No regrets. But due to other medical issues we had to stop part way through high school. His life is very difficult without them.

Don’t let your fear prevent you from getting help for your son. Figure out if he has a dx and what it is, then explore with professionals options for treating it to find the best way for him. It may or may not be medication; you just don’t know yet.

I was afraid of medicating my son and changing or harming him.

He’s still himself- funny and wild and active. But he went from getting in trouble constantly to having a good report card for the first time. He got as much done in the last quarter of the year as he did in the first three. He was medicated the last quarter.

No. My son has been on ADHD meds for 8 years, since 4th grade. Best decision we could have made.

My DS was diagnosed and started meds in 9th grade. My only regret is that we didn't figure out the diagnosis and start meds sooner. DS was fully involved in the decision and likes taking the medication. He said he finally felt calm at school. I feel bad that he had so many years of feeling like the bad kid at school.

Anonymous wrote:DP. My brother had very bad experiences on meds, but by the time they were suggested for my older DD, there were more options and fewer side effects. She did concerta until midway through college. It helped close the gap between what she was able to do and what she could focus enough to get done. No regrets.

Same with my brother - he was prescribed Ritalin in the 90s for disruptive behavior, right when they first started promoting it on the market for ADHD. It made him miserable. Turns out his issues are not ADHD, but anxiety and depression plus dysfunctional parents, surprise! Putting the Ritalin on top of anxiety -- and then taking away his appetite and adding insomnia -- really screwed with him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried neurofeedback therapy instead of meds?

I haven’t seen the specialist yet. I am at the very start of the ADHD learning curve. Descriptions and test that I’ve seen online and in a book a friend shared all point to adhd.

I earlier thought he was just being a kid, and now all these signals and symptoms that point to an issue actually.

I think the school was trying to gently hint that he may have ADHD this past year..

You’re way ahead of yourself. It could also be anxiety or an LD, both of which can look like ADHD.

Find out what you’re dealing with. I’d also have your kid start seeing a counselor even ahead of any diagnosis.

DP. My brother had very bad experiences on meds, but by the time they were suggested for my older DD, there were more options and fewer side effects. She did concerta until midway through college. It helped close the gap between what she was able to do and what she could focus enough to get done. No regrets.

It's recommended to start with behavioral therapies anyway. You're the parent; nobody is going to make your child take medications.

I've managed my mental health without taking medications just fine, so it's definitely possible.

Another option is to just wait until your child is old enough to understand, and let him have a role in deciding whether to take meds. For all that people stress out about elementary school kids, they don't have to be perfect. If you can cope until middle school using behavioral interventions, then at 12 or 13 he will be old enough to have a say.

Finally, if he's having issues at school, then yeah, you do need to get him evaluated and get a 504 or IEP. If the issues are behavioral, they are only going to get WORSE if you don't address them in any way. A downward spiral of behavior could then lead to an acute situation where you feel more pressure to medicate.

Stimulant meds help EVERYONE focus better - so certainly, you'd see changes in your kid if you put him on Ritalin. That doesn't mean you have to - you can accept that you have a kid with a difference in ability to focus as his baseline, and work on non-medication techniques to help him cope.

Um, no.

No.

Why are you scared of ADHD meds?

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried neurofeedback therapy instead of meds?

I haven’t seen the specialist yet. I am at the very start of the ADHD learning curve. Descriptions and test that I’ve seen online and in a book a friend shared all point to adhd.

I earlier thought he was just being a kid, and now all these signals and symptoms that point to an issue actually.

I think the school was trying to gently hint that he may have ADHD this past year..

Have you tried neurofeedback therapy instead of meds?

... I’m dreaded to start adhd diagnosis process, b/c of fear of those meds. In any other way I’m fine - we are current on all vaccines etc.