good news to share | ADHD Information

Ok...I got a note from his teacher this week that he has been a little ansty this week - and I realized he was out of his Omegas....I do believe that stuff really helps. This is like the 4th or 5th time he has run out that within a few days I get some sort of note about fidgeting.

Even though we have him on medication to help with the attentiveness and the ODD - I truly believe the Omegas really help!!

Just thought I would share.

newmom, I am so happy for you and your family.

It sounds like he has been through so much, probably more than he rememberes or has told you all. Maybe what your husband did, by telling him how much you love his sister and him and that you want to see him grow up, BUT it was HIS decision, was a test, and YOU passed!

It obviously was what your ds needed to hear, the change is so remarkably awseome!

Your husband and you could not have handled this any better. I also wonder if he was afraid of losing you both so he didn't want to get "too close or attached to you?!"

I think others will learn and use your technique!!

Your post put a great big smile on my face, I am so happy for you and your family!!

Thanks all....Bethann...during the christmas time struggle I probably heard 30-40 times a day that he loved me. Sounds nice but I knew something was wrong and that was also when his ODD was REALLY bad...Major testing and for awhile there I was failing miserably.
I guess tough love works or what ever we did is called....He is such a wonderful kid - smart, funny, talented, good looking (you all should see the baby-blues he has - we call him the chick magnet - he has soooooo many girlfriends....he is going to be such a heart breaker!) Anyway, I feel like we finally are meeting him the true him for the first time and it is wonderful.

I know the tough times aren't over but I know he knows he is here to stay
Hello all - haven't posted in awhile but I thought I would share some good news for a change.

DS was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD recently. We adopted our son from foster care 14 months ago. Transition went well but during Christmas ds became extremely non-compliant (about everything!!), getting into trouble at school and having trouble performing tasks without distraction. His grades were starting to suffer and he is a very smart kid.

For the ODD it appeared to be getting worse and his anger was very apparent. We tried alternative solutions for ADHD with some moderate success but the ODD wasn't getting better. I finally had it and had to convinced my husband to allow medication ( that wasn't an easy task btw).  I knew if we hadn't done something to help ds his anger would consume him. (I don't blame him for being angry his life before our family wasn't good but he couldn't see past the pain and that he was in a safe, happy and loving family now)

Sayings like I hate you, I hate myself, I want to kill you and I want to kill myself were becoming a weekly if not a daily routine. (BTW - he is 8 years old) I was at my wits end. We started with concerta 18 - the first week was weird - very hyper and HAPPY! but then he leveled off and it appeared to be ok. However, there were still blowouts from him and  then one big one about a 5-6 weeks ago so I thought this isn't working. But something happened during that last explosion and we, as parents, changed our approach and it seemed to work.

Combating with a child with ODD isn't the solution. I now know that but letting him get it out and giving him the right to choose (even if it is something like running away) seemed to work for him. That day he exploded - said all the bad stuff listed above and then that he hated this family, wanted to run away (this was all because we had to leave a 55 year woman's very small birthday party next door because it was time for bed)

So he said he wanted to run away (screamed I should say) - my husband stayed calm and handed him a suitcase. I was shocked but kept quiet. We told him would like it if he would stay, we love him and want to take care of him and see him and his sister grow up but if he wanted to leave it was his choice. I held my breath - he said no and he would like to stay, apologized and since then ( and many talks later) he has been calm, happy and for most of the time compliant to all the requests all the adults give him -including my requests which from a mom you know is a lot.  Now I know what happened is a little unconventional but I think he just needed to realize the crappy life he had before is over and I believe that he couldn't make any decisions for himself during that time really put a toll on him. But now with medication, love, therapy and a chance to be a kid for the first time he can see the positive side of life.

I read in a post on here it took a child with ODD leaving home for college actually snapped him into realizing life wasn't so bad at home and that perhaps following the rules was a good thing. I just don't think I could have waited another 10 years for that. We are keeping a close eye on him and tell him we love him all day every day and he is so happy and now close to what I believe "normal" is.

Still keeping a very close eye on him and we are still seeing a doctor and therapist but I now think everyone can just breathe.

P.S. ds is now able to complete writing assignments now and that was the most difficult thing for him to so. In fact, his teacher said he is very good he just couldn't focus for too long before but now he is doing great!
. Happy to hear this. I know what a struggle it has been for you guys. Lucky guy to have such wonderful parents!

So glad to hear about your success. I know that these kids are usually blowing of steam. My 14 year is ODD and I have learned fighting doesn't help, although he pushes my buttons and I fall into the same old pattern.

So glad to hear things are going well. You all are very lucky to have each
other! Keep up the good work!