What to do? | ADHD Information

To answer the question on what we do when the meds wear off ... in our house we make sure it is "quiet time"  no active computer games, the tv goes off and I try to cuddle with my son and read with himto keep him calm.  We often just talk ... and I don't know if the rest of you go through this, but when my son is off his meds he talks, and talks and talks.  Sometimes a warm shower.  We have to be very careful to keep over stimulating activities to a minimum or else he is totally out of control ... he'll work himself up into quite a sweat as the meds wear off.  He is 9 and on 26 mg of Concerta.  This all helps with bedtime too. 

Back to the talking .... I tell my ADHD daughter who is 17 and my 9 year old son that I love being with them .... I never have to think of anything to say, I just sit and listen to them.

 

 

Hello,

I was wondering what you guys do when the meds have worn off and the child will not stay in his room. When my ds has a melt down or is acting hyper crazy I like to make him go to his room until he can collect himself. Lately he refuses and will not stay. It does not matter what we say or do he will start trying to pull open the door going nuts and what not. His behavior can scare my 5 year old dd and that is why I think his room is the best place for him when he gets like that.   

Any advice?

Thanks 

During a calm time, we would tell our daughter that her room was her safe place to go and calm down. Then during a melt down we would take her to her room (sometimes by force) and ensure she stay there. We would tell her that when she calmed down, we were there to discuss whatever was bothering her. We would praise her for getting control and expressing her anger in appropriate ways. We also use the marble system by ogram and a rage costs 10 marbles. Appropreate anger expression and discussion gains 3 marbles. We also kept our calm to avoid escallating the situation and to model appropriate behavior. With time, this caused the rages to slow down dramatically, and become shorter. We later added guanfacine (for other issues) and that has made the rages further disappear.

They need to work on these issues, but if they are not capable due to rebound or just a return of severe ADHD symptoms, it is really hard to hold them to the standards of kids without these issues. Remember they run about 1/3 behind thier peers in maturity, so you have to coach them as though they were younger than they are.

I hope this helps.

My typical (well so far anyway) 5 year old was the worst "tantrummer". I also would send her to room when she could not be nice to the rest of the family. When she wanted to join the rest of she could come out. Thre were days I literally stood outside her door and every time she came out, I would (without saying a word) direct her back in. Some days I spent a half hour doing this. It took forever, but now she rarely comes out until she is calm enough to talk about it. Every time she comes out of her room now she comes to me, and I ask her if she has anything to say and explain to her that she cannot behave badly and expect to be out in the rest of the house with family. That we do not act that way towards her and every time she is that way she will need to go calm down. This was of course after a lot of showing her how to calm down. Deep breaths, counting.....telling her if she is angry it is ok to hit her pillow......etc., etc....Good luck, but patience and persistance WILL work.

 

 

Thanks guys for your replies,

My son is 8 and I feel he is regressing a bit lately. I can not completely blame it on the meds. He was getting worse before meds and that is why I found help for him. He takes 27mg of concerta now. He has been on this dose for only 3 days. We have been trying different meds and doses because of his tics. He just seem so crazy when meds are not in his system right now. He is doing pretty good on them at school so far. However, he still has issues at home.  I am hoping I do not have to add another medicine.

It is so hard to medicate your child!!! I get so angry when people have that attitude that we do this at the first time we hear the word no or bad report from school  .

I guess we will just have to stand at the door like we did when he was little .It feels like starting over with the punishment and the boundries thing. I must say since the diagnoises I am a little bit bitter. I always said to myself about his behavior, hang in there it will get better as he gets older. Now I know this is not the case!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks

 

It will get better. We had the problems at age 9 when school became a frustrating nightmare for my youngest. She took out her frustration at home (where it was safe) and we got all of the rages and running away and "kill" language. Once she had a better handle on things at school and homework, she functioned better all the way around. The stress of all of this is hard on them and they act out.I have to say I hear you on the med changes due to tics. We're on about our 6th stimulant. We still are having major tic issues. However, thanks to this site, we've added Guanfacine and BOY what a difference. I cant believe it. She is till taking her Ritalin and I doubt I'll continue this route once school is out, but I was ready to dump everything two weeks ago. Now her tics are minimal and she is SO calm (although she is not very hyper anyway). I know you are reluctant to add another med, but keep guanfacine (Tenex) in mind in case these other suggestions do not work for your son. It can be in the system 24/7 and can really help a child with defiance, impulsivity, etc. ADHD is not a disorder of school only and if his relationship with his family is suffering, it might help reduce the conflict and get his relationships back on track. Just something to keep in mind. vickie39209.654837963