Parents Forum

jtee · 04-17-2008, 04:57 PM

If you want to hear some parents telling their personal stories about dealing with children who have extreme behavioral problems, this is probably the best you'll find on the internet. It's dedicated parents who never quit while living a nightmare day after day, year after year.

You can stream it for free, or pay $1 and download the mp3.

This American Life

Lissa · 04-17-2008, 06:08 PM

I think the parents who think their kids should be on medication should be on medication.

musicmom · 04-17-2008, 06:08 PM

Alot of parents don't want to be bothered by their children and medicate them instead of working with them. I would never medicate my children for adhd. I believe there is always a way to communicate you just have to be persistant and find that way.
I agree that alot of the medications can have long term effects neurologically and a brain can depend so much on the drug that it can not function properly if taken off the meds so adults end up falling over the deep end.
I don't know what I would do in those situations but I do know I would try everything under the sun to help my child without medication first.

Teresa · 04-18-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMomma

I completely agree that there are cases that require medication. I met a girl that truly had ADHD and it was absolutely heartbreaking. It is very apparent when there is a true problem. Upon talking with her mother, I found that she was on meds and off meds and neither was really the best solution. She was really struggling with how to get the condition under control.

At the same time, I also see so many that are prescribed at the drop of a hat... before trying counseling... before trying a change in diet... before ruling out other factors. Including school systems declaring "your child gets meds or they don't come back to school." Now that frightens me.

It is the parents in the second group, and the schools like you mention, that make life VERY difficult for those of us who have children with true ADHD. We went through years of diet changes, behavior modification therapy, and every other kind of discipline and therapy that we could think of or that the counselor suggested. Then we had MRI, CAT scan, PET scan, EEG....and discovered that her brain doesn't "fire" properly without the assistance of her daily dose of medication. With it, she's a "normal" teenager....without it, she's angry, aggressive, impulsive, lying at the drop of a hat, stealing, inattentive, hyper, etc. She will need to take daily meds for the rest of her life to function in society.

HappyMomma · 04-18-2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teresa

It is the parents in the second group, and the schools like you mention, that make life VERY difficult for those of us who have children with true ADHD.

It really is a shame but so true.

I am very happy that you were finally able to resolve the problem and find happiness and balance in your family. That has to be such a difficult thing to go through.

Teresa · 04-18-2008, 06:59 AM

The first seven years of her life had a lot of horrible times, for all of us. She looks back now, remembers some of her behavior, and asks me how I ever kept from hating her. I told her she'll understand when she's a mom....that NOTHING could have ever made me hate her, no matter how frustrated/exasperated I got with her.

Juliem · 05-12-2008, 08:40 AM

This is a really sensitive subject. I do believe that there are certain children that maybe can be helped by medications. But I agree that there are way too many children using medications when they are not needed. Who do we blame for this problem? The parents of the doctors?

musicmom · 05-12-2008, 11:09 AM

Why would you medicate a growing brain? Who is to say it might slow it's growth and cause more damage later on? Or block important chemicals to get to other parts of the brain. I'm not a neurologist but medication on a child can not be vital unless the child is a harm to himself/herself or to others.

Teresa · 05-12-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmom

Why would you medicate a growing brain? Who is to say it might slow it's growth and cause more damage later on? Or block important chemicals to get to other parts of the brain. I'm not a neurologist but medication on a child can not be vital unless the child is a harm to himself/herself or to others.

Sometimes that growing brain can't function properly, because some of the chemicals needed are not present, and they have to be stimulated via the meds. A neurologist aided in our diagnosis and agreed that my dd should be on medication.

Would you deny a diabetic child their daily insulin because it might cause damage later on, or might impact other organs? Medicating a child with true ADHD is the same concept.

musicmom · 05-12-2008, 02:33 PM

A child can not die without adhd medication. So you point is not relevant.

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