Screaming unruly child | ADHD Information

I agre, if he has not seen a psych then there is no telling what the diagnosis will be. Who told him he had ADHD? if it was not a psych then it very well may be something else.

Son needs medications, I am scared to put him on something.  Can not afford a psychiatrist, am tired of all the turmoil in the home.  Would love some suggestions on medications that will work quickly for my unruly 14 year old.  He has been told he has adhd and we have not tried meds any ideas out there. Do you think it could be the teenager that is triggering all these problems I have with him and the ADHD has just esculated the situation. Please help mother in need.

Welcome to the board. I hope you can find the answers you need. Here is my 2 cents. There are a lot of behaviors that seem like they could be ADHD. I don't think that you can just assume he has ADHD. He really needs to be evaluated by a professional(such as a psychiatrist) to rule out other things. Maybe he has bipolar, for example, not to scare you. Or maybe it's just being 14. You need to find out first. And it can be a long process. Since I don't have a teenager yet, I'll stop now. But if it were me, knowing what I know now, I'd take him to a psychiatrist and a neuropsychologist for a full evaluation. I think it is well worth the $$.

The boy is 14 years old.  Is very oppositional and wants everything his way or no way.  He is very unruley and will get under anyone's skin.  Working on getting him some help and love the boy to death, but, he is just so unruley. 

Good thing happen this weekend the boy decided to have his first date and took his 1st shower in a week, without me having to tell him.  Took his picture with his sweetie and they were brought to the rollerskating rink for there date.  He even sprayed himself with a mist of AXE.  Maybe this date will help with the issue of being stinky.......

Trying to figure out the ropes of this ADHD.  Any feedback on the advice of a reward system with a 14 year old would be awesome.

 

ODYSEY

As for the unruley behavior it would help to know what you are dealing with first.  And an awesome book on behavior management I read is : Setting Limits with your Strong willed child eliminating conflict by establishing clear, firm, and respectful boundaries. by Robert J. Mackenzie.  read it 2x great advice.



I am also going to share I am not perfect and my little one has been terrible the past 2 weeks and the posts are in other sections but the book is helpful.  Check i out at the Library.

The school district should be able to provide a formal evaluation if you are unable to finance one yourself.  I always recommend a neuropsych evaluation, but that can get pricey.  Just make sure you have a good solid diagnosis before you pull the trigger on medication, ADHD has been called the great mimicer, there are lots of neurological conditions that have the same symptoms and the wrong meds, well, it's just not terribly helpful. 

If you could afford a private psychologist to do an initial eval (the ones I have used were slightly less than the psychiatrists) then you can take your diagnosis to your MD and have them prescribe meds.  It is a lot better if they can be under the care of a psychiatrist while you're looking through meds, but if you can find a *new* MD who you have more confidence in, this would probably work out fine. 

After we got DS's diagnosis, we continued to see the psychiatrist for check ins until his meds were set right, but it was so finanacially draining!  Eventually I figured out that my MD could do pretty much the same thing (weigh and ask how DS is doing, any changes, etc.) and be covered by insurance.  Take the time to familiarize yourself with the medication options and possible side effects as well, so you will know the pros and cons of what the MD is talking about. 

Best of luck!

Try the book "Transforming the Difficult Child" by Richard Glasser. He has a
"Nuturing Heart Approach" that is wonderful. He doesn't like to label kids.
He says that lots of these kids have so much intensity that they don't know
how to control it.

I would get a thorough psych evaluation and/or behavior therapy/counseling
and consider medication if recommended (if truly ADHD). You can always
stop if you don't see any results.

Thanks for the support, the school has told me for years that he needs medication.  They said, he is so hyper that they have a hard time dealing with him focusing.  I have refused medication but, am willing to listen to some advice since I found this sight.  Seems as though you all really no what you are talking about.  He has not seen a pyschiatrist, the nearest pyschiatrist is more then 4 hours away.  I am scared to use a regular doctor......The pediatrician said, it was acting out ADHD. .....What ever that is!!!!!That Doctor scares me...... Would it not scare you...........She thought we should try counseling .....DID THAT....He would not get out of the car to see the counselor and the Counselor ended up having his sessions at the car and on the side walk thru the window of the car.....It was a disaster......He called the counselor MARY POPPINS, because he had a umbrella......and was trying to talk to him.   Very nice counselor with alot of patience and he thought he had Oppositional Defiance Syndrome.  I am in need and exhausted.......

 

My name is ODYSEY for a reason on this sight......

If the school says he needs meds, see if they will pay for a psych consult...after you get the dx and the meds going, any ped can write the script....there has to be a psych closer than 4 hours....How old is your son?  Also if you are not comfortable with the doctor go to another.  If meds concern you have you considered looking at the alternative board with the vitamins.  I too was terrified of meds at first but the psychologist insisted to give it a shot and if I did not like I can stop.  The first few days I was a wreck and then I got feedback on how well she is doing and she even tells me she likes the meds for school.  I do not give them to her in the summer nor on school breaks, and weekends are free too.  What helped ease my mind was talking to other moms from the board.


As far as the school is concerned they cannot force you to medicate your child that is your choice and your right.  Good luck
Anybody out there, please respond::::