My child's ADHD showed me I needed to be tested too.?

Question

My eleven year old daughter was diagnosed with severe ADHD at age five. My mother used to tell me all the time that she was just like me when I was a kid. Mom would have to tell me several times to do something and when I didn't do it she would get so mad at me because i told her "I forgot." She realized once my daughter was diagnosed that i might have been ADHD too. I have severe anxiety and depression myself and after being treated from age 13 for these problems with not much success I decided to ask my doctor about Adult ADHD. I have been on medicine for two months now and have never felt better. It's easier for me to deal with my daughters ADHDbecause I know what it takes for ME to complete tasks now! PLEASE anyone with ADHD or has a child with ADHD, take classes on parenting a child with ADHD. If you're not a parent, take the class anyway. It will help you understand how to set goals and guidelines for yourself. You're not alone! NEVER STOP REACHING OUT FOR HELP!

Answer 1

same thing with my son who is now 7. He had it really bad at age 4 and started taking meds since then. These help out so m uch along with the behaviour management that we did for about 1.5 years.  It really p aid off. Now my son is 7 years old and doing well in school.  Talk about hard work though!! Its constant and my whole life is revolved around his little world due to meds and lack of appetite.  I work nights now that i can make sure im home inthemorning so he eats good at b'fast.  Im home at night for his big dinner.  He is doing well. However, his meds only work for aobut six hours and after that it gets challenging again.  Im thinking about starting him on a longer acting medication (same one but longer acting) for days that he needs to focus in the evening as well.  My son did very poorly on the short acting ones.  I like you tried everyting at first and nothing worked.  Spanking made things worse!! None of the techniques for disciplining worked formy son like normal kids.  I was lucky to join a parent group years back and get into a program where someone came to my home twice weekly and did behaviour management with my son and taught me new parenting skills. Ive also usd self help books.  My grandmother  always made comments that my mom was like my son and got into trouble at school. I do believe there is a genetic link.  It runs in my family although i dont have it and it also runs in my ex husbands family.  My son has it now   Its the most difficult thing ive had to experience and it felt very isolating when noone wanted to hang around with us b/c of my kids behavoiur. Even my own parents didnt want much to do with my son b/c he was so hypeactive which hurt me alot.  Now he's tolerable but still very active on his meds. He can focus better and has made a few friends.

Answer 2

Thanks for the support! I've been diagnosed with ADD (not ADHD, but similar), and have lived with it for over 13 years now. I know what its like to not be able to concentrate or stay focused on a task for more than a few minutes. I had been medicated for a few years but the side effects were more debilitating, for me, than the benefits. I had to teach myself how to stay focused and how to concentrate so that I could learn and be successful in school and at work. Its still hard sometimes, but I remember where I came from and what it used to be like and it helps me to push on past the frustrations and keep perservering towards my goals. I wish you the best of luck with you and your child's ADHD and hope that you can beat it and live great lives!

Answer 3

I have ADHD too and used to teach at a school for children with Autism.  ADHD is sometimes considered to be the lowest end of the Autism spectrum.  Some books I read while teaching actually helped me understand that the way my brain works is completely different from other people's and I can actually use it to my advantage.  If you haven't already I'd suggest you read Driven to Distraction by Hallowell, You Mean I'm Not Crazy, Lazy or Stupid by Kelly, and Women with ADD by Solden.

Also, a few things I would suggest: If you (or your daughter) drink diet sodas, stop.  Either take the calorie hit of regular soda or stop drinking soda altogether (my choice).  The artifical sweeteners, specifically aspertame, in diet soda can actually alter brain chemistry, aggrevating the symptoms of any brain disorder from Austim to ADD to chronic headaches.  Take a trip to the allergist with your daughter and both of you get tested.  Food allergies can also exacerbate symptoms of brain disorders.  Eliminating a food can significantly help you and your daughter.   I've had to eliminate soy from my diet, but it helps.

Answer 4

You probably do have it. It runs in families and it is linked with Anxiety and Depression. Get your daughter on medicine if she isn't already and if you feel you need it then get some for yourself.