Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?

PP who said that she would move to a farm and train her kid to be a farmer or "something"....before ever medicating her child. I can't think how can anybody who claims to have a PhD in science think that being a farmer is in any way a viable or a good idea for a person with ADHD.

PP here who first mentioned farming. Not sure how you jumped to the conclusion that I have no respect for farmers. We actually have huge respect for farmers. We aren’t rich but a huge portion of our income goes towards good quality food - organic, pastured, etc. It’s our greatest expense. We are happy to support our local farmers.

You really think I’d get one of my kids into something that I had no respect for? The fact that you jumped to the conclusion that farming is crap and I must disrespect it says way more about you than it does about me.

I think that you, on the other hand, are being disrespectful towards people with ADHD. People with ADHD aren’t dumb or somehow less capable of hard work and solving problems than anyone else. I have family members with unmedicated ADHD and I know exactly what they’re capable of, and it seems to be a lot more than you think. Farming is full of interesting challenges, especially smaller-scale organic farming, yet there’s a lot of variety and it’s mostly hands-on work. People with ADHD are very capable of learning it, even though it’s not easy. I can actually imagine my kids loving it, ESPECIALLY the one who is the most likely to have ADHD. There are also many other possibilities of course (furniture was also on my mind, funny to see a PP mention it), but as I said, we do support our farms and so it happened to be first on my mind. And yes, of course the kids can decide what they want to do! We see it as our duty as parents to help our kids figure that out.

My point was that despite our strong academic backgrounds, and the ideas that we originally had about the lives that our kids would live, we won’t be pushing our kids to follow in our footsteps (and certainly not at all costs) and stare at a screen all day if it works out that they’ll probably be happier and better suited to doing something else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took stimulant medication and now have heart disease. An aneurysm from high blood pressure.
I am on heart medication and will probably need open heart surgery in the future.
You will probably ignore my post.

I believe you. My cousin was on Adderall from age 6-22 when he finished college.

He had to have heart surgery at age 30 (valve replacement). His surgeon told him his damage was like that of a longtime meth user. He'll probably have to have another surgery in the future as well. He's chosen not to have kids because of this and the threat of passing on ADD/ADHD.

No heart disease on either side of his family. No heart issues or even a murmur growing up.

Almost exact same story with my husband

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pp who made a comment about another pp making what I believe to be a insulting comment about farming. I know how hard farming is, grew up that way, and I was offended by tone and implication that.... if he can't be something better, I'll raise him to be a farmer. That is my take on that post.

Perhaps he/she was just using farming as an example of a career that couples hard, physcial work with the outdoors, often an environment those worth ADHD thrive in. FWIW, I grew up on a farm too and I'll take my cushy writing career over that workload (mental and physical) any day!

Possibly. Thanks for replying, I guess I am just a bit oversensitive when people post who don't know just how much work and worry and stress it is living and working on a farm. I know a family member who became one of these new age farmers.... has ton of help, keeps animals for fun.. and has her hedge fund manager DH paying for all of it, while telling us that her farm is losing money and she has such a hard time with her non profit farm business! So, I guess I am honestly not better than the judgy pp as I am also judgy just the other way, as you can see.

PP farmer here...this link is for you. Bet you will relate! I have BTDT for sure. https://youtu.be/kbW4mrzTwtw

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pp who made a comment about another pp making what I believe to be a insulting comment about farming. I know how hard farming is, grew up that way, and I was offended by tone and implication that.... if he can't be something better, I'll raise him to be a farmer. That is my take on that post.

Perhaps he/she was just using farming as an example of a career that couples hard, physcial work with the outdoors, often an environment those worth ADHD thrive in. FWIW, I grew up on a farm too and I'll take my cushy writing career over that workload (mental and physical) any day!

Possibly. Thanks for replying, I guess I am just a bit oversensitive when people post who don't know just how much work and worry and stress it is living and working on a farm. I know a family member who became one of these new age farmers.... has ton of help, keeps animals for fun.. and has her hedge fund manager DH paying for all of it, while telling us that her farm is losing money and she has such a hard time with her non profit farm business! So, I guess I am honestly not better than the judgy pp as I am also judgy just the other way, as you can see.

Anonymous wrote:I took stimulant medication and now have heart disease. An aneurysm from high blood pressure.
I am on heart medication and will probably need open heart surgery in the future.
You will probably ignore my post.

I believe you. My cousin was on Adderall from age 6-22 when he finished college.

He had to have heart surgery at age 30 (valve replacement). His surgeon told him his damage was like that of a longtime meth user. He'll probably have to have another surgery in the future as well. He's chosen not to have kids because of this and the threat of passing on ADD/ADHD.

No heart disease on either side of his family. No heart issues or even a murmur growing up.

Anonymous wrote:I am pp who made a comment about another pp making what I believe to be a insulting comment about farming. I know how hard farming is, grew up that way, and I was offended by tone and implication that.... if he can't be something better, I'll raise him to be a farmer. That is my take on that post.

Perhaps he/she was just using farming as an example of a career that couples hard, physcial work with the outdoors, often an environment those worth ADHD thrive in. FWIW, I grew up on a farm too and I'll take my cushy writing career over that workload (mental and physical) any day!

Watched it a couple nights ago and can't stop talking about it to DH. Guess the documentary didn't do it's job bc I want a precscription! I want my Big Law husband to get one too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?

PP who said that she would move to a farm and train her kid to be a farmer or "something"....before ever medicating her child. I can't think how can anybody who claims to have a PhD in science think that being a farmer is in any way a viable or a good idea for a person with ADHD.

I am a farmer and I know plenty of ADHD farmers including a good buddy in high school who supplies high end restaurants with his farm to table stuff. You are active, hands on, your average day always looks different, you do many different things throughout the day most days. It is actually a fairly good profession for people who need activity and enjoy varied tasks.

However, I don’t think anyone should be forced to be a farmer because they have ADHD. It is hard work and takes skill to grow things well. It is kind of ridiculous to look down on farming when I gather you eat three squares a day.

10:36 here (poster from p. 6 who had no problem with my kid becoming a farmer but didn't want to force him into any kind of box), I completely agree with this. I also have ADHD, and working first in finance and then in big law pre-diagnosis was destroying me. Once I got my diagnosis and started treatment (medication and behavioral), I came to realize that a job sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day was pretty much the worst thing for me, and that I needed something more physically active and with less screen time. I ended up leaving the law and started my own custom furniture business, and the change has been wonderful on so many levels.

The key, though, is that I was able to come to that decision on my own, based on my own understanding of myself, my strengths, my challenges, and what made me happy. I suspect my son would similarly do better in a more active and less screen-oriented profession, but I'm not going to force him in that direction. Instead, I model managing ADHD through effective life choices and try to give him the tools he will need to pursue whatever he decides is his passion.

PP, I enjoyed your story and am glad you found a calling. I'd love to hear more about how you're guiding your son in finding a career (if you are at that stage) and also would you mind posting more about how you are raising your son day-to-day? Our teen DS was recently diagnosed with ADHD and is super physically active (probably headed to play D1 sport-he enjoys the structure and camaraderie). Medication is working well but he only takes for school. He has gotten worse with picking up stuff/turning off lights/flushing toilets/following through if he waits after an instruction is given especially at home where he generally isn't on medication. I'm looking for suggestions and have encouraged him to use phone reminders etc for stuff that he can but the small things in life seem to be thrown by the wayside and he will drive future roommates/spouse crazy! He has some impulsiveness but is managing that okay with reminders and the desire to stay out of trouble for his sports future. On the upside he's fun, a super creative thinker and pretty well-liked and has the potential to go far but needs to learn how to manage it.

I am pp who made a comment about another pp making what I believe to be a insulting comment about farming. I know how hard farming is, grew up that way, and I was offended by tone and implication that.... if he can't be something better, I'll raise him to be a farmer. That is my take on that post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?

PP who said that she would move to a farm and train her kid to be a farmer or "something"....before ever medicating her child. I can't think how can anybody who claims to have a PhD in science think that being a farmer is in any way a viable or a good idea for a person with ADHD.

I am a farmer and I know plenty of ADHD farmers including a good buddy in high school who supplies high end restaurants with his farm to table stuff. You are active, hands on, your average day always looks different, you do many different things throughout the day most days. It is actually a fairly good profession for people who need activity and enjoy varied tasks.

However, I don’t think anyone should be forced to be a farmer because they have ADHD. It is hard work and takes skill to grow things well. It is kind of ridiculous to look down on farming when I gather you eat three squares a day.

10:36 here (poster from p. 6 who had no problem with my kid becoming a farmer but didn't want to force him into any kind of box), I completely agree with this. I also have ADHD, and working first in finance and then in big law pre-diagnosis was destroying me. Once I got my diagnosis and started treatment (medication and behavioral), I came to realize that a job sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day was pretty much the worst thing for me, and that I needed something more physically active and with less screen time. I ended up leaving the law and started my own custom furniture business, and the change has been wonderful on so many levels.

The key, though, is that I was able to come to that decision on my own, based on my own understanding of myself, my strengths, my challenges, and what made me happy. I suspect my son would similarly do better in a more active and less screen-oriented profession, but I'm not going to force him in that direction. Instead, I model managing ADHD through effective life choices and try to give him the tools he will need to pursue whatever he decides is his passion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?

PP who said that she would move to a farm and train her kid to be a farmer or "something"....before ever medicating her child. I can't think how can anybody who claims to have a PhD in science think that being a farmer is in any way a viable or a good idea for a person with ADHD.

I am a farmer and I know plenty of ADHD farmers including a good buddy in high school who supplies high end restaurants with his farm to table stuff. You are active, hands on, your average day always looks different, you do many different things throughout the day most days. It is actually a fairly good profession for people who need activity and enjoy varied tasks.

However, I don’t think anyone should be forced to be a farmer because they have ADHD. It is hard work and takes skill to grow things well. It is kind of ridiculous to look down on farming when I gather you eat three squares a day.

Progress on brain differences in preschoolers with ADHD but more work to be done. At least there is more evidence coming forward: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/03/26/brain-abnormalities-found-in-4-and-5-year-olds-with-adhd-say-researchers/?utm_term=.d30c6a07f854

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?

PP who said that she would move to a farm and train her kid to be a farmer or "something"....before ever medicating her child. I can't think how can anybody who claims to have a PhD in science think that being a farmer is in any way a viable or a good idea for a person with ADHD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took stimulant medication and now have heart disease. An aneurysm from high blood pressure.
I am on heart medication and will probably need open heart surgery in the future.
You will probably ignore my post.

Did you have any other contributing factors to your heart disease? I ask because my DD is on concerta, and while I can see that it is helpful(we put it off until it was affecting her life in every aspect) and because there is also a history of a lot of heart disease on both sides of the family. How can I as a parent make the right decision? DD was so hyper before that she was acting as if she was high before starting meds at 15. I just watched this documentary and I really don't know what to think or do anymore.

My child takes Vyvanse, and high blood pressure can be a side effect. We check his blood pressure on a monthly basis (along with weight) to make sure it's where it should be. So far we haven't had any problems.

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope no farmers are reading this forum, some pretty insulting things have been said of their profession, by some ignorant douche.

Who insulted farmers?