How to properly raise ADHD and ADD kids and youth - From a 20Y/O ADD Adult

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I apologize in advance, my thoughts are very unorganized and generally all over the place. I have so much to write about this subject but I’m trying to keep it short. Anyways, read on, sorry for the lengthy topic though. After seeing a lot of parents asking for info and advice about what to do with their ADD and ADHD children. Here's just a bunch of thoughts, ideas and suggestions on the subject. I know there are many deviations, and every kid is different. These are just compiled from personal events and my life in general. Just a bit about myself though; I am a 20 year old male, I've been on Ritalin and Dexedrine since grade 4. I've gone through a lot during my short 20 years, I just hope I can help a bit. Here you go:I'll start with the different medication's I've taken and that I know a bit about. Ritalin: Ritalin is the first medication I was put on in grade 4 for my ADD. It worked great at the time. I could concentrate and do all my work like every other kid. It basically slowed everything down for me. My mind wasn't racing anymore, I could just sit and focus on one thing at a time. Ritalin worked fine for me up until grade 9. I was noticing I was becoming more and more... Sketchy, i guess you could say. If felt like I had way too much caffeine. I could still work amazingly and get things done fast, however, the feeling of being on too much speed wasn't that appealing to me. The side effects I noticed with Ritalin were; very dry mouth, and a loss of appetite. After Ritalin, I switched to Dexedrine. Dexedrine: Dexedrine has a lot of the same effects as Ritalin. However, at the time, I didn't feel like I was on speed. I felt normal, except the fact that I could actually concentrate. Dexedrine does still have speed in it; however, I didn't notice the effects of it as much. I am still on Dexedrine; however the effects have changed dramatically. I am currently on Dexedrine, the effects right now are; The feeling of being on speed, restlessness, loss of appetite, dry mouth, hard to sleep. However, I can still concentrate and complete tasks better than I ever could without the medication. With my current position working midnights, I find the added boost the medication gives me, makes it a lot easier to get through the night. For me, this medication reacts a LOT to caffeine; it's like having a few espressos’ after just one cup of coffee. Also, Dexedrine makes me more emotional than usual. Not in a bad way though. It generally makes me a lot happier, more loving, and more attentive. I’m as happy as a clam when I’m on Dexedrine. Adderol: I do not take Adderol; however, my mom has taken Ritalin, Dexedrine and is currently on Adderol. She tells me that the Adderol makes her feel like the Dexedrine did, but without all the negative side-effects. What I've noticed with the Ritalin and the Dexedrine is that if I eat enough food, the side-effects go away. These medications require food to be in the system in order to work properly, most people overlook this suggestion. Food needs to be consumed with this medication; it will make a big difference. My thoughts and views: Ok, all that being said. How do you deal with a kid that has ADD or ADHD? The main things are love and attention. I’ll refer to ADD and ADHD kids as just ADD, it will save my fingers a bit ? Us ADD kids aren’t that different than every other kid. We just have a different though process. Instead of doing steps 1 through 10, we look at step 1, wonder why we’re doing this, think of better things we could be doing, get something to drink, actually read the question, then proceed to answer the question. Repeat 9 more times. It’s a long hard process ? Medication really helps this though. We can answer the question; however the way it’s presented is really dull and doesn’t really challenge us that much. ADD kids are generally very hands on and want to find out everything about everything. Let me guess, all you folks that have and ADD kid usually have to buy new electronics often due to them being disassembled, then duct-taped back together. Give us a break. That stuff is more complicated then it looks, and duct tape fixed everything… Right? A suggestion is to buy cheap stuff like this at yard sales and give them to your son/daughter to mess around with. Make sure they know all the safety issues though. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been electrocuted… Also, please let them know. Bottle rockets do actually work and the use of them in a bedroom is generally a bad idea. Where was I? Oh yes, something about curiosity. As a baby, I was more outgoing and more inquisitive than most the other kids. One incident involved trying to eat a cactus, and continually knocking my grandma’s plants all over the place. I swear, there was treasure buried in the pots… As I got older, ADD became more and more of a problem, not only did I have ADD, but I also needed glasses. Talk about a natural born geek… After starting on Ritalin in grade 4, as well as getting glasses, my marks improved dramatically. I shot into an 80%+ average. Sorry if this is becoming an auto-biography, I’ll try to deviate form that a bit. Anyways. This whole time, I hade crazy things I wanted to do. Things I wanted to make, build and experiment with. As parents, you need to support your ADD kid as much as possible. Get play-do, building blocks, instruments, anything that will stimulate our minds. We are generally artists and builders at heart. I think this is because there’s no structure in either of them. You create anything you want, no structure, no rules. It’s VERY freeing. As your ADD kid gets into his/her teens they’re going to want to do more than just build little things. Their ideas grow as they do. They will have very high goals and dreams they want to accomplish. NEVER, I repeat, NEVER, tell them they cannot do something. If they believe they can accomplish something and have a dream they want to attain, support them. They will have hundreds of ideas, most of them will come and go, but when one sticks, help them in anyway you can to support them. Mentally, and financially. They need to get this out of their system. I’m 20 and I feel like I’m having a mid-life crisis already because there’s a million things I want to do and I don’t feel there’s enough time. Basically, if you aren’t 100% concerned about grades, money, and pushing your child to their limit, and care more about your and your child’s happiness, then take the following advice. Life is too short and there are so many things to be concerned about. Talk to your kids, experiment with different medications, let them pick what one they feel works the best. Support them in what they want to do with their life. Guide them, don’t push them. Let them make their own mistakes and learn from them. My mom did all of this and I honestly couldn’t be as happy as I am with life right now if it weren’t for her love and support. She guides me, gives me information, and her opinion about everything I could possibly need help with. She let me make my own mistakes and live my own life. She hasn’t forced me to go to university, however has suggested it would be a good idea (which I agree with). She has been mentally and financially supportive with everything I’ve wanted to do. I really look up to her now, and we have a great relationship. Anyways. That’s my spiel. If you have any specific questions about anything, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help you out. Cheers.