The running and the laughing you're describing sounds very familiar. I have three boys with ADHD and one of my boys in particular behaves this way. It's as though he's on a different speed than everyone else. I found that giving him a reason to run was helpful so that the excess energy he has during the day is not only used, but also his running became a positive thing instead of a negative thing. I enrolled him in a city soccer team when he was five and was first diagnosed with ADHD. Extra energy can be used up with playing outside, riding a bike, a scooter, swinging on a swing, all kinds of physical activities.
This son is now 13 and in 8th grade. He is on ADHD medications which has helped with the uncontrollable laughing that you are talking about. When he's doing the laughing it was a sign to me that my son was getting too hyper and having a hard time staying in control of his impulses. The medication helped to bring those impulses down to a more manageable level. Not perfect, but to where his thoughts weren't racing so fast.
Please don’t be sad and worry about the future too much. Be in the moment with your son. What we do now will help them in their future.
Have him assessed, learn as much as you can about him. I went to a paediatrician, a phychologist, a chiropractor an osteopath, a naturopathic Dr. and a private occupational therapist. I gathered input from all of them. I learned so much about my son. Especially that he is wired differently. The OT helped me see and understand his sensory issues SPD things that I was trying to control or change. Now I understand what they mean. She gave us a sensory diet and for his school to implement as well. This alone has made great progress.
I feel the frustration and worry you are going through although I have learned that this is a journey and a long one. Success comes in little steps. There is no quick fix or miracle drug. Our children are different and that is okay. We have to step up and raise these brilliant little miracles and yes it’s mentally draining and scary at times. Little steps.
Most importantly I learned to look at my son from his eyes and his world. This is how I make a connection with him. When your son starts laughing and running try to smile and laugh with him run around with him and then see how he connects with you. Go into his world, play with him. It makes a huge difference. I even jump on the trampoline with him. Also take him outside in nature when ever you can this is essential.
We have a joyfully exhausting job as mothers and our kids are the biggest learning curve ever.
One example is my son needs Oral motor input. He puts things in his mouth. At school he was putting everything in his mouth and chewing on it.
I was trying to stop him but what I learned is that this sensory for him provides a stimulus he needs to feel balanced and calmed. He is self medicating. So now he has a necklace that he can chew on. I got it from a company called munchables. The chewing actually calms him.
He has tactile isuues and needs to touch everything. So now he gets fidgets in school that he can use. He also needs heavy weighted activities. This is the proproceptive input. I signed him up at a ninja gym where he needs to use his body against things. Way more effective than a group sport. He also gets body breaks as needed at school and there is an exercise bike in hallway he can use.
Read about SPD in kids and you may see some connections.
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