No Fear | ADHD Information
Fearless is exactly how I would have described my 4 year old daughter before she began meds. Now after a year of meds, at 5 years of age she is much more cautious. Like Jamie (navywife) posted above, she also has developed some irrational fears in the last 6 months: insects (and I love them!), thunder, deep water (she swims well), going to any room alone, etc. Her doctors says these fears are age related anxiety, but they make me sad.
Her younger sister, now age 4, is also ADHD but as yet unmedicated. She's still not scared of anything and covered in scrapes and bruises!
Sharon
Claudia 3/03 ADHD, Concerta 27mg, 10mg ritalin booster pm
Camille 4/04 ADHD
I have a 3-1/2 year old son as well who doesn't show ADHD traits. I call him "The Voice of Reason." If he sees my 5 year old doing something dangerous, he yells at him to come back, or stop, etc...
My youngest dtr w/ADHD has all the impulsivity and none of the coordination. She broke her arm X2 when she was 2. Tried to climb to the top bunk of the bunk beds - got rid of them, and fell off a park toy. She's broken her arm three times, the most recent time in school tripped over a chair. Her older sister was also very impulsive at a young age tried to climb over a fence around our yard and got stuck between the gate and the fence, climbed a ladder, fell down the stairs or rather road them on her somache, tried to walk the lab and was dragged accross the yard, all befor the age of 4 and did not get one scratch on her. Incredible coordination! Plays almost all sports reasonably well and the pain thing is also a factor. She broke her finger playing goalie and refused to come out of the game. Doesn't seem to bother her in the moment, but go to the doctor to get a shot, strep test, ect and she freaks out. I would not increase meds to control this. I've seen no dif on/off medsWe went through this too before meds. However, sometimes now she has irrational fears (bugs, heights, roller coasters, water). But before she would climb to the highest spot she could find and just jump off. She's definately more careful now. Her dad (who is ADD) used to climb on top of his grandparents greenhouses (all glass) when he was little. He is still a thrill seeker. He loves to go skydiving, repelling, or anything else with high danger (he loved serving in Iraq and wants to go back). It's very normal for ADHD kids. We've had more stiches and dislocated arms than I can remember.I wouldn't worry too much if it's just cuts and scrapes. If you're going to the ER on a regular basis for stitches or broken bones that a different story.
My son (10) was also fearless when he was younger, although he grew a little more cautious as he got older. By the time he was 5 or 6 I had also started to realize that many of his "falls" were intentional- he still throws himself at the ground quite regularly. Riding bikes at insane speeds down steep hills has gotten a little better too (I invested in a quality helmet early on). He started meds when he was 8 and it did make a big difference. The sound of him crashing into things is only intermittent now instead of nearly constant. 
, your concerns are very valid. Your not just a nervous mom. Thrill seeking is fun but not when the child is incapable of seeing the danger ahead and mom cant always be there to supervise. If your considering meds, I highly suggest that you get a consultation with a child psychiatirst as they are experts in the field of ADHD and med management. Pediatiricians don't have the knowledge or expertise needed for the management of ADHD and also the medications used to treat it.
this isn't proven but also no pain comes with ADD/ADHD ishould know i broke my finger at a party and just kept doing the macorina and my uncles apendix burst and he didn't feel it so that might be why he just bounces back up again.
hope that helps XXjXX
My son is 5 and has no fear. He will try anything. He is VERY coordinated and athletic. The contradiction is that he falls out of his chair a lot or he gets cuts and scrapes on his legs from falling or riding his scooter or bike too fast. He tends to jump right back up and keep going. I want to stress that he is very coordinated and athletic, well above other kids his age. I think it is his impulsive nature that is causing this. His body moves before he thinks about where it's going. We are going to talk to his Ped about meds this month. I was wondering if anyone noticed that their child had less boo-boos and a little more rational fear while on meds? Maybe I'm just a nervous Mom?NO FEAR is a big trait for ADHD er's. If he is not getting real hurt I would let my kid do it. it depends on what it is. He is a thrillseeker as well. we put him in an aventure summer camp last year with ziplines and alot more It was great for him.The adventure camp sounds great. My son loves ziplines and is a thrill seeker as well. I let him do most things that he wants within reason. He loves trying new things and I think it's great!