Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an educator who has had a lot of conversations over the years with parents of confirmed or suspected ADHD children about medicating versus not. In the no medication camp I’ve heard a lot of concerns about side effects and over-medicalization of “normal” behavior. Few folks seem to mention the possible effects of not medicating ADHD. I’ve also talked to a lot of parents who see their own behavior in their kids. If the parent was unmedicated for ADHD, they often believe their kid can also make it through “just fine.” Also, some folks just don’t believe that ADHD is real. They’ll debate you on the whole premise of the disorder. They see it as natural behavior, especially amongst boys. They may also refer to labels for this and other challenges as a “crutch.”

+1. I've seen this too as an educator. The wheels usually fall off in middle school especially for boys.

My kid got so much better in middle school.

It’s not that people hate medication, but the decision is very hard. My kid trended irritable and has ASD combined with ADHD. We were told it was a tough combo to medicate. I was worried about stimulants amping rage.

And right now that’s the right decision. Just had a great IEP meeting. Hindsight bias like everything else.

However, the rise of polypharmacy in youth with mental health conditions is a real and growing concern.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an educator who has had a lot of conversations over the years with parents of confirmed or suspected ADHD children about medicating versus not. In the no medication camp I’ve heard a lot of concerns about side effects and over-medicalization of “normal” behavior. Few folks seem to mention the possible effects of not medicating ADHD. I’ve also talked to a lot of parents who see their own behavior in their kids. If the parent was unmedicated for ADHD, they often believe their kid can also make it through “just fine.” Also, some folks just don’t believe that ADHD is real. They’ll debate you on the whole premise of the disorder. They see it as natural behavior, especially amongst boys. They may also refer to labels for this and other challenges as a “crutch.”

+1. I've seen this too as an educator. The wheels usually fall off in middle school especially for boys.

Anonymous wrote:This is a very complex issue and it’s not as simple as the parents are anti medicine or in denial about their child’s behavior.

Giving stimulants to children is a big deal.

I’ve also seen similar effects with exercise—so giving medication can feel like the “easy” or “lazy” way out. When my ADHD nephew joined a year round swim team with daily practices was the year that he finally was able to focus and finally turned things around. Before that he’d done soccer with 3 practices a week but that wasn’t nearly enough. I know my brother and his wife felt guilty about giving him medication in the past instead of channeling that excess energy into physical exercise.

It’s more than excess energy

Anonymous wrote:My long-time boyfriend had been medicated for ADHD as a child in the 90's, starting in elementary school. He often said that he credited that with laying the path to his future drug addiction. As an adult, he was still angry at his doctor for not telling him to avoid mixing coffee with Adderall, which he saw as the turning point where he started abusing drugs.

I know at least two other adults who have no thanks to their parents for getting them on stimulants as children.

That is a ridiculous excuse for addiction. In fact studies show that unmedicated adhd is at far higher risk for addiction

This is a very complex issue and it’s not as simple as the parents are anti medicine or in denial about their child’s behavior.

Giving stimulants to children is a big deal.

I’ve also seen similar effects with exercise—so giving medication can feel like the “easy” or “lazy” way out. When my ADHD nephew joined a year round swim team with daily practices was the year that he finally was able to focus and finally turned things around. Before that he’d done soccer with 3 practices a week but that wasn’t nearly enough. I know my brother and his wife felt guilty about giving him medication in the past instead of channeling that excess energy into physical exercise.

Anonymous wrote:You have nothing else to do other than watch instagram reels and then come to an anonymous internet forum to start flaming about it?

People have trepidation about giving psychiatric meds to underage children, especially when they don't know how side effects will unfold in each specific case. People have it hard having to parent SN kids in this society with little to no community supports and limited acceptance of neurodiversity.

ADHD specifically is often seen as a character or parenting failure because of how it presents. Not medicating or medicating can be judged by relatives, teachers, etc. Leave everyone be, their children, their choices, their social media feed (which is probably crafted to create outrage and increase views).

I agree until it affects other people. You have a right to parent your child however you please until it prevents my child from accessing a safe and appropriate education.

My long-time boyfriend had been medicated for ADHD as a child in the 90's, starting in elementary school. He often said that he credited that with laying the path to his future drug addiction. As an adult, he was still angry at his doctor for not telling him to avoid mixing coffee with Adderall, which he saw as the turning point where he started abusing drugs.

I know at least two other adults who have no thanks to their parents for getting them on stimulants as children.

I was one of the anti-medication people, specifically because I worried about the long term side effects of being on medication. After two years of discussing it with my doctor and my child (who wanted the meds) we put them on the medication.

It is LIFE changing. I can't speak to the success others have had, but I regret every day we didn't have them on the medication before.

You have nothing else to do other than watch instagram reels and then come to an anonymous internet forum to start flaming about it?

People have trepidation about giving psychiatric meds to underage children, especially when they don't know how side effects will unfold in each specific case. People have it hard having to parent SN kids in this society with little to no community supports and limited acceptance of neurodiversity.

ADHD specifically is often seen as a character or parenting failure because of how it presents. Not medicating or medicating can be judged by relatives, teachers, etc. Leave everyone be, their children, their choices, their social media feed (which is probably crafted to create outrage and increase views).

I tried medication (stimulant and non-stimulant) for my 7 year old and the side effects were horrendous. So for now he is unmedicated. It was disappointing because I’ve heard from other parents how life changing medication can be, but for us it was a mess.

We will likely revisit at some point when he is older once we see what behaviors shake out with maturity. There is some suspected mild ASD and mood issues (too young to fully know if something else is going on, we’ll do a repeat neuropsych in another year or two). I’m hopeful with age my DS will be able to better articulate what is going on in his head and help us figure out what med(s) work or not. But for right now we are going the unmedicated route.

I realize we’re a much different example than the family that doesn’t believe in meds (or even school) at all. But this is just another perspective why some kids are not on medication despite fairly severe ADHD.

I have been hesitant to medicate one of my kids for hyperactive ADHD. He does fine in school but needs to move a lot. I feel like it has been possible to find alternative ways to support his needs so he can succeed. My other kid has inattentive ADHD, and meds really are all that can help. He's struggling in school, and if meds will help, then it's worth it. I certainly wouldn't rush into meds, but they are needed in many cases.

I’m an educator who has had a lot of conversations over the years with parents of confirmed or suspected ADHD children about medicating versus not. In the no medication camp I’ve heard a lot of concerns about side effects and over-medicalization of “normal” behavior. Few folks seem to mention the possible effects of not medicating ADHD. I’ve also talked to a lot of parents who see their own behavior in their kids. If the parent was unmedicated for ADHD, they often believe their kid can also make it through “just fine.” Also, some folks just don’t believe that ADHD is real. They’ll debate you on the whole premise of the disorder. They see it as natural behavior, especially amongst boys. They may also refer to labels for this and other challenges as a “crutch.”

they are not smart and/ or have untreated adhd themselves which does not allow them to 'access the curriculum' of life learning.

They are anti science and have been brainwashed by influencers. I can’t stand them and what they are doing to their kids. And it’s mostly liberal parents at this point

I saw this video on Reel on Insta and she mom said her kids are running around all day, and got expelled for pre-school for not following the rules, I commented on if they look into medicated for ADHD or taking them to the doctor to see what up, and she said they don't need school. He can do yardwork and doesn't need to complete any school work or do anything...
Why are parents like this? I medicated my DS with ADHD, if I didn't he will be a mess and is now a 6th grader..