My 5 year old son is hyper active?

Question

Sometimes I think my 5 year old son has lost his mind. He climbs everything, always on the move, jumps on people (mainly me) and even people he doesn't know. Does not listen at all, spankings don't faze him, and time out is a joke. I put movies in the DVD and try to sit with him to watch a movie and he only last 10 minutes tops. It's a horror show when we go out to eat, the whole family suffers. I feel like all I do is spank him and scream at him. I can feel my self become so angry with him I want to wrap my fingers around his neck. I took him to see his doctor today to see if he has ADHD. My EX mother in law is so upset with me because I think my son needs medication, but on the same hand she will take my other two kids to her house to spend the night, but not my son! She told my 14 yr old daughter that medicating my son is wrong, I informed her that she is welcomed to take my son for 2 weeks to see how long she can take him, I give her 1 day, she doesn't want me to medicate him. help

I took him to the doctor today, she said he needed meds. and started him on a low dose of adderall, my son was climbing the walls in there, I have battled my ex mother-in-law for over a year, on this. She tells me the meds. will hurt him. She doesn't spend any time with him "ever" she doesn't know my son but tells me he's a normal 5 year old and she raised her kids without meds....

Answer 1

I used to babysit a child who fits the description of your son to a T and it was no picnic - there was absolutely no calming him down and it wasn't excess sugar either as the family had taken it out of his diet - I don't suggest medication unless as a last resort, but you should get more than one dr's opinion on the matter then go from there
I wish you luck!

Btw - the child I babysat was eventually put on medication and improved tremendously - he's an adult now with his own family and doing fine

Answer 2

wow, I really feel for you. Normally, I would suggest the spanking, even thought it's taboo. Theres something definitely going on. Although, I wouldn't be so quick to put him on medication. I would suggest speaking with an integrated medicine doctor. They use both traditional, AND herbal type remedies. I read a book "Beating the food Giants" It had some pretty informative information in there about a lot of stuff, including ADHD. The doctor in this book suggested to the woman to eliminate all white sugar, white flour and msg. The woman said within a week she had a new kid. I know that it may seem like a lot of hard work in comparison to popping a pill, but it would be great for your sons well being. I know what triggers my kids "craziness" You just have to be observant. Give him a soda or juice, and watch his reaction within 15 minutes. They get extremely fidgity and just can't sit still! Even when I make them sit, they have to be moving a part of their body! The same reaction after eating Ramen noodle soup! Check out the first ingredient. MSG. Organic sugar has become a staple in our house as has unbleached organic flour. NO Soda. Only on special occasions. Watered down juice. And a water cooler that they have access to all day long! They can only ask for what is in the house. Do some research on this. You'll be surprised. It has made a tremendous difference in my children, and everyone always comments on how well behaved they are. Perhaps and integrated medicine doctor can start you on the medication while you make some changes to his diet, and gradually decrease it to see the results. Doctors prescribe drugs for the elaborate fringe benefits from the drug companies. The drug companies have only one job. To make their shareholders money. The only way to do that is to sell more drugs!! It is always about the money, at the expense of our health! Good Luck with this. Please e mail me with any progress.

Answer 3

Let me guess, he's also highly intelligent. My children were like that growing up and all scored high on the state tests and were all in Gifted classes. My eight year old is the last one in the house and he's the same way. Are you like that too? I am, I always have a hundred things going at once. What I've done with my youngest son is teaching him deep breathing. When he gets out of control he sets himself down and deep breathes. He doesn't always do it, I have to remind him sometimes. Five years old and hyper? I don't think that's such a big surprise unless he's out of control of himself. When my boy was younger he'd get out of control of himself and it would actually scare him. He'd have screaming fits so I just held him close to me and rubbed his back. Children like these are going to always need a bit more of attention than calm ones. Which is a problem if you happen to have one of each because the calm one gets forgotten sometimes. I would just be there for him. It may be very scary or frustrating that he can't seem to sit still. I know it's frustrating for me. My boyfriend is constantly telling me to relax. It doesn't always work that way. If it's just simply a behavioural problem, I'd like to suggest buying the child a calendar and give him a sticker on each day that he really tries to control himself. After he gathers, say ten, stickers give him a small prize. Such as, gum or buy some party favors or toys from the dollar store and put them in a bag and let him pick. I hope this helps, I've been there so I know how hard it is.

Answer 4

First of all, any good doctor will not medicate a child at age 5. I think that a lot of people think that their children are ADHD at that age. I personally thought one of my boys was, but he actually just ended up being very smart and inquisitive and my other son is ADHD (smart also =) and I didn't suspect it at age 5. So, you never know and my son is now almost 8 and a good dr will recommend that you wait until the child starts school. Just keep a close eye on him and if he has issues in school I would definately get him tested. My son had problems since kindergarten and I had him tested teh summer after first grade, found out he had ADHD, he started taking meds (we were opposed to at first) and his grades went up and he had straight A's all year for second grade and went from one of the lowest readers to the highest reader. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Not all ADHD drugs are narcotic. Straterra works for some.
Your son needs proper evaluation.
Have you seen the symptom list?
Chaad is an organization full of information

Is there a simple test to diagnose AD/HD?

No; unfortunately, there is no simple test (like a blood test or a short written test) to determine whether someone has AD/HD. This is true of many medical conditions (for example, there is no "test" for a simple headache, yet anyone who has had a headache knows it's real!).

Accurate diagnosis is made only by a trained clinician after an extensive evaluation. This evaluation should include ruling out other possible causes for the symptoms involved, a thorough physical examination, and a series of interviews with the individual (child or adult) and other key persons in the individual's life (for example, parents, spouse, teachers, and others).

Answer 6

I ahve 2 boys and they ahve male cousins and friends and medicating at 5 is early Honestly what I did was get the meds for me. I got on a small dose of Lexapro and everyone got better and calmer. My almost 3 year old is hyper too as was I and his dad so I know it will pass as I have grown into a very patient adult as my husband. So be patient let him just go outside maybe invest in a playground set. I am saving my change for a year I hear it really adds up and going to use that for a playground for my hyperactive son and his siblings.
Good Luck

Answer 7

This is the only advice I can give start with your family doctor, then he can diagnose or tell you where to go next. I have a nephew with ADD (much different than ADHD), but researching and knowing what it's all about will help you dramatically. But you need to start with a doctor or psychologist, get second opinions if your gut doesn't feel right with the first ones. It's hard work, but worth it to help you children. And you'll need to be totally involved, so be prepared to spend a lot of time and emotion on it, for years. But it'll be worth it to see your children excel.

Answer 8

hello,
medication isnt a good idea especially for a 5 year old. spanking wont help, violence is not an answer it will make everything WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He may have ADD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention-Deficit_Disorder
He is still very young so its good for him to be active. But remember he is your child he needs love and care. Try playing some calming music....when he is hyper...it can help him calm down.

Answer 9

well its not wise but if it is a lost resort, you have to go ahead. Listen, you are the parent not, his grandmother. But thats just the way they are at times. They are experienced yes, but sometimes they feel they know everything.
Well i would say to a normal parent since i dont know your child; cut down on the sugar.

Answer 10

tell her his body is not producing a chemical that he needs to function normally, and medication will provide him with that chemical. Would she get mad at you for "medicating" an insulin dependant diabetic?