Parenting Teenagers (12-18) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of teenagers (12 to 18 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development.
I am very confused on what to do with my 13 yr old.. I am currently taking classes to get my master in education and I am almost done. I am getting certified on children with disabilities and I have read a lot on the many different disabilities... the issue here is that with everything my daughter has been doing, the school had said we need to get a psychiatrist to evaluate her and we did. The doctor said that my daughter has a mild case of ADHD and prescribe her medication.. Now I am very familiar with ADHD and I dont think that's what she has.. Now I am not a doctor, but a child with ADHD has no control and she does have control.. When my daughter wants something she knows how to act the right way.. but I am at the point that if I dont follow what the doctor says (because of everythign she is doing) the state will get involve and I have two younger kids to worry about.. But at the same time, I know meds have side effects adn I dont think they should be taken unless 100% needed and I dont think that is her case.. What do I do?
That said, I have a friend who's son (9 years old) has always had behavior problems. She medicated him last year and he is suddenly doing well in school and socially. He still acts out from time to time but the medication has helped significantly. He will be the first to tell anyone that he feels much better with the medication.