The Benefits of Concerta: Three Children on ADHD Medication and Life is Great

Helping Your Child Find Happiness Can Be Made Easier With Medication

When I was 18, I saw myself in the future living in a beautiful home, married to my very handsome husband with 2 gorgeous and talented children.

More than 20 years later, let's check the success of those plans.

I am still living, so that one worked.

My house is beautiful (since beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and, even better, is warm in the winter, large enough for me to escape to a quiet corner and never much more than tidy. I'd say I was 3/4 successful on that one.
 

The handsome husband becomes more handsome when he picks up his own dirty socks and makes it home for dinner at least a couple of times a week, so let's put this almost into the win column.

Lastly, for the couple of beautiful children, I scored brilliantly. We have 6 amazing kids (a couple more than a few) and their talents never seem to amaze me.

I'd say I have the perfect life, but 10 years ago, I felt doubt and fear. I had just given birth to our 4th child whenour 3rd child was diagnosed with autism. Life became complicated.

Thank God I didn't have time to wallow in a vat of self-pity because I was a fighter. I took classes, read every book ever written and knew as much about this disorder as any doctor.

My beautiful boy entered a full-time program and progressed but his progress was not what it could have been. As is legally required by public schools, their suggestions involved behavior modification techniques and those were only taking us so far. The last book I picked up dealt with pharmacological solutions to different disorders and ailments.

Up until this point, I had vehemently believed that the use of medications was something for the weak-minded and unimaginative or lazy parent. I thought I could create an environment in which my son could thrive and life would be great.

Guess what? Life wasn't great. He could not find success in any environment and our frustration level was as high as his. He was in 1st grade at school and I was finally ready to consider chemical intervention.

Related information
  • Kids with ADD/ADHD are physically incapable of filtering their impulses on their own.
  • ADD/ADHD meds are stimulants that activate that part of the brain that deals with impulse control.
  • Long term studies of ADD/ADHD meds suggest not negative side effects.
 
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You have put into words my thoughts and feelings about my experiences with my ADHD son. Those who criticize the ADHD diagnosis and meds should spend a day or two in our homes -- ADHD, and especially stimulant medications, are not the "easy way" to solve this tough problem. Medication trials alone can be worse than the ADHD. We finally discovered the right meds for my son this week and I now see my son happy and confident again -- we haven't seen that in 18 months since starting elementary school. We medicate because we love our children that much!

Posted on 01/15/2009 at 7:01:04 AM

My son was having problems in preschool. we didn't want to admit that there was something wrong. this year in kindergarten the classroom behavior was horrible. last month after being diognosed with ADHD he started taking meds. he still gives them a run for their money but now he does all his work and instead of only sitting for 5min. he is able to sit for 12min his teacher, doctor and those meds have taken a ton of stress out of our lives! i only wish we would have done it a year ago.. by the way he calls the pills his "good boy " pills because he says with them, now he is able to be like all the other kids at school

Posted on 01/14/2009 at 10:01:15 AM

Thanks for this. Everyone I know has been trying to tell me that I should not give my child medication, that I should just be able to help him understand how to behave. After three years, I am done being influenced by people too afraid to do whatever it takes to make my child be happy. You have totally helped me make my deicision for me. Why can't everyone be as honest!?!

Posted on 01/23/2008 at 11:01:39 AM

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