this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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ADHD
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Just got my six year old diagnosed and we are learning how to help her develop strategies to deal with it. For now, we're keeping meds on the back burner, but anyone have more recent experience with meds as a child? My husband wasn't diagnosed until he was an adult and we don't want to immediately start with meds or use his coping method of Adderall and copious amounts of caffeine.
Out of curiosity is there a particular reason you're avoiding meds for them other than the stigma associated with stimulants? It's a first-line treatment for ADHD not a last resort.
Never been on anything except for ssri's, over the counter stimulants and alcohol. But I recall one of my first girlfriends was ADHD and on Adderall. She would skip it because she said it made her feel like a zombie.
I think you replied to the wrong comment.
that hit me too. people want to avoid what is the mostly likely thing to work. how stimulants affect adhd people: the enhance concentration, making it possible to learn and grow in a healthier way, to succeed. they don’t do the same thing that they do to someone without adhd. just like insulin for a type one diabetic.
Mostly because she's six. It's not so much about the stigma, but that my husband and I both feel that medication simply covers up the issue rather than learning ways to work with how her brain works. We will absolutely get her meds if need be, but right now things like movement breaks at dinner seem to be really helping.
Without intending to be pinickity, I would just like to say that, long-term studies of stimulant medication show growth in the areas of the brain ADHDers are typically underdeveloped.
Making no comment on you decision, I just wanted to challenge that it merely covers up the issue. It may very well be that understanding herself and ADHD-educated parents are the only necessary tools (I wouldn’t know - sounds like she’s lucked out). But the medication does actually address (to some extent) aspects of the underlying problem enough to be neurologically measurable.
Oh yes, it does address the underlying problem. Absolutely. We aren't thinking of meds as a last resort, but simply after we all have some tools in our belt to help manage the symptoms. The underdevelopment is interesting. I'll look into that, but it likely won't affect our decision regarding medication.
Thank you for your comments and replies. They are very well thought out.
Thank you, kind stranger. I wish you and you family all the best.