A.D.D. and Me (To drug or not to drug.)

Okay, Adult ADD speaking here. I was diagnosed as a "Hyperactive" child, this was the first term they used to label us. The verbiage has changed but the symptoms are the same. My Dad has been in social services for most of my life and was familiar with the only medicine used back then, Ritalin, and he didn’t like what he saw it do to the kids taking it. As a result he refused to have me medicated. He never told me I had a ‘disability’ either. I never knew until I was diagnosed as an adult with adult ADD. I was encouraged to take medication and I tried for awhile but was appalled by the lack of emotion I felt most of the time, I was just coasting through my days and nothing really touched me. What most people diagnosed with ADD really need is attention. Let me explain. Attention Deficit Disorder is an apt name because it describes both the signs and the treatment. The subject has difficulty focusing on any one thing, emotion or idea at a time. This difficulty is demonstrated through displaying a sense of irritation. This can often be helped by continued assistance from someone who will listen to what they have to say or in other words pays attention, you see this person has a deficit of attention. I had a mother who listened to me all the time and that was the best medicine I had as a youth. I now have the best wife in the world who listens to be all the time and that has kept me improving for the 13 years we have been married. When someone else is there and is understanding of the problem it makes the person who has it feel less guilty for mistakes they make and feel like all of their thoughts aren’t just drifting off into the ether sphere to never be heard or seen again these feelings are a large part of the aggravation they display. They can actually matter to someone even if that person can’t remember all of the things that are shared. This improves their confidence to accomplish tasks and their overall drive rises. Like any disability understanding is a large part of the battle and not feeling like it is your fault is most of the rest of the battle. Not feeling like others are purposely ignoring you helps greatly as well.

People with ADD have neurons in their brain that firing too fast to be caught by the receptors. Most of the drugs that are administered slow the firing process down. This will calm down your average patient but it will also remove a lot of his/her creativity. Don’t get me wrong I am not adverse to medication. I also have asthma and other ailments so I have been taking medicines all of my life. But there are some medicines that are classified as mood altering drugs. ADD meds are in this group because although the primary goal is not to alter the patient’s mood, is it a primary result of the medication.

Try some REAL effort with your child, listening and trying to understand what they are talking about. You will find that your bond with them will increase and their need to communicate all of the time will ease. If they have the hyperactive element of the problem then find ways to let them get outside a lot of the time to get rid of the excess energy. If they are old enough then talk to them teach them what is wrong and what you can do to help them. Teach them that they are special in many ways. Most people with ADD are actually more intelligent than those around them and part of their problem is that they feel lost when no one understands them. Try harder to get what they are saying and they will learn ways to communicate with you better. I will admit there are those who are so stricken with this ‘disorder’ that they simply cannot function in society without some chemical help. However, I do not believe most are in that boat. If you are hesitant to dope up your child you are right to feel that way. Most of the kids diagnosed these days are the way they are simply because we have TV’s and other forms of entertainment media raising our kids and the frustration of not being heard builds up and is demonstrated in ways that appear to be ADHD. A kid can’t talk to a TV or a video game and get the love and affection he/she needs.

Be the parent your child needs. Try it you might like it.