Silver Lining

[Mamayogi]

Hello,

I am brand new to this group. My child was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I suspected for a while before testing that something was going in for him based on behaviors/symptoms. We are going to begin medication in the near future.

I am also a single parent. While I have a very good support team for myself I still at times feel lonely as I am the sole legal guardian for my child.

Ultimately I’m looking to hear your success stories at being diagnosed and doing a combination of treatments. I want to enjoy my sons childhood. I’m just really overwhelmed with the research and all the work I’ve been doing to try and help him.

If you’re still with me I also need a list of good resources to help introduce his diagnosis to him.

Thank you so much!!

[Onthemove1971]

You are so welcome here!! I love your attitude and it sounds like you are willing to do what is recommended.

I can tell you a success ( I never Imagined I would ne writing this when our son was in middles school), our son is a senior in high school. He has been on medication, therapy, tons of exercise and an educational plan. This journey has had ups and downs.. this group has been here to support me along the way.

Our son started out on stimulant medication by his Pediatrician, which helped a little bit.. then we were referred to a child psychiatrist. Once we started to see her, she recommended that we introduce a non-stimulant ( I almost died) but I trusted her. She would call me and help me with the adjustments of medication. She wrote us a letter when there was trouble supporting our son. Once he adjusted to everything and we got into high school ( with an educational plan). Maturity helped a lot, but also supporting him helped a lot.

Many struggles along the way. But he recently filled out his application for college and he wrote about his ADHD.. Wow.. he talked about using his struggles as a positive part of himself.

He has worked so hard and is on track to graduate. He has also accepted an offer to play high level sports at a University.

I write this to encourage you to provide: medication, therapy and an educational plan. It doesn't all happen at once, but once you get things set up your child has the tools to be successful.

We are always here to support you when you are feeling bad or need support. Best of luck!

[Mamayogi in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you so much! Definitely a great story and makes me feel optimistic! Congrats on your story!

[Hidden in reply to Onthemove1971]

Hello. Exactly what kind of therapy did you get for your son?

[Mamayogi in reply to Hidden]

Hi!

To be honest before his diagnosis his individual therapy was based on goals I helped set with his therapist. But until he started Occupational Therapy about six months after I didn’t feel like therapy was really helping because the sessions felt like they weren’t translating to home well. OT really helped identify what he was lacking was being able to self regulate (which I know now goes hand in hand with his diagnosis). Now with his diagnosis from a completely separate provider than his therapist or OT we are definitely focused at therapy on coping skills and identifying his feelings. I love that his therapist also now sends him out with a list of what they worked on and what we can work on at home after each session. Hope that helps!

[Hidden in reply to Mamayogi]

It helps so much. Thank you!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Hidden]

He did individual therapy and I was with him. Now I go with him, but sit in the waiting room.

The reason I attended the sessions is because I would say, " remember when you did X", then the therapist would say because you did X, Y happened how could you do that different. or the consequence of that is...

If he attended alone he would not discuss anything or say anything was wrong.

It really helped us.

[Hidden in reply to Onthemove1971]

Onthemove1971, so it was more pychotherapy? Not occupational or ABA?

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, psychotherapy. He has never needed OT or ABA. Medication has helped so much.

[Brazilianmom in reply to Onthemove1971]

Reading this made me cry and gave me hope . So happy for your son and you ! Thanks for sharing

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Brazilianmom]

We had some very very dark horriable times and I would ( like many moms) stay awake crying at night. One thing I did every night no matter how bad things were, I told him I loved him. I said I do not accept his behavior, but I love him...

We did also add tutors to help him with school and that has helped so much with school.

[WYMom]

My daughter's 3rd grade teacher told me she was stupid. By 4th grade, with medication, she was top of her class.

You can do it!!

[Ejcox2002 in reply to WYMom]

This resonates so much to me personally....

I was written off at school. Told I wouldn't achieve anything etc etc. Told I wouldn't go to college...

I graduated with too market

I became a teacher

I now work as a senior leader delivering some of the largest sporting events in the world!

Along way to go, I know! But ADHD is a superpower.... You can and they can do it!

[ADHDuderino in reply to WYMom]

Your daughters 3rd grade teacher needs to be doing a different job if this is their response to a neurodivergent/struggling child! I think it is a demonstration of amazing restraint not to have "reacted" very negatively to this, kudos to you!( I cannot say I would have gone out of my way to "rectify" their choice of career!) No child is "stupid" (dont get me wrong, all children act idioticaly in their ignorance, they do seemingly stupid stuff all the time! But everything is an experiment, their own version of scientific method and rarely with any hypothesis in place!😵‍💫 Thats why we parent/educate them, so they dont struggle with it all alone!