Posted by bridgey1128 on November 27, 2004, at 20:17:54
In reply to Re: Anti Ritalin » bridgey1128, posted by headachequeen on November 23, 2004, at 20:52:53
Actually, I have seen many studies that have shown that children who are NOT put on drugs for ADHD have more tendencies to abuse drugs and alcohol later in life. Also, not being put on some kind of treatment has shown to have brain damage effects. When a child with ADHD is not treated, their brains go in hyper active mode and over the years this can cause damage. I must reiterate that not every child who is diagnosed as ADHD/ADD IS actually so. I can honestly say I wouldn't put my son through the frustration of pretending that ritalin is dangerous. I honestly have never heard that. I am sure in high enough doses it could be because it is a stimulant and narcotic but I have to say it's probably because the child in question was not actually ADHD and had no business taking the drug to begin with or it was the wrong drug. It's just like with every other kind of drug out there. Sometimes it's the wrong one. How many of us have had to switch antidepressants or bipolar meds or any other # of meds until we found one that worked. I would dare say that Adderall is 10 times more dangerous than Ritalin has ever been perceived to be. My son's own Dr isn't even FOR stimulant or ADHD drugs. He has written a 10 page paper on it for perspective new patients and has studied it for years but he has also concluded that my son is in the small percentage that should be on a stimulant drug. I don't think that stimulant drugs are for every child with ADHD either. Some can be controlled with diet, some with behavior therapy. If that is the case, then usually it's something that the parent has or has not done if it's just a matter of behavior. When my son CANNOT concentrate it does not matter HOW good a teacher is. There is nothing that teacher can do to make him pay attention. He just cannot do it. He had two awesome teachers last year. Very attentive and very caring. Even if he had a teacher that was one on one that teacher couldn't have made him concentrate. He wouldn't have been able to absorb any of his lessons because he wouldn't have been able to sit still long enough to listen. He would have done nothing but cried out of frustration. So, it matters little how wonderful and patient the teacher is when a child is ADHD. If they can't concentrate, they can't concentrate. I know that we can't work on his homework until about 4pm when his next dose has kicked in because he gets frustrated and starts crying. I refuse to put him through that. I can't imagine how behind he would be if I had not put him on the Concerta and we absolutely do not regret it one single iota. He is so smart and his teachers last year and this year have told me how sweet he is and how smart he is and how much they enjoy him. He has always been sweet. He is not drugged. It has not destoyed his "potential" or his creativity. It has only made him be able to contentrate and work TO his potential. If a child acts like they are drugged then they are way over medicated. Their personality should not change. I wouldn't begin to tell a parent that they need to medicate their child but I would tell someone off in a heartbeat if they felt the need to tell me I was drugging mine. How many parents give their children insulin if they are diabetics? Or if they had cancer gave them treatments? Or if they have allergies give them meds or if they are sick they give them antibiotics? So why is it wrong for me to be able to treat my son's ADHD with the medication that makes him able to actually function like a normal human being? Not be frustrated into tears. It has nothing to do with good teachers or bad parenting in our situation. It has everything to do with the fact that he absolutely CANNOT focus or concentrate. What is so frustrating to him has always been that he WANTS to, but he can't. Kat, I am sure you were/are an excellent teacher but we have to agree to disagree on this one. I do agree that there are many different approaches to treating ADHD. I do have to say that if just the behavior therapy works, it makes you wonder if they probably just needed a good spanking to begin with. True ADHD cases usually need a combination of stimulant and behavior therapy. Since we have always been so strict and he has always been on a schedule of some sort since he was born he hasn't had to see anyone for behavior therapy. Even his current Dr doesn't think it is necessary because he doesn't have behavior problems(other than a normal 7 year old). We pretty much nip any behavioral problems in the bud before they start. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, I am just saying it's easier to prevent them now than to have to deal with them later on when they get out of hand! I think that is one problem with parenting. People wait until kids are like 3 and 4 to start disciplining their kids and by then it's way too late! I really admire people with more than 2 kids. It's all I can manage sometimes with just my 2. I couldn't imagine 4 or 5! Kat how did you manage so many! I saw a thing the other night on these people who had 14 and pregnant again! EGADS!!! Too many for me thanks! I am just not that organized! Oh my...so anyway...Hope you all had a great Turkey Day...I have to go work off these pounds I gained....ugh
poster:bridgey1128
thread:416940
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041122/msgs/421082.html