I have an ADHD child ...I've asked and read and I'm lost!!?

Question

What does a parent do when your doing everything alternative...other then the happy pill..but you get to the situation when he "DOESN'T STOP", I have to take a break and walk away...I get tired of hearing the same sounds coming out of my mouth...and what I mean about "don't stop"...I mean he says the same thing over..and over...and over, which I inturn try to respond in different ways until hopefully it clicks that he accepts what he hears...I don't know, some days I just want to throw in the towel...and other days I feel..ok I think we' getting somewhere... PLEASE! this is serious, I'm working hard to communicate for a child I love, and mayeb someone who you may know...HELP!!!..any suggestion about any approach

Answer 1

i'm 17 and adhd/add. my parents tried doing natural stuff without medicine, but honestly i hated it. im on adderall xr in the morning and in the afternoon i take regular adderall. it's so hard to controll you're self when you have adhd, it really is. no one like understands.

try some medicines(there are new ones out that have less sideeffects) you may be against them because of stuff you hear about them. but in the long run it's better for him, because as he matures his lack of self control can ruin freindshipss and alota other things...which leads to everything else.

i was diagnosed when i was 14, freshman year. before i got put on meds, i notcied i didnt care and i was wild. it was all about partying and risk taking for me. i couldnt stop.

and now im not at all liek that. its such a change. im mature now and i dont annoy the crap outa people.

hope this helped .. from a adhd'ers point of veiw.


don;t force him to go to those doctors where they liek study him and question him. it jsut makes them uncomfortble it really does. he doesnt need that.

Answer 2

I know you want alternative methods to medication but please understand that medications ARE NOT HAPPY PILLS.
My daughter is incapable of minding without help. I do mean incapable. No amount of reasoning can stop her actions. She gave honest attempts to sit in her seat and do schoolwork, but the best she could was accomplish was to write her name, draw a picture over her schoolwork, and then roam about the room, and that happened on GOOD days.
She hated being a distraction and was horribly embarrassed that she couldn't control her roaming hands and feet.
When we started giving her medicine, she started completing some of the work for the first time in her life (she was in the third grade.)
Over time, we had to alter the dosage. We knew when she was getting too much because her creative energy was gone. We knew when the dosage was too low because she would get into fights at school that she was ashamed of later.
Now she can sit through class appropriately and do her schoolwork. Her body, through the medication, is being trained to let out hyperactive steam at appropriate times, such as recess. My hopes are that her body can someday be trained to the point that she can control her bodily movements without the aid of medication. Every now and then, we lower her dosage a little to see if she can handle it.
I know the thought of medicating your child is frightening. I had the same doubts, but what I came to realize that ADHD is a real medical disorder and some people cannot get better through alternative actions, just like some diabetics cannot go through the day without insulin or some people with schizophrenia need mental medical aid to have normal lives.
Talk to your child's doctor. Ask about alternative solutions and at the same time, keep an open mind to medical solutions. It may be that your child can react positively to alternative solutions, just don't let that be the only answer you will listen to.

In response to...uh... whatever her name is a few posts up, there is a small amount of Ritalin in Concerta. I give it to my daughter and read up on it.

Answer 3

I really suggest trying the meds. It does not take all the behaviours away, however it calms them down. I take Concerta. It is similar to Ritalin, but does not have all the really bad effects. But it is still a narcotic medication. If you are having these problems at home, think of him at school.
Before I started the medication, I was failing almost all my classes, now, I am an honour roll student and have been since I started high school. The only thing that really changed was I added medication.
You, if you really are that against the medication, you could control it with diet and other tecniques. Try reading Healing the Hyperactive Brain by Micheal R. Lyon. It has a lot of good info on food choices, discipline and suggestions.

Answer 4

I think you should get some assistance to look after him, so long as your always with him for safety reasons.

You should speak to a mental health expert/pediatric psychiatrist etc for advice on this topic.

Do not lose your temper or use any form of abuse (even the slightest kind) and try to control your temper.

As far as I am aware, many people with ADHD need something to keep them active and focused to stop them going crazy getting up mischief.
Lots of activities I would think is a good idea.
Go out and do stuff.

Answer 5

I have adhd, and I can tell you. when you are at my age, (14) you think you know everything. we alll feel the need to be understood, and you just need to make sure you respect that. however, that doesn't mean you should let your child get away with everything. Treat him/her the same way you would treat any other child. there are some medications you could try. i take riddlin but it makes me not have as much of an appitite as I normaly would. Ask your docter.

Answer 6

I have the same problem but I have a added problem my son is also bipolor he has his great days and he has his violent days. Nothing bad at school though just at home so far and I thank god. I have tried everything from taking toys to time outs. Nothing works at all I have just found out about the bipolor since he is 7 almost 8 its showing more now then before. So today is a good day my son is helping me clean the house up a bit picking up toys when I ask so I can be online to find out some information or give my opinion.

LESS STRESS YEAH!!!

I live where I have no help with my kids I have no breaks I have no help and I am at the end of my ropes here with my son. My daughter has no problems and if she did I would need mental help big time. So we are trying something new and its not working again with him controling his temper to his depression then his hyperness. I found a great place for my kids to play at and my son LOVES it so if he is good for the most part but not totally since I know its hard for him to control it all. Yeah not working yet but hoping it will work soon. I always give it time with punishments and rewards. I dont have breaks at all and dont drink much(a beer a year) either. I am married and a at home mom at this time. I have no family near me and no friends since my days are full of my kids and trying to relax before my son gets home so I am not so stressed out. My husband dont help much at all since he comes home and eats and passes out from working long hours.

So all in all I hate my sons problems and I have delt with it for so long I am at the end of my ropes since he refuses to learn how to read at all. I have set up all the doctors appointments this week to get me some help with him. So meds are going to be in his future and mine will be a bit better but I also know that there is no magic pill for my son and will have to deal with part of his mental problems I do understand that so all I can say is if you want to stick it out I do have one thing that helps the ADHD part of my son that is coffee yeah I said it right coffee I get him a sweet coffee from a coffee stand and he loves them. It helps when he is really bad but I dont give them to him everyday. See coffee does the oppisit to a ADHD person it makes them fall asleep if to much is given and it will make them sit for more then 30 minutes at a time. That was my choice yours will be different but try it once and see how it works but remember there little bodys cant handle more then a 20oz cup in 48 hours. if you ever want to talk feel free to e-mail me I am always online even when not at my computer....I talk to my mom sometimes during the day is all. So have fun and hang in there.

Answer 7

Find out how other parents manage, by joining MySpace; groups (free) at www.myspace.com Click on "groups" in the bar near the top of the webpage and select "other", then enter "ADHD" and choose one, maybe changing later, possibly exchanging phone no.s or email addresses,I.M., and Yahoo! groups, or http://howto.netmorale.com/viewforum.php? Or free online counselling at http://www.counselingnet.com/main.html

Answer 8

sorry i cant help you here..but i found a website for you that might be useful, i hope it is!