ADHD without medication?
By tentwo67
@tentwo67 (3382)
United States
April 1, 2008 9:18am CST
We have been having issues with my son's focus in school and I have been trying to learn about ADHD in anticipation of the school perhaps suggesting that he be tested. I want to know all about it no matter what, because I believe that even if he's not ADHD he might benefit from some of what I can learn in this research.
With no judgement toward those who do medicate their children, I am really resistant to medicating my son if he ever was diagnosed ADHD. I wonder if anyone has any experience with alternative therapies. Can you offer me any advice?
Thanks in advance for sharing your stories with me. Good luck to us all!
3 responses
@yang_peralta (73)
• Philippines
8 Apr 08
my son who is 10 years old now never had any medication. we did undergo him to some therapy and enrolled him at a SPED school here in our place. i also came to know from adhd support group at yahoo that fish oil or omega 3 fatty acid helps improved concentration. i let him take it and he's showing improvement.
i do not want to take my son with any form of medication like ritalin, straterra, concerta and the like because there are some studies that these medicines do have side effects.
1 person likes this
@tentwo67 (3382)
• United States
22 Apr 08
I'm sorry for the delay in responding to your comment. Thank you so much for your insight. The school officially wants us to have him tested and I'm working on that, although I'm trying to do some research before I take him anywhere to find out who in my area will be less likely to try to push meds on him.
I've read about the omegas and fatty acids and trying to incorporate that. I've made some dietary changes, most notably getting him more protein in his breakfast. I'm turning into the scrambled egg queen in the AM. And we found a vitamin supplement in the health food store called "Attentive Child" that he's been taking for not quite a week now.
This is such an anxious situation. Thank you for responding. I appreciate it.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Well I have nothing to add I just had to come read the answers as my son is currently going thru the testing at school and well I feel the same as you very hesitant to medicate. But I do have friends who medicate their kids and it has made a difference.
@tentwo67 (3382)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I have one friend in particular whose son has done great with meds. I'm just scared of them. Good luck with your son and his testing. Is he 7? I remember that he rubs your head from the discussion about non-obvious shows of love. My son is almost 6 and I really don't think he is ADHD because he's able to focus quite well on what interests him, but it all scares me at this point. That's why I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Thank you for responding!
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Actually this one is 8. I have two boys and one on the way. My youngest has Autism so I have been in the special needs loop for some time. I had suspected ADHD for some time but was very hesitant to do the testing because his omfidence is so low already but I am at a point now where I know he needs the help. Good luck to you also the whole process can be a little daunting.
@auntiedis (165)
• United States
20 Aug 08
My youngest stepson is severe ADHD and High Functioning Autism. When we first were diagnosed, my husband was against the medication also. It came to a point where it was our marriage or simply trying the medicine, so he relented. (I also have a stepdaughter who is ODD and more than likely bipolar, but she's too young to diagnose, so it wasn't just my stepson that put my marriage on the rocks.)
Anyway, I digress....to make a long story short, we tried the medicine. The results were instantaneous and amazing. His focus improved, he started actually learning in school. At this time he was 5 (prek). He is now almost 7, and has made great strides even with the autism. There were no more tantrums, he could recall things he learned at school, it was just amazing. At home he could sit still through a meal, and it didn't take 2 hours to eat it!
I'm not saying medication is for everyone. But now that he's been taking the medication, even when he doesn't get it right on time, he has learned to COPE a bit, whereas before he was running wide open all the time. Everyone's situation is different, only you can advocate for your child.
My husband was against the medication because of his upbringing and the way he was parented (think back woods, don't believe in doctors and psychiatry and such). He had visions of our kids sitting on the couch like zombies. When he saw that wasn't the case, he was ok with it enough to try it right off when our daughter was diagnosed. It's made a world of difference on both accounts.
