ADHD / ADD Support Group

ADD people that I know are annoying but lovely. Seems we have a restless big heart as part of the condtion.

In regards BP, I don't know, first time I heard on a kid dx'd. Besides the dx(diagsnostic) takes about 2 years. All this story sounds weird. And the weirdest thing is that she cools when she's taken to the hospital. BP don't "act out", they just simply crash, doesn't matter where, the behavior is beyond their control during an episode.

I saw my girls going through big changes and mood swings at that age, new hormones in their systems I guess.

In addition of what you are doing, keep looking for behavioral and endocrinXXX (hormones doctor) evaluation too.


But what ever you do, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, give up!! Believe me, won't work, and does not worth it.

Pray, and specially , pray in family.

Bipolar might not be the right diagnosis. Epilepsy drugs are very bad for ADD/ADHD. It worsens the symptoms. I'm finding that if you treat the ADD/ADHD..other co-morbid issues seem to go away.

I was diagnosed bi-polar when I was 18 and then depression about two years ago at 27. Receltly I was diagnosed as ADD and treatment has CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!

I don't mean to talk about myself but my point is you CAN NOT give up. It may take a long time to find the right fit/diagnosis/drug to help your daughter.

Oh yeah and the doctors will eventually see though her act. TRUST ME.

Don't give up on her. Be a mother and NOT a friend. She is lucky to have you...and lucky to be dealing with her issues at a young age. I wish I nipped this in the bud in my teens.

Good luck!

Awe, I'm so sorry :( That sounds like a rough situation to be in... I wish I could help you more, but I really just don't know :( Do you think it's possible that she's doing it for attention? I used to work with kids at a daycare and I know sometimes if you don't react or try to stay as neutral as possible it teaches them that throwing fits and screaming isn't an appropriate form of communication. Not sure is this helps or not, just my thoughts...

~LR

Hi Dawn,Amanda + hubby
We have a beautiful talented mis-understood little boy of 7 who was officially diagnosed at 5 with adhd/odd (oppositional defiant dis-order) although of course like most parents we allready knew that 'something else' was fuelling this young boys daredevil anger filled endless energy days.......................so i have experience of this fire in the brain condition and if they help at all then here are some of my thoughts.
You dont need me to remind you that your life is hard as is ours, sometimes i feel more like a spectator rather than a participant!! but occasionally i think to myself what on earth must it be like for him, what must it be like to wake up at 6to7am every morning allready angry and frustrated with energy to burn, not understanding this thing controlling you and he,s ready to be shouted at by 2 tired parents , what must it be like waking up ready to fail maybe 1,2,10 or a 100 times a day thruout rollercoaster minutes,hours every day without allowing yourself the 'luxury' of accepting everbodys god given human right to simply accept the love warmth and praise that is on offer in abundance by the people who love him so much.......what the hell must that be like in children so young. ..................Identifying what behaviour is 'normalish' in one so young or what is attributed to adhd is tough and complex so dont try, dont worry about wether behaviour is worse here or better there! we have a situation to manage so with the best of our ability at that time manage it we will, i dont care about what other people think whilst we are out (or in) for that matter and i will handle situations well or again i will feel like crap because i didnt handle it so well, even though i know what i must do!!!! , when it doesnt go so well, afterwards I try and identify what specifically if anything was the major cause of any tantrums so that in the future i can PLAN around it (maybe), planning ahead is a big part of managing adhd.
Another biggy in managing children is so simple but is perhaps the hardest aspect of all and is my particular weak spot,,,,,,,,,,,not challenging or fuelling the fire in front of you, not getting into arguements or shouting competitions....yet again this morning at 7am (a lie in for us) i was a nasty nasty man who does nasty things now i knew that in an hours time after his medication (methylphenidate hydrochloride 10mg x 3 per day we do have an option of 4 a day but i would rather try harder at parenting or managing my beautiful boy than yet more medication.........but i dont judge other people) I know in an hours time he will briefly be sorry for his behaviour especially as i describe in a calm voice to him that his behaviour was innapropriate and unnaceptable, again part of 'managing' his condition is continual reminders that despite his adhd he is responsible for his actions, not me or mummy or his older brother .he is and at times when we have been out and he has been trying to grab items off shelves for example i again continually and calmlly remind him that the items are not his!!! and i remind him how he feels when big brother touches anything that is his!!!!!, now on bad days this has little effect if any but i swear that on occasion i have seen a positive response so i will try and keep on reinforcing that point to him.
I dont set myself impossible goals, sure i would love my beautiful gorgeous little boy to behave differently and in time with our love tenderness and help i truly think he will but it wont happen tomorrow or the day/week/month after that, set yourself an achievable goal no matter how small! and when that goal is achieved irrespective of time praise Amanda, hubby, and most importantly yourself, if i ask Carl to do something and he does it i stop and remind him what he did, he did it straightaway and it was a big help to daddy, THANKYOU VERY MUCH CARL!!!!, now my boy hasnt time to listen to any praise that might cool the fierce heat that is the master in his head but i tell him anyway. We try and concentrate on and reinforce the positives in his life and not the negatives!!!! i try try try try try try so hard to remind myself when he is telling me in no uncertain terms or language that he doesnt mean what he is saying/shouting to me sometimes it helps a little but other times it hurts me, i,me only human and ime his dad........................he once told me that he doesnt like having this thing and why cant i give him another tablet to 'make it go away'. I offer these thoughts to you Dawn because in my opinion we have to alter our way of thinking about managing children with special needs first before we try and manage any behaviour, these are different but no less gifted children, I offer my thoughts to you Dawn because we too as a family are battling to keep focused and are just about clinging to the right side of sanity and if you want too hear any more because you think it might in some small small way help you ,, then please drop me a line, Their is no phone number to instantly ring or no helful knock at the door when the child in front of you that you love so much is in so much distress but i offer you and your family friendship,companionship no matter how far away i am, a small understanding of what you are going through and the desperation you feel as well as support!!...........The poet Wordworth once wrote;
Reflecting upon the magnitude of the general evil, i should be oppressed with a dishonourable melancholy, had i not a deep impression of certain inherent and indestructible qualities of the human mind!!!
All the very best to you Dawn............x
Paul and family