I don’t know what to do. I have looked online and calling the dr on Monday. Does anyone have a young (5) year old with adhd? Ever questionnaire I have looked at or symptoms I have read I pretty much answer yes to every question. My husband is in denial something could be going on like adhd and says she’s just a kid. Her behavior and actions are effecting her at school, home, with family and with her sister. My question is does medication always need to be given when it is such a bad adhd or can therapy actually help? I just order a book on things I can do but nothing works. Calmly talk, timeouts, stand in corner, put all toys in bags and put outside, iPad taken away and even no dessert for a week! Her behavior is out of control. She bites her sister, always running around, never listens, can’t be calm at stores restaurants or even drs offices, never sits still, can’t do anything for more than a few minutes no matter what it is, and when she gets in trouble with in a hour she does the same thing she just in trouble for! I’m at a loss on what to do. I need advice and all the help I can get. Also how do I get my husband on board? Thanks in advance
No avoid the medication like the plaque trust me.
CBD! It’s a lifesaver and I highly recommend it over medicine. If you have any questions feel free to message me
ADHD is a chemical inbalance. As with any chemical inbalance if a person is unmedicated their brain neropathways with change over time. And I’m not saying that in a good way.
I was diagnosed at 43 and I cry thinking of what school COULD of been with meds. Don’t shortchange your child
I have a 7 year old who was diagnosed adhd at 5 an we don’t medicate its honestly up to u some do an some don’t if u have questions dm me
Its up to you and your child. What works for one child might not work for another. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. We did everything we could think of to help him but ultimately, once he started kindergarten, medication ended up being the solution. It’s like a night and day difference in his behavior. He’s still himself, and he’s not a zonked out zombie. He’s just able to control himself more and focus in school.
Yes medication can help. My son is ADHD and it’s been life changing since he’s been medicated.
My daughter was diagnosed at 8 and she was put on Vyvanse and I can’t explain how she has come along with everything. But that was our choice. It may not be right for your child though
No I was medicated it was hell
I’d try everything and exhaust every option before medicine but honestly there’s so many kids on medicine for adhd I was on it for a very long time as a child and it helped so much. The medicine might make life a little easier on the child too
Have you tried changing her diet? Red dye is a huge trigger for adhd and even kids without it
It depends on you and your child. My 6 year old has adhd and behavioral problems. She is medicated for both while we are in behavior therapy to give her the tools she needs and alternatives to her bad behaviors in hopes to ween her off the pills. She’s been on them since she was 4.
The medication is LIFE CHANGING. Do not hesitate to put them on meds just make sure it works for them.
Meds have ups and downs. With my son, we found that an anti-depression medication is what he actually needed. He went from really struggling in school to now having just about straight A’s. Behavior change has been huge too. Adderal and all the others just cause more problems for him.
I have ADHD & was unmedicated throughout school. I struggled VERY bad. I wish I would have been put on medicine to help me. I could’ve done and been SO much better
I’m 24 now and I am on medicine but still struggle badly. It doesn’t hurt to try and if it turns out not to be good for her then don’t continue it. 
Definitely avoid the medication at all cost. Certain ones make kids automatically addicted to cocaine. I heard a doctor speak of this several years ago on a health and wellness radio station I listen to.
Noope… I have one with ADHD he is now 10. And I have not medicate him.
You just have to educate yourself and see what works best for them.
I have a 7 year that was diagnosed at 4, he was out of control (adhd, ocd. O.D.D. and bipolar) we chose to medicate. And it has been a God send!
Just like anything else different things work for different kids/people.
Medication is the way for some and not for others. Everyone is different there is no one right path for you. Create stability in a routine and your child with thrive much more.
This is just MY opinion. Yes try medication. when she is physically hurting others it’s time for intervention.
I had severe adhd as a child. I failed out of school because it got to be overwhelming. I wish my parents would have put me on meds sooner. I finished school once I treated the adhd. My son has severe adhd and kept continuing to fall behind developmentally. And we tried all the removing red dye, green teas, coffee, extra time to run before and after school, and limiting sugars. He still struggled; we put him on medication, and immediately we knew we made the right choice. It’s a personal choice each family has to make. If you feel like medication would be helpful, then do that. But if you want to try other alternatives, do that too.
My grandson was diagnosed at 4 . ADHD and autistic. He takes meds. He is 9 now .
I’ve known my son was adhd since he was months old. I’m a teacher so maybe that’s a reason I was so Untuned with it. His dr doesn’t diagnose or Medicate until 6 or first grade. He never struggled in school academically but couldn’t focus for long. I tried every single natural supplements from $5-$300 and nothing worked long term. First meds I gave him dose was too high even his teacher said stop the meds so I stopped immediately. Second meds worked but it was only 4hrs so by lunch the teacher lost him. Switched it to same meds a little higher on the dose 6-8hrs long and OMG he’s a different kid in a positive way. Do I hate giving him meds? Absolutely. I dread it and I feel so bad but honestly in the end if you don’t do what is best for your child you don’t suffer they do. I’m not saying medication is the cure because it’s only a bandage just like someone with high blood pressure they need it right well with adhd they don’t produce enough dopamine so it’s a chemical imbalance. My husband was in denial as well and swore our son was just spoiled and didn’t take me seriously but we all see how much he has changed it such a positive way. Now is he a perfect child? No by the time he’s out of school the meds are out of his system and here and there he has little episodes or talks back but nothing like the fights and tears I’ve cried since he was a year old. If you have any questions DM me.
My baby is 5, and he’s been diagnosed with adhd. I was iffy on the medication, tried them, then took him off. Now his behavior is affecting his schooling again and he’s been on one at home as well, and I recently decided to put him back on the medication. I’ve been considering some behavior therapy as well to help him with his “bad choices.”
Have a doctor decide if he needs meds though. Not a school. Some schools try to push it.
.
I tried everything. Exhausted every option. Changed diet, gave caffeine, took out food coloring, changed to gluten free diet, brain vitamins,adhd vitamins, attention vitamins, vitamin droppers. We did behavioral therapy 3x a week in addition to family therapy. She still does individual therapy weekly. Researched and researched. Ultimately, by her choice we medicated by grade 2. It is not a fix all but it has helped her tremendously. It had been a complete life changer for her… for the better. Honestly, if I was to have another child with ADHD. I would probably not wait as long as I did and watch them struggle for as long as I did with my daughter. Just do your own research. Ultimately, you know your child best. Good luck mama❤️
Be careful. There are 3 dif families of meds for ADHD. Ive tried all 3 with one of my kids. Found straterra worked best. Vyvanse kept kid up half the night. Folcaline (redline family) made kid both look and act like kid was on drugs. Lost 10 lbs in a mth. Every one reacts dif to dif meds. Did try omega childrens dha vitamin of which helped. It does take few mths to kick in like some meds do. Not cheap, about 25 a bottle and can be found at gnc store. Kid started meds in kindergarten and stopped when puberty hit. Did dha vitamin by itself but got expensive for me at time so meds, where ins covered it, is where ended up Was shaky for few yrs after stopped meds but is stable now still with no ADHD meds and is working.
And about your husband being on board include him in every meeting but with me my husband lets me make the decisions when it comes to schooling even tho I ask for his opinions but he says he knows I always make the right choices and knows what’s best for our children. But like I mentioned he was not on board at all and he basically told me I no your going to give him the meds regardless of what I say but now he’s like I understand and see how much it’s helping him and I’m glad you have stuck behind him all these years noticing what none of us did.
My Dr had the teacher and I both fill out this assessment. nichq vanderbilt highly recommended
First step is getting a formal diagnosis (it may not be adhd at all- may be something that mimics it). Adhd needs diagnosis to be able to get medication usually. Therapy helps alongside medication. You don’t have to medicate if you dont want to but personally I find medication helps my boy alot.
I agree medication and therapy are probably the best way to treat her. As for your husband, he needs to go to the doctor with you and your child. Maybe it will help him understand. Even that might not convince him. There’s no quick process and like any other medical issue it’s forever.
My daughter is adhd. She could not focus at all and things were just getting worse. She was put on Vyvanse and things have gotten so much better. She’s getting As on her tests now and is able to actually focus. Main thing is if u decide to medicate you might have to try different meds and dosages to find what is best.
Consider herbs. Earthley has a calm & clarity tincture
I have ADHD and the doctor didn’t want to medicate me when I was young because of his own personal beliefs about it (he was a GP not a psychiatrist but my mum trusted him obviously not knowing any better) and I suffered so badly for it socially, educationally and emotionally/mentally. You still need to do things as well as medication but yes if my girl had ADHD and medication was needed I wouldn’t hesitate at all.
Why wouldn’t you medicate if it makes your household run smoother? I’m sure the child gets sick of getting in trouble.
Sounds like a typical 5 year old 
you can’t know for sure at this age. Most doctors don’t give meds under 6 for adhd. I would talk to your pediatrician about it
My daughter is 11 and when she was in the first grade for the second time we decided to have her tested we put her on apitisio not sure of spelling but it helped majorly with school but she only took it during the school year well this year we decided not to medicate her and to our surprise she’s done amazing all a’s and they do say that they can grow out of it which I believe she did.
My oldest son was on meds they took the spark out of him & he chose when he entered high school to go off of them, I worked with him on learning breathing techniques to help him… When my youngest son was diagnosed we chose not to medicate him we worked on diet cutting foods with Salicylates was a huge help the big one was cutting all apples & any product with apples in them it was like a light switch went off! Even his teachers noticed a huge difference! It’s a personal choice but in my opinion medicating children should be an absolute last result!
Sounds pretty normal for a 5 year old. Im sure if she does get an adhd diagnosis, the doctor will discuss all of your options with you. And try to bring your husband for the appointments so he’s aware of it all.
If you had a diabetic child with a need for insulin would you keep it from them? ADHD is a disease and must be treated. In education I have seen so many students that are not on meds because the parents are afraid but in reality they are holding their child back from their full potential.
Of course talk to your doctor. My son is 8. He takes melatonin at bedtime and cbd oil twice a day. It helps him so much
Not the same, was anxiety and depression, but my childhood life reset my chemical balance in my brain for emotions. My dr at 18 realized I had rebuilt a different way and I was struggling bad. Did a round of medication to reset the pattern, took about three years. And then I worked on slowly going off and the positive effect it had was amazing.
Are you giving her individual attention?
Get a Dr opinion and have child tested. It is the schools responsibility to help you with this meds work wonders for many children
It’s not necessary. It can change the whole kid. I knew kids who pretty much vegged out after they’d had their meds. It’s really kid dependent. But it’s difficult to self-diagnose, especially a 5 yr. old.
My son started meds at age 6. He was held back in kindergarten for not retaining enough.
You dont NEED to. For some kids its helpful, theres natiral ways too, high dha omega, cutting out all dyes can help too. Not everyone wants to medicate though, so no you dont need to, its a personal choice
My 5 year old has been having out bursts of anger at school for the past 3 weeks he has his good days and bad, bad days he goes from 1-100 real quick and he ends up in the office. I talked to his teacher and principal I told them I think he might have adhd and the assistant principal pretty much told me no its anger issues which I did not agree with. I was told to reach out to his doctor get him an appointment. The school told me they’ll put him through testing to see where he’s at and if he needs a IEP, The staff will have a meeting as well, and I got him signed up for summer school since he has Fallen behind in kindergarten. His dad and I talk to him everyday before and after school about being good and making right choices. We even when the route of taking tablet away, and his tv in his room away and YouTube it didn’t change we even do time out, I’m stressing out because I just want him to do good in school. I tell him on the good days I’m so proud of him, he gets so happy and we say tomorrow we’ll do the same thing but nope something has to be triggering his out bursts in class.
My daughter is 14 she has been on medication since she was 5yr old. The school gave me a chose to get her on medicine or home school her she wasn’t focusing. She was starting food fights drawing on walls etc. Just 2yr ago she was diagnosed with being a high functioning Artistic. I’m not going to lie its a long and rough road. Be patient with her as well with yourself. But it’s so worth it in the end. But daughter had out grown all her day meds. She only takes night meds now it does get better but it’s alot of hard work too get there.
I personally decided to go the medication route because I tried everything else and it didn’t works and it was becoming a safety issue for himself .
Diet. How’s her diet? Google “ADHD and gut health”
I’ve learned alot about this… If you have any quick let me know
If it’s affecting school I would definitely consider medication after consulting with a doc. I hate to see kids struggle in school and it’s not even their fault.
We never put our son on medication but our doctor did give us things that we could change to make it easier. there’s a bunch of special diets you can go on that help, Taking away all red food coloring so anything with red diy in it, Put in them in a activity that makes their brain actually tired to be able to focus on other things is very important, Stay away from everything that is not a natural sugar. We went through this when he was in 2nd grade and the teacher could even notice a huge difference.
Has your husband talked to a doctor about adhd? Sometimes hearing it from someone else and having it explained will help him understand what the medication can do and exactly what the diagnosis means
I have adhd and hated my pills growing up so my mom didn’t force me I’m fine
I am just popping in to say that just bc she is a child does NOT mean she does not have the RIGHT of medical management of an illness. Do you have to be on edge all the time? Do you have to have constant and crippling anxiety or bordem? Do you have to live with being out of control of your own body and mind? No. No you don’t. Your daughter does. If she needs medication, it’s not an option!
Your personal bias or stigmas are irrelevant. It’s your job to do what’s best for your kid whether you like it or not and she is obviously suffering.
If it is frustrating you, think how the child feels that can’t control actions. I have a nephew who is on a light dose. Really helps. He tells his Mom, but Mommy I am trying to be good I just can’t!
Have the child tested by the school, and if you can afford it, by an independent educational psychologist. The information you get from those two should tell you whether an evaluation by a physician for medical issues or medication is recommended. Whatever happens, you guys need FAMILY therapy, so that ALL of you are on the same page.
Both my boys have been on meds since they were 5 or 6. My oldest is very adhd and without meds his life school work home would be terrible. It’s hard for him to function without meds. They also cannot sleep without meds.
My son has adhd and he was having problems with school being affected. He goes to therapy but he was also put on medication which seems to help alot.
Sounds like a normal child of that age. Kids are not robots and have a ton of energy (tons!!) Medicating into submission isn’t the way to go IMO 
ADHD Whisperer is a great page to join.
Medicated
We cut out some foods… sugar free…
No mpreservatives
No tomato sauce
No strawberries
Our son finished year 12 & passed 
He’s an amazing adult now…
Been there done this our son is 30 years old this year
Every kiddo is different and you should do whats best for yours. My son has ADHD and we tried medicine and it made him miserable. He was able to sit still but the side effects far outweighed the benefits and we tried more than one medication before deciding to just stick to a strict routine healthy meal planning. Was it perfect no, was he happy and still doing better yes.
If all her impulses are driving you nuts, imagine being in her head. She has NO control over herself right now. If medication is needed… then it’s needed. It’s your job as the parent to give her what she needs.
My 11 year old is autistic and has ADHD. He takes Adderall twice a day to make it through school. He can tell by the evening when it has warn off. And he gladly will tell people who comment about his meds… that they help him be his best self.
You wouldn’t want to fight with yourself in your own head… kids shouldn’t have to either.
My son is 6 and his ADHD started affecting his concentration and learning within school. We were able to put it off until he started kindergarten. He currently only takes one pill in the morning and it usually wears off around 4PM and we do not give him a second dosage instead we have him in afternoon activities to release his energy naturally. He is in swim, basketball, and art.
I have noticed such a difference in his school work and his comprehension of what he is learning. He told me mommy my brain isn’t running all the time… so my guess is is that it was extremely hard for him to focus on one task at hand and actually comprehend it. Now, he can do so in school and I think it’s built his confidence.
My son has never had extreme behavior issues/outbursts and he is a great kid in school. He is just hyper and wasn’t comprehending anything he was learning. So, I believe every child is different. My nephew takes a morning and afternoon pill we decided his hasn’t gotten so bad we need an afternoon dose. I try to have everything consistent within his schedule and we don’t take breaks after school because then completing homework gets too hard so we get home from school he usually wants a snack and we go into finishing his two or three worksheets for the day.
I would wait for a proper diagnosis from a professional doctor before even thinking about medicating your child!! It could just simply be she has no ears like my son 
don’t always assume because your child is naughty they have a disability!
Go get her tested and then go from there
Itcoukd be more than adhd.
Have an allergy blood test done. She could be allergic to sugar and red food dyes. Or other foods. They do differently with children than adults. I know a Mt.Dew will calm them instead of hyper them. But, talk to the Dr about magnesium supplements as they calm the nerves as well as niacin. But in a child you need a Vitamin Panel first. She’s is being a child. It’s normal behavior for her age. But, definitely look into allergies to foods.
My daughter has adhd and these gummies where recommended to me and they made a world of difference. She was also doing the same thing you described your daughter doing and with these gummies it changed everything. She can focus, changed her attitude, happier, and is enjoying school again and in trouble less. They are organic and worth every penny! They have other stuff too but these ones help the most and the reviews are helpful too with other parents sharing how things where before and after the gummies.
It could be something other than ADHD. The same symptoms for ADHD are also the same symptoms with OCD, ADD, etc. ADHD is so overly diagnosed, and usually, it’s diagnosed to people who don’t even have ADHD. So, the child gets doped up on Adderall, which has small forms of methamphetamine in it, and the child doesn’t even need it. So, it doesn’t help.
Sounds like undiagnosed autism
Dairy, red dies, gluten allergies… check first. Many meds did not work. Does he have night terrors where he can’t find you…anxiety. every child is different and different meds work differently. Good luck
Amphetamines ( usually prescribed for adhd ) are …. A little to close to illegal drugs for a kid to be on (personal opinion )
These meds are also relatively still new so long term effects on the brain are still being researched .
I am not trying to shame anyone , I think it’s just wise to be educated before taking any med .
God luck !
No, children with a diagnosis of ADHD dont ‘need’ to be medicated.
Paediatrician, tell them your daughter has ADHD and go from there! Tell them how your daily routine is and what your daughter is like, how she acts, if she has trouble sleeping etc. good luck!
Be careful of misdiagnoses. Sometimes in girls autism (ASD) presents as adhd. She might be high functioning and masking with other things. My daughter was said to be adhd abd finally at 11 was diagnosed properly. Now with the right therapies we have made progress.
My experience is not always. Each kid is different. The meds would work for part of the school day as a zombie, and since most meds are once a day the rest of the day was pure hell. It was worse on the meds. So weigh all options and try meds out and see how it goes and then decide what’s best for your child.
They tried to tell me my son needed meds I refused because I know it was just a behavior problem he’s now 22 years old and doing better then anyone I know his age and doesn’t have ADHD I would say least wait for an actual diagnosis from a trusted Dr
First try to engage her in sports. Secondly it takes time to diagnose someone, so better to talk to a child psychiatrist.
My son is 9 and have always felt something was going on. I finally did research myself and fig it was either ODD or ADHD. I got him diag by a NeroPsychologist and he has a combo of adhd, depression, anxiety and dyslexia. He was struggling in school and life. He was being distructive. Couldn’ t sit for more then 15mins. The tests they did were 4-5hrs. My son isn’t medicated. Previously to having him diag I made changes like took away you tube bcz goodness was that making it worse. I did notice changes in his behavior. Once I looked more into it I started to change his diet as well. I consulates with a therapist and she reccomended coping skills which has belped tremendoiously. I try my best to have him in bed by 9pm ,make sure he has breakfast every morn, drinks lots of water, put him in a jui jitsu class to help release energy. High protien diet, vitamins w /zinc and magnisium, not yell at him much and give him time to collect himself when he is feeling over stimulated mental breaks. His teacher even noticed the diff. I can not ask him to do more then 2 things bcz he will forget as it doesnt interest him. For school I got him a band for his chair to help him relax when he is feeling over stimulated he can bounce hi feet on. Some ppl recommend a bounce ball to sit on.
They say there is certain food they can’t have
Your husband could be right. She might be a regular 5 year old. I didn’t give my son his medicine because it made him act weird or sit like a zombie. Just let him do sports or whatever to keep him occupied & he’s a great 23 yo young man. I’m so proud if him. Some kids are just more hiper than others.
Try giving her an outlet that wears her out. Some sort of sport or extracurricular activity. Let your pediatrician know all of these things and together hopefully you can figure something out. Good luck
Check into changing the foods and getting rid of ingredients… Like red 40
Im feeling you alot were going through this with our 3 year old they want to test her for autism adhd is in my family my eldest was diagnosed at 7 she’s having a trial without her medication for the last month due to puberty she has her moments ill soon see what her school report says but my 3 year old has been a terror turd and has been having mini seizures but they are trying to say because we are saying there seizures to dismiss it we have been recording her doing it were waiting for westmead to contact us they want to put her on melatonin and this clorontin but she sleeps fine
I guess I wonder if your kid was diabetic, would you deny them insulin? I don’t understand the stigma of mental health. Change the course of their life before the child gets so far behind academically and socially , they have difficulty catching up . Why make them suffer longer than necessary?? My daughter said once she got on meds it was like “someone turned off all the noise in her head”. She’s a senior now and college bound but she’s also weaned herself down in the past 1-2 years and only takes it as she needs it and we let her decide but also monitor closely. Once diagnosed, having a 504 in place will carry them through school and help them to achieve their goals. Reading all the comments here from adults who suffered and wonder what their life would have been like if given the proper medical treatment, truly saddens me. Best of luck 
I’m not sure how your state handles it but in Illinois where I’m at a child can’t be medicated or even diagnosed adhd until 6 or very very close to 6.
I was the grandmother that said no absolutely not but when he started school was always in trouble failing grades because he couldnt sit still and his mind couldnt stay focused he was failing finally I think 3rd grade his mom gave in took him tested medicine he is a different child in school the medication helps him stay still and focused and does sooo much better at school
My 6 yr old son is ADHD!! We tried everything before medication and nothing worked for him!! He was getting in trouble at school for being disruptive in class cuz he couldn’t sit still, making noises, never finishing his work, couldn’t focus, and more things… the school even tried to help him cope and nothing I did or the school did worked!! So after talking to his AMAZING pediatrician and him telling me myths and facts about stimulate medication, we decided to try it and it has made a huge difference in my son… he doesn’t get in trouble, finishes his work, is able to sit still and focus… he himself even said he feels SOOO much better and wants to keep taking the medication!!
My daughter has ADHD and was diagnosed at 5. I was very hesitant about taking her to the Dr and putting her on meds. She was exhibiting many of the behaviors you are saying and what convinced me was when she told me “Mom, I’m just not a good kid, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain, too many people think it’s not a real disease but it has physical implications on the brain that your baby cannot control. When I finally did take my daughter to the Dr, the Dr described many behaviors my daughter does that I didn’t even think was related to ADHD! Take your child to the Dr and let them be evaluated. It does not mean anything bad about your child if they take medicine to help with their medical condition. Recent studies have actually come out that when kids get on ADHD meds sooner their brains that are more similar to a non-ADHD brain than adults who got on ADHD meds later in life. The only thing I would be careful on is what kind of meds the Dr decides to put them on. Some drs are pill pushers and will try to push drugs that are stronger than needed. Also there are non stimulant meds that are an option as well. Just be sure to ask your Dr bout all the options you have. Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin are much stronger stimulants than concerta or focalin and shouldn’t be the first meds that a 5 year old should be put on.
I’m not medicating my children with addictive pharmaceuticals.
Play therapy, therapist.
I’ve raised a sister with adhd, I have a child with adhd, I have a child with TS, OCD and SPD.
You can’t just decide that your child has ADHD or any other diagnosis so medication shouldn’t even on the table yet. No doctor will prescribe anything or even consider anything until you have an official evaluation done by a qualified psychologist. If she’s in school and the school has brought any of this to your attention, you have the right by federal law to request that the school district itself has the evaluation done. However you go about it, you need an evaluation before you question anything else. These behaviors could be indicative of MANY disorders/ diagnoses, or trauma, or yes even food allergies. It could be sensory processing disorder, ADHD, disorders that may eventually lead to ODD, the list goes on. No one can figure this out but a professional that is specializes in and is trained to diagnose children of this age. Until you have a diagnosis everything else is a moot point.
Which behaviors are you witnessing that you are wanting to change?
My kids been on it since 5
Literally no one in my home is neurotypical.
My oldest (8) has SEVERE adhd combined type, HF ASD, and mild ODD. The ODD is really only “present” when his adhd medication has worn off since for him it is completely rooted in lack of impulse control. He is medicated and has been since he was 5.
My youngest (4) has ADHD, primarily inattentive type and SPD. He is unmedicated.
I have ADHD and i wasn’t diagnosed until adulthood. As a child, pre-teen, and teenager…i self-medicated with caffeine (soda at first…then soda and coffee…then soda, coffee, and energy drinks) I was also (probably) what is often referred to as twice-exceptional. Meaning i was really intelligent in a couple areas…and had ADHD. The two cancelled each other out as far as notice from adults went. I was also really good at “masking”. As an adult i’ve self-medicated with caffeine as well as nicotine (unfortunately) when i was finally diagnosed…it was because gestational diabetes led to type two diabetes. Soda and energy drinks were off the table. I mistook my adhd symptoms for PPD/PPA. Primary put me on an SSRI and i was awake for DAYS…and in a constant state of “panic” stopped them. Went to psych…and here we are. I do still self-medicate with caffeine. Here’s the thing, yes i self-medicated but it was inconsistent for starters and I still struggled A LOT. More than i should have. I often wonder…what would have happened if I’d been diagnosed and treated as a child.
My husband has ADHD and he is medicated, but it’s through medical marijuana and energy drinks for chronic.
The first thing I want to say here is that while medication is a big decision? They’re not inherently bad. They don’t increase a child’s chances of suffering from addiction in the future (actually someone with adhd that is untreated/undiagnosed has a higher chance of having an addiction due to self-medicating) and utilizing medication is not a reflection on you as a parent. Like if she needs medication? Its not because of a failure on your part.
The second thing i want to say is that everyone is different. My oldest child was put on medication because it was needed for his safety. The first time we saw the doctor…he had a circular cut beside his eye. He was in our closet dancing around. We warned him to be careful because one of the rods was hollow…he looked at it…then 30 seconds later danced into it. His attention rate was 30 seconds at best. He was running into roads. We saw elopement. We saw these massive meltdowns. climbing on everything. He’d get hurt doing something (that we’d told him not to do) and then turn around and still do the thing 20 minutes later. We’d tried all the “natural” things. I’ll be honest, we did see some improvement with caffeine, but it was short lived and inconsistent.
So. Medication.
He is not a zombie. He eats. He runs. He plays. He gets excited. In some ways i would argue that he is more himself on hid medication than off of it.
Off of it? He literally has no impulse control. He cannot focus to the point he literally can’t “see” things that are right there in front of his face. He’s so hyper that he is all over the place. He ignores his own bodily cues (using the restroom. thirst. hunger.) Even when he realizes hes hungry? off of medication…he struggles to just sit down and eat…and if we let him roam around while eating? He will forget that he’s supposed to be eating.
The doctor that initially prescribed his medication at 5…doesn’t ordinarily prescribe until at least 6, but because safety was such a huge factor he advised it for our son’s safety.
We couldn’t even try counseling until he was medicated because it’s like he wasn’t even there.
Now. Here’s another interesting tidbit, there is a possibility that as he gets older and naturally develops more impulse control and other coping strategies that he will be able to come off of medication and really utilize more natural things (like coffee)
Personally i would say for you…
- Have a real conversation with the doctor and ask questions any questions or concerns you have. Be open and honest about them.
- When it comes time to make a decision about medication…think about your child first. Think about she needs and let that be the biggest factor.
- Also remember, medication has come a long way. While stimulant medication is the most common (because accross the board it has the most consistenet success) many children (and adults) are able to utilize non-stimulant adhd medication (my nephew is one)
Stop looking online for answers, those medication are going to make her way worse then what your dealing with. Those meds are posing the body.