Newbie looking for help | ADHD Information

thank you for your replies it means a lot to me.

i still feel in limbo and its half term over here so that just means one big roller coaster of emotions heading my way

thank you ommas you are a star your advice was very helpful i might get him a book that he can write all his thoughts in it might help him process a bit better.

Nicky

I agree with Jessica N, hopefully someone from the UK can help with the specifics of looking for a doctor. But if at all possible GET AWAY FROM THAT DOCTOR!!!! You need to find another one that will help and can help within days not weeks or months! When you're trying to get the medication right it needs to be adjusted sometimes on a daily basis at least with the stimulant drugs. I know Strattera is different and I don't have any personal experience with it but waiting 6 months for a med adjustment sounds ridiculous to me!

Is there any way you can see a psychiatrist? or other specialist? I've seen just about all of the different types and the psychiatrist is the one that got things done and got them done quickly and properly! Good luck and hang in there! It WILL get better!

< =text/>_popupControl(); I feel so frustrated for you! Can you try alternative methods until meds get straightened out? Diet modifications, omega-3's, that kind of thing? While we didn't have success with the alternatives and inattention, we did find that the omega-3's really helped with mood and attitude. Good luck to you.

I have to say that when I read the difficulties that people in countries with socialized medicine have with getting proper treatment and medication for their children, I get very worried about the current rumblings in the US about moving toward a socialized medical system. It seems like it leads to mediocrity and insensitivity.

two steps back one step forward.

wish i could do more to help.

it does seem to be a meds issue from what youve been saying.

isolation does make things worse but, in moderation can be a tool.

do you keep a list of things that he can occupy his time with.

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what im getting at is while your waiting for doc to get his head out of his ...

this would be a good time to develope your sons

"creative outlet" instead of playtime.

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the kids just get edgy when indoors with nothing to do and the easiest thing in he world to do to get attention is bug someone.

so you probably see it coming sometimes.

having that list of things he's creative with may salvage a day that could go neg or pos.

if you work on it regularly/ consistently . he may even look forward to his creative time. which could be a homework routine in disguise.

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so if youre strategic you could keep him in regularly like two week days and 1 day of a weekend.and on the days he play only let him run free for a couple of hours to minimize fruststration with peers

this may give the street kids time too. distractions like video games could also keep em down . and may bring in a friend or two where the adults can manage structured activity .

structured activities work well for moody people .

i think because there is more routine and less opprotuniy for impulsiveness.

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dont give up on the talking though at least you still have his ear .

forgive me if i use the wrong expression .

having the captians ear.

meaning that its very important that he hears adult points of view.

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im an ADDer myself so i will try to relate this to you.

when im hyper or upidy. my mind seems to be thinking of 9 things faster than i can say them.

but when im mad i drop to 2 times faster than i can speak , less effort on listening rather i focus on my slowing thoughts to articulate my response

a Normal Thinker NTer thinks 4 times faster than they can speak.

so my ears kinda slow down on what im interpreting like

when im calm i interpret 90% of what i hear correctly

but when im upset it goes down to 30% correctly.

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my point is even if it seems hes not listening at the time youre speaking .

the information is probably getting in , and the more time he has to think about it and process it the higher the cognitive interpretation becomes.-so keep talking only if you see he's upset insist that you continue talking when youre both calm

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IMHO sometimes we act physically aggressive - when were impulsive

its a plea to communicate non verbally.

so recogninion of when to take a personal time out - just to calm down

five minutes just sittin no talking.

five quiet minutes can change things from "hyper & aggressive" to "calm & cognitive"

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i teach my DD darling daughter . how to use a computer program

a paint box program.

most computers come with one

when she gets stuck on an idea i have her use the computer to draw or type things to me . --

she's six

theres lots of frustration and grunting while trying to figure the computer out.

of which i hear and listen for when she's playing with others. i hear it coming too.i know her her verbal signals and try to head off confrontations

but i did this to get her ready to start journaling .

getting her feelings out where i we give an adult point of view and support.

the paint box is the eye candy but the notepad is where she communicates.

further she makes voice notes its a fun practice for her . and a way for her to spill her guts and some of it will be nice to hear 30 years from now.---

so on cold or rainy days i can give her one on one attention and strengthen her communication skills too!

give time away from the bullies , be creative, lean some skills , have fun , and get attention.

just thought i would put in my two cents

keep us updated please

ommas40112.3909490741

My name is Nicky and i have 3 boys my eldest has inattentive ADHD.

We have just moved to the uk from ireland where my son was diagnoised (sp) after a long process that took about 2 years in all.

Just before we moved here my son started taking stratera once a day back in march.

when we arrived here we got referred to the mental health doctor.

now i have never met a doctor like this one before he was late with the appointment and then as my son was being a nightmare at that point he suggested making another appointment

now i explained as we had travelled so far and as we were there i wanted to continue with the appoinment (oops son is nearly 10)

i said that at the meeting that i did not think the meds were helping as my sons behaviour was still erratic but had improved a little but as he had only been on it at that stage 4 months to wait and see what happened.

so i said fine. we went on holiday and sones moods went down hill. so on our return my OH went to the doctor and we made the choice to stop all the meds and when it was free from his system to try another one.

thank you for reading this far.

so 3 weeks after stopping my son has fallen out with all of his friends he is moody and violent and not capable of sitting and doing his homework trying to hold a conversation with him is impossible.

so on the 2nd oct i rang the mental health office in a terrible state the doctor was not in but as i was in a terrible state i spoke to a nurse who said she would get the doctor to phone me back and give me some info she also gave me two help numbers (rang both one a guy swore at me other rang out) and said she would try and find out what the plan was with regard to my son.

i heard nothing until the 15/10 when a secretary phoned looking for the schools address to send questionaire out to them i asked about the follow up phone call and i was very angry that i was still waiting so i got off the phone to her and made an apppointment with my GP.

saw my gp explained everything and she was horrified that they never got back to me and promised she would find out what was going on.

this week the doctor phoned 3 weeks after my phone call to them asking for help!! he said it was not his problem that he did not get his message and was only phoning because my doctor phoned them!! i was so angry he was very rude and did not seem to care about my son not once asking how he was doing he then said that i will get an appointment for my son after 3 months of no meds!! (i am now 6 weeks into no meds)

i said that i had one for the 6 nov and asked what would be discussed at that meeting and he said there would be no talk of meds!!

now there was a lot more said and i am still very angry about it but i am left with my 9 year old son who has now alienated himself from all the kids in the street he is rude to everyone and looks drawn and tired from not sleeping very well.

please read this and give me some advice i have no idea where to go now??

You need a UK member to guide you through the medical system. In the US you'd just go to your insurance company's website and find new child psychiatrist and either get a referral from you gp or just schedule the appt directly with the specialist.