Help knowing where to go from here

I think it's great to try whatever you can before you try medication.  As a health care professional ( in the dental field)  I always tell my clients to try the least invasive treatment first, then evaluate the success of it and go from there.  If you don't try other things first you may always feel slightly guilty about using medication, feel like you could have done something else.

That being said, our psychologist told us that she felt at our son's age(8) and the level he was being affected socially, it would be a really good idea to try medication right away.  It really is the 'magic bullet' for some kids, and diet changes etc can take a really long time to work, besides being tough to implement.  Since we had already tried  the diet approach with only limited success, we tried the medication and have not looked back.

A year later, our son is excelling in school academically and has many friends.  He loves school, loves his teacher, hates to miss a day.  If you had told me a year ago that this would be the case I would have laughed at you, if I hadn't cried. 

Bottom line, my advice is to do what you think is right.  If you are not comfortable with sharing information with your family, friends, school - then don't.  Tell people who need to know only.  If, like me, you feel ok with sharing your story with others, then do so.  I find that people have reacted mostly by sharing some aspect of their lives that they are having trouble with, whether it's their child's vision problems or something totally unrelated that they are struggling with.  Not one of the other parents you look on so enviously as they go home with their compliant children is living the perfect life you think she is.  That can be very comforting.

Read everything you can find, get as much information as you can, and then do what feels right for you and your child.  And hang in there.

Willa

I found out yesterday that my 6r old DD has ADD. Which I have suspected may be the case for a while now. She is an AWSOME KID! Here biggest issues (if you will) is lossing focus of what she is suppose to be doing and being my little daydreamer  I want in every way to help her to achieve all of her goals I just feel lost from here. I was given a bunch of material to read and have been. But I don't know what information to give her teacher or even how to go about explaining it to the family. I really want to know everything possible that will help her. She is doing okay in school but does get up a lot and has a hard time completing her work. When she does focus on her work she has EXCELLENT grades it's just helping her to do it. I would like to try all the tools to help her and see if it works before putting her on medication (if needed). I guess the question is what now? I know what the problem is but how do I help her manage it and help others to understand it? I just don't want things to be any harder for her. Any suggestions or things that have worked for your children with simmular issues feel free to share your insight because I need to hear it.

Thanks!