My 10 yr old son was diagnosed with ADHD at 5. He has severe hyperactivity. I've been told more than once, that he may not out grow it. I will hold out hope until he's 30
.He is finished with camp and we decided to give him a med break. He has expressed that he doesn't need the meds. He does! My husband and I agree that he feels the meds are a cop out that he can't control his behavior on his own.
I would love to hear how others handle explaining the importance of the meds to their kids.
I think all this stemmed from a bad day at school when he was in the need of a higher dose. The kids in his class figured out that he needs the meds, and would later ask him if he took his pill. He thinks if he doesn't take the pill the kids won't have anything to say.
I guess we have two problems.
MY 10 YEAR OLD REFUSED MEDS FOR MONTHS AFTER BEING ON FOCALIN AND ACTING LIKE A ZOMBIE. ONE DAY THE DOC SAID HOW ABOUT IF YOU COULD DRINK THE MEDS IN SPRITE(HIS FAVORITE SODA)? HE SAID HE WOULDS TRY, WE GOT A RX FOR VYVANSE AND HE HAD BEEN GOOD EVER SINCE. NOW THEY DOUBLED THE SIZE OF HIS zOLOFT AND THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM AS HE DOESN'T LIKE, BUT WILL TAKE SMALL PILLS. mAYBE YOUR SON DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY HE FELT ON HIS MEDS? MY SON HAD THE SELF CONTROL ISSUE AS WELL BUT WITH HELP FROM A WONDERFUL TEACHER LAST YEAR AND THE DOC HE IS BACK ON THE MEDS.
I'd also talk to the teacher about how the other kids were needling your son. It is a form of teasing and discrimination, and it shouldn't be tolerated.
You could talk to your son about behavior therapy. Explain to him that something needs to be done. Give him a set of goals to reach without medication, and be specific. Who knows - he might be able to find another way around it.
But I would definitely talk to his doctor about it. It could be a different prescription is needed. Perhaps the doc could talk to your son one-on-one and explain exactly why the medication is necessary.
Good luck!
Every once in a while my son (10) decides he doesn't want to take his focalin. It usually only takes him a few hours before he's getting in trouble for stuff related to impulsivity or because he's not following directions. Then he gets mad and demands his pill, saying it's not fair to expect him to do anything without it. 
The other kids are probably just interested in how the meds effect his behavior so visibly. I agree with Corrina that they shouldn't tease him, but it may just be curiousity. In that case having your son talk to his friends about it might help, if he's willing. Otherwise he could just tell them "none of your beeswax!"
We've always stessed that the meds are to help my son be able to make good decisions when his brain is being uncooperative, that there's nothing wrong with him, but that his brain works differently that some other peoples. He's only been on the meds for a couple years though, so he can still remember what it's like to try to go through the school day without them.
The med break may be enough to help your son see how much the meds help.
I know I was a nervous wreck when my son refused his meds. I can only imagine how you feel. How are things going?Thanks for your input. He's been doing okay on this recent med break. But he's not at school and we have decided to just let him be.
However, he started with a new Psychologist last week and went right into bouncing and bouncing and bouncing. So he will need it when he starts school.
I'm going to try and talk to him more about kids picking on him and even school to ask for more input on the other kids.
I still need to figure out away to approach it. Just as it's hard for other kids to understand the way the meds work on his behavior, it's hard for him.
My child isn't able to reflect on his behavior when the meds aren't in his system. I don't know if your child is aware of how he's acting off the meds, but maybe you could explain the positive changes you see when he's on the meds, and then maybe he'd be more willing to take them?
|
Enter Your Email below to claim your Free Book |
Copyright© 2006 ADHDNews.com. All rights reserved