812025463Reisa,In large settings, chidlren with Adhd with the hyperactivity factor become overwhelmed due to a multitude of distraction which in turn can cause the child to become really hyper. This is why these children do better in a one on one situations. Less the many distractions, they dont expereince such anxiety Once the childs medication has worn off, they go from feeling in control to out of control. Some doctors recommend a short acting stimulant to eliminate the rebound effect, especially when the child is participating in a social activity after school. However, the parent has to decide whether this is a feasible option for their child.
Behavior modifcation standing alone does not fully help manage the symptoms of Adhd and in a situatiion whereas the child is having social problems, social skills training classes are recommended as the child has to be taught how to act and react in a social setting. Very often Adhd'ers fail to pick up on social cues so the harder they try to fit in, the more annoying to appear to be with other children. The child is not having social problems because he has a behavior problem but rather a problem with picking up on social cues. This is a skill that has to be taught through role playing in a social skills training class because most Adhd'ers dont learn throught the example of watching other children.
Because you have chosen to medicate your child, all other interventions will work better when your child is medicated. Its the combination medication, behavior modification and social skills training classes that have proven to be very effective in helping manage the symptoms of Adhd and I highly recommend you inquire about where you might find a program in your area . If not, contact your local chapter of Chadd and perhaps they can assist you......CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Could be a little of both.Sometimes I just don't understand. My 12 year old does fine in school...I'm mean not perfect but I get no phone calls. He's on Focalin XR though I don't put him on it on weekends and don't quite notice a difference myself.
He has a few friends, but not many. For some reason though, after school at scouts or religious school he says he gets what he calls "sugar rush" behavior...I call it plain old hyper. And I ask him what the kids think...and he says they are annoyed by him and don't like him. So he wants them to like him but he keeps repeating this behavior. At home though, he's not hyper..just in a group setting. That's why I'm wondering if behavior mod is a better choice than meds.
Is it that the meds have worn off? Is it that his dosage isn't right? He's going to sleepaway camp this summer which is a regular camp and I'm not sure what to do regarding meds.
Hi mellowdancer. My son will be 12 next week, and he takes focalin xr. He is mainly just inattentive adhd. This med is supposed to last around 8 hours as designed, although I know cases vary.Although my son is only 9, I have the same issues with his hyperness when his medication wears off around 3 daily. He takes Ritalin LA. I started him on a late afternoon dosage of Focalin between 3-4 daily and this has really helped with his social skills. CJ is exactly he same way as your son in that he does great one on one, but put him in a large group of people and it is like his brain just scatters and he goes in a gazillion directions and the other kids don't want to be around him because he is so hyper, wants to do things his way or no way, and always wants to be first at everything.
I have him signed up for a Friendship Class through Occupation Therapy. The place kids in a class of 4-6 of similarly diagnosed children in the hopes of teaching them social skills for developing friendships. It doesn't start for another month or so, and is quite costly, but my son is always worth the investment.
I think it is a combination of learned behavior and medication. Best of luck!
I suggest talking to your son's doctor.