Bipolar Disorder Support Group
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I have had ADD all my life. I was diagnosed in the early 80's when ADD was first listed as a mental disorder.
A lot has changed since then. Now you only see it referred to as ADHD. With the main focus being on the hyper activity and impulsiveness. But not every ADD sufferer has hyper activity or impulsive behaviors. Some of us just quite simply can't focus, are seem unmotivated (even though we are not we just can't function) and can't pay attention.
Now lucky me I was diagnosed at an early age and I did have it quite extreme level in my early years. Getting properly medicated for it is easy me because I already have a diagnosis.
Why do I bring this up then?
Well my son. I know he has ADD I recognize all the symptoms in him. I've always know it and he did have a diagnosis for it before he was enrolled in milton hershey school.
Now just to catch every one up my children are in a boarding school. That is they reside at the school and the school takes care of all their medical and dental needs while they are on campus.
Also a few years ago my uncle convinced me to sign over my sponsor ship to him. As a result he does not believe in medicating any one for any mental disorder and he doesn't even believe their are mental disorders and illnesses. Now the school tested him and reported that he does not have ADHD but he does have an attention span problem.
That leaves me scratching my head going "wha?"
That's like a fancy political way of saying he has ADD with out the H. I'm sitting here going No Duh!
They will not medicate him for it probably due to pressure my uncle was putting on the school.
Now yes he is doing well but you have to understand he gets special help and he's in a well structured environment which is excellent for ADD children.
So why am I so concerned then?
well he won't be in a school that caters to his needs for the rest of his entire life. Meaning when he grows up he's going to find out that he struggles and can't function like a normal person with out it would. Not only this but ADD can also be the cause of poor judgment and poor decision making. Meaning he's far more susceptible to things like drug addiction. Something that happened to me when I went unmediated for it.
My whole line of reasoning and thought processes are so much different on ADD meds then with out. Unmediated I'm taken advantage of and make the worst decisions of my life. I'm unorganized, unmotivated and unfocused.
I see all of the same symptoms in him that use to be the criteria for ADD. Now though the criteria is mostly surrounded by Hyper activity which my son doesn't have! I don't even have it and I never did!
When I spend time alone with my son I see all the same issues in him that I had.
Short memory
Can't stick to one subject for long
lack of attention or short attention span
unorganized
can't follow long or complicated instructions
If you give him a list of things to do he only does one and then forgets to do the rest.
And oblivious to the world around him (probably the worst part of this)
I've tested him and he is easily tricked because of the ADD. And he never seems to learn either.
Now he's not a dumb child he's very intelligent but I feel he's being held back from reaching is full potential by being left unmediated. Also because of all the political push to stop using stimulants to treat ADD I fear that by the time he reaches adult hood it may be too late to get treatment for it.
I'm very sad because as some one who's struggled with ADD from a very early age I know that there are lots of people who are not receiving proper treatment for it thanks to all the politics surrounding the medications.
I've already made my decision I'm going to put pressure on the school to re evaluate him and have him put on medications.
But I was just curious what every one's opinions are on this matter.
Also does any one feel that they have a short attention span and may be undiagnosed for ADD because of lack of hyper activity? Or do you think that the bi polar is causing the same symptoms as ADD?
I am on both psych meds for bipolar and meds for ADD which I know that some people feel us beepers with stimulants are a deadly combo. But I can't function with out the ADD medications. The bi polar meds just don't treat the ADD symptoms.
Also I know that being un-medicated for ADD leaves me wide open for predators which this city is full of them. I've been taken advantage of, when if I had been medicated that never would have happened the way it did!
any one have concerns of experiences with this?
A lot has changed since then. Now you only see it referred to as ADHD. With the main focus being on the hyper activity and impulsiveness. But not every ADD sufferer has hyper activity or impulsive behaviors. Some of us just quite simply can't focus, are seem unmotivated (even though we are not we just can't function) and can't pay attention.
Now lucky me I was diagnosed at an early age and I did have it quite extreme level in my early years. Getting properly medicated for it is easy me because I already have a diagnosis.
Why do I bring this up then?
Well my son. I know he has ADD I recognize all the symptoms in him. I've always know it and he did have a diagnosis for it before he was enrolled in milton hershey school.
Now just to catch every one up my children are in a boarding school. That is they reside at the school and the school takes care of all their medical and dental needs while they are on campus.
Also a few years ago my uncle convinced me to sign over my sponsor ship to him. As a result he does not believe in medicating any one for any mental disorder and he doesn't even believe their are mental disorders and illnesses. Now the school tested him and reported that he does not have ADHD but he does have an attention span problem.
That leaves me scratching my head going "wha?"
That's like a fancy political way of saying he has ADD with out the H. I'm sitting here going No Duh!
They will not medicate him for it probably due to pressure my uncle was putting on the school.
Now yes he is doing well but you have to understand he gets special help and he's in a well structured environment which is excellent for ADD children.
So why am I so concerned then?
well he won't be in a school that caters to his needs for the rest of his entire life. Meaning when he grows up he's going to find out that he struggles and can't function like a normal person with out it would. Not only this but ADD can also be the cause of poor judgment and poor decision making. Meaning he's far more susceptible to things like drug addiction. Something that happened to me when I went unmediated for it.
My whole line of reasoning and thought processes are so much different on ADD meds then with out. Unmediated I'm taken advantage of and make the worst decisions of my life. I'm unorganized, unmotivated and unfocused.
I see all of the same symptoms in him that use to be the criteria for ADD. Now though the criteria is mostly surrounded by Hyper activity which my son doesn't have! I don't even have it and I never did!
When I spend time alone with my son I see all the same issues in him that I had.
Short memory
Can't stick to one subject for long
lack of attention or short attention span
unorganized
can't follow long or complicated instructions
If you give him a list of things to do he only does one and then forgets to do the rest.
And oblivious to the world around him (probably the worst part of this)
I've tested him and he is easily tricked because of the ADD. And he never seems to learn either.
Now he's not a dumb child he's very intelligent but I feel he's being held back from reaching is full potential by being left unmediated. Also because of all the political push to stop using stimulants to treat ADD I fear that by the time he reaches adult hood it may be too late to get treatment for it.
I'm very sad because as some one who's struggled with ADD from a very early age I know that there are lots of people who are not receiving proper treatment for it thanks to all the politics surrounding the medications.
I've already made my decision I'm going to put pressure on the school to re evaluate him and have him put on medications.
But I was just curious what every one's opinions are on this matter.
Also does any one feel that they have a short attention span and may be undiagnosed for ADD because of lack of hyper activity? Or do you think that the bi polar is causing the same symptoms as ADD?
I am on both psych meds for bipolar and meds for ADD which I know that some people feel us beepers with stimulants are a deadly combo. But I can't function with out the ADD medications. The bi polar meds just don't treat the ADD symptoms.
Also I know that being un-medicated for ADD leaves me wide open for predators which this city is full of them. I've been taken advantage of, when if I had been medicated that never would have happened the way it did!
any one have concerns of experiences with this?
So sorry I hope that doesn't confuse any one.
I may be completely "politically incorrect" or seem highly insensitive, but "crack babies", "fetal alcohol syndrome babies", and generally any other babies born with an addiction tended to be the most hyperative.
I am sorry that you no longer have a say with what happens with your children.
My stepson takes meds and it makes a world of difference not only in his ability to learn but in his behavior. Unfortunately, my husband does not take anything for his ADHD and I think our relationship suffers because of it. He's very impulsive and thoughtless at times saying and doing hurtful things. My BP causes this too, but I take meds to prevent it so I expect him to do something about it too, but he refuses.
In my experience, meds are the most sure fire way of treating both ADD and ADHD, just like any other disorder. So I think you're on the right track pushing the school. Good luck!
And I always knew he had it. I have a daughter and I know she doesn't have it.
But yes I agree drugs and alcohol have an effect on brainfunctioning of children and child development.
brain damage is one cause of ADHD but not the only cause.
In our family it is genetic. I know many relatives who have it and think they are fine because they still live in that 1950's mind set. Yet they struggle and no one is very successful either. One of the reasons why my uncle got involved he is one of the only one's that can function in the work force. But he still thinks like the draconian days when all kids needed were spankings to straighten them out. And because of the alcoholic dynamic they believe that spanking is what made them behave even though the reality is they didn't behave at all! They behaved while the abusive parent was around but as soon as no one was looking they were bad as hell!
I won't let what happened to me happen to my son! He doesn't need to go through life being taken advantage of struggling, and dysfunctional. He is very smart and has a lot to offer. But intelligence does always mean success.
But the problem is that people who have ADD with out the H are being ignored simply because they aren't disruptive. It's like screw you, and so what if you are struggling and can't function that's just life so snap out of it!
I've heard that line my entire life and it wasn't for my lack of effort. I couldn't do it with out the meds end of statement.
This is why I feel strongly about medicating my son.
Not only this but I've been mistreated and abused by my family because of the ADD. I know that if my son disappoints my ignorant ass of an uncle then he will get the same shitty treatment I did. I'm still suffering psychological damage thanks to them!
Example: fix the deck
1. measure the area to be fixed
2. go to HD and get the boards
3. nail the board in place
4. shellac the board witth waterproofing
I have ADHD and it helps for me to make lists. Once I follow the list two or three times, the schedule or routine is in my head. For Algebra, I use PEMDAS to solve equations. These are skills that I learned.
_______
Skills training is paramount. I could probably do the check book thing, but I have problems paying bills online. My skill set would be to learn how to pay bills online.
So, whatever specific skills that he needs to learn--someone like a social worker should get him into a lifeskills class to learn those specific skills.
Allen can fix a computer from computer parts, a monitor and any active hard drive. NO ONE taught him this. Allen also plays stratgegic games, keeps up with the news and also writes science fiction in his spare time.
Because of the b*** and the as***h****, Allen never lived up to his potential and is now a cook. Eventually, he would like to attend classes at the ITT institute. But, he labors all day long and is so tired. He has thyroid problems.
Had he had meds and some intervention, he'd be in a cushy office right now doing computer work. Instead, he labors in a kitchen. Mrs. H was a school teacher and Mr. H. has his PhD also in Education.
My mom, on the other hand, fought tooth and nail for me. I had language to help me with things. I also learned how to use the word processor to do my essays with. I used the Learning Centers in college. This is why I can sit on my butt and do a clerical job.
Great going Mr. and Mrs. H. ...........But they will NOT touch Richard and they will NOT determine HIS destiny.
it's not that those things aren't helpful but medications are the most effective treatment for ADD and ADHD. I know from first hand experience. You have any idea how many years of therapy I was in before medication? They tried every thing to help me and it wasn't working! That's why I finally was put on medications and it changed my life!
Now maybe my son doesn't have it to the severity that I did but he has it bad enough let me tell you! He drives me insane I have to repeat things over and over before he remembers and I have to make him repeat every thing I tell him to make sure he heard and understood every thing I said.
I myself am dysfunctional enough. Now while I am plenty patient with my own children it would still be helpful to both him and my self if he were medicated.
Meds--I thought about putting Richard on meds but on the forum I was on at that time, I got chewed out.
Adderall does help with concentration, but from what I have seen it also causes heart palpitations. So--I'm still sort of confused msyelf.
Good luck to you!!
Hugs, Eka
I understand though since there is so much political slant against medications right now. Since they are stimulants that have a potential for abuse they have a bad reputation! And people who aren't suffering with ADD them selves have zero sympathy because they can't understand it. They just see it as laziness or lack of will power when that's not it at all.
I just got done reading a debate about it. All the people diagnosed are saying the same thing, we need it to survive, and the non ADD people are saying it gives us an unfair advantage and they should also be allowed to take it. They don't understand it's not an advantage it just levels the playing field for us.
The article is about weight loss but if you read the comments that people posted you will see the mentality going on here.
I was just diagnosed within the past 10 months after a hospital stay in October. I am on 15 mgs of Ritalin (generic) twice a day morning and lunch. I do not take it every day for example if I am sick with a stomach bug or migraine. The doctor and I spoke about not taking it every day but when I had to concentrate on something such as reading then to take it. More often than not I do take it because I like to focus.
I was one of these parents who were adamantly against drugs like Ritalin until my son nearly choked another kid to death and was put in the psych unit and diagnosed with adhd, ocd and a conduct disorder not to mention an anger issue.
Funny thing is I am now on Ritalin myself (generic). I learned not to judge and the ironic thing considering how I used to feel about meds, is that I am on a lot of psych meds myself.
There is a good book out there for ADHD'ers (or ADD'ers) about organizing things in your life. If you are interested in the title PM me or post on the list and I can get you the title and author. It really helped me. BTW my husband said I was the listiest person he ever did see. I had lists for everything. Much like the person whose hubby has specific lists for the deck. I can't just say clean the kitchen for instance I have to be very specific as to how to do it and what to do or I get lost.
I have friends with ADD only and my pdoc did question if I had ADHD or ADD but I have ADHD my MIL used to say my middle name was "go". LOL
I hope you can get it sorted out with your son's school. If he has to wait until he is 18 though and is fully informed of ADD and what it is and his options he will be the better for being informed so talk to him about it is my advice. I was not officially diagnosed until age 46 or 47 I forget just which month he did officially diagnose me.
Meds don't totally make it go away but it does make me more functional.
Good luck. Sorry for digressing so much from your question but this is a subject near and dear to my heart as it is yours it sounds like. Best wishes.