How has ADHD affected your family's ability to have fun together?

Question

What are some activities you enjoy doing with your family? Has ADHD made it more difficult to do some of these activities?

~Dr. C

http://www.adhd1.net

Answer 1

"family" and "fun" are two words that don't together in my house.  We have 10 year old fraternal twins, both with ADHD.  EVERYTHING we do is a challenge - even trying to watch a movie or play a game.  We went to Disneyworld and I was ready to leave within a day.

Answer 2

I have seen allot of problems in doing the things we love to do both on and off medication.

My daughter and I used to love to laugh and crack jokes and do many things outside with friends such as BBQ's and such. Playing horseshoes, getting involved with community programs, playing board games, cooking, reading and anything else that happens to strike our fancy.

On the medication (she is taking 20mg 1x daily of Adderal XR) she is very anti social, no personality, takes things very serious and wants to be by herself most of the time, doesn't eat much. This makes it very hard to enjoy some of the activities we do with others because she doesn;t want to be there and participate. It worries me and makes me just want to break down and cry.

Off the medication she has a sense of humor, wants to be around others and participate in activities but it hard to keep her attention focused.

It's hard either way and effects our activities together allot in every circumstance. I wish they would find a way to treat without all the darn side effects that go along with it. I love my daughter she is fun loving, very smart (1st grade with a reading capability of a 5th grader) but her being on the meds ruins her makes her over sensitive and not the same person at all. When the meds wear off she gets aggitated and aggresive for the most part and very frustrated (no doubt since it's anphedamine based, there's got to be a come down) this makes it even harder to enjoy bedtime routines of bathing and reading a book, or even just talking like we used to do.

ADHD has made it very hard to enjoy the simple pleasures we once had and on meds or off there have been problems in being able to to things we love.

Answer 3

I have so little time to answer this question it isn't funny. But anyone who feels they have that problem I would advice them to read

http://www.additudemag.com

It is a great magazine. online or at the news stands. Additude magazine.

Answer 4

I think it`s opposite in my family. My daughter is the one who drags me & or her Dad to play.We usally have fun too. The only thing I have seen that you really can`t do, is go to church-Now she is able , but in the past-it wasn`t worth it.As long asyou can find something where they can be active & has no danger potential or TOO much stimuli they should be fine.I think the key is when they are young-keep it simple ie;swinging, running in large protected areas, I spent a lot of my time exploring with her. Games, you have to realize that, when they get bore, you are going to have to finish with husband-Don`t get mad, they will see you are having fun & next time play longer, untill they play all of it with you.The biggest key is always keep in mind that they can only handle so much-not to get mad, when they want to "change" Also, my daughter loved to make up games, some made no sense at all, but she was doing it & being in charge.Let them, they have a wonderful imagination, even if YOU have no clue-WHAT you are playing.

Answer 5

I'm notorious for not getting all my packing and pre-trip responsibilities done so she is usually yelling at me before the trip starts.  Great Beginning huh?