adhd

[milly143]

I don't want to offend anyone with this question, just want other peoples views as we have been disgussing it at work today. Does ADHD really exsist? Part of me believes it is just a label to add to children who are more raucous then others. The other thing is that I have never met or heard of an adult with ADHD, which makes me think it can't be real and that the bad behaviour is just something (most) children grow out of. I heard some statistics that said 1 in 5 middle school children have ADHD - how can this be true? when I was at school it didn't even exsist.

[Louise82]

My Sister was diagnosed with ADHD when she was about four. They said she would grow out of it by the time she was seven but never did. She wasnt given drugs for it but was not aloud any sweets, fizzy drinks or food with lots of colours and preservatives in it. She also had to drink goats milk instead of cows milk.  If she had a can of coke or some sweets within twenty minutes she would be screaming and kicking and arguing. I think alot of children are labelled with ADHD just to explain their behaviour when in fact it is only the junk that their parents allow them to eat that causes this behaviour.  My sister never had any drugs to stop her behaviour as it could be controlled through her diet. Maybe if the food industry stopped putting so much rubbish into food aimed at children, thier behaviour would be greatly improved.

[milly143]

That's what I think. I really hate the idea of pumping small children full of drugs, I mean that isn't going to do them any good is it. My sisters kids are the same, if you give them lots of junk they start going mental, they don't need to pop pills to sort them out. Also, surely the child will get a complex when people are telling it it has to take drugs to make it normal.

[Litchick]

Agreed.  I also think the same thing about giving teenagers antidepressants -- c'mon!  When I was a teen I was moody, sullen, fresh to my parents, etc... I am IN NO WAY SUGGESTING that children/teens etc do not suffer from these conditions and yes, medicine does help them -- but there are WAY to many labels out there for my liking.  Just because one enjoys sex does not make them sexaholics, people who enjoy shopping are not all shopaholics, etc.... 

[ann_h]

I believe it is a real condition, -probably some of it could be controlled by better food, different parenting techniques, but not all.

As to adults, I suspect that the reason you don't know of any is that those who are not controlling their condition through diet, drugs, etc are in prison or hospital as they are guaranteed to hurt themselves or someone else.  I'm not kidding.

When we were at school, kids with behavioural problems were probably in special schools or Borstal, as inclusion was not considered appropriate, or wandering about avoiding the truant officers.

I don't mean to offend anyone, this is my honest opinion based on my own son.

[LitChick]

Well said, ann_h!  I still do feel though, however, that some authoritative figures use these terms and generalise too freely.  I was leaving the office as I posted my reply and was a bit rushed so I forgot to add my thought that aren't all teenagers depressed at some time and happy at others? It's the definition of puberty....just as the children on the Desperate Housewives show...they're young boys!  Of course they are boisterious (sp?) and getting into all spots of trouble!  Actually, my cousin (aged 38) has ADHD but he's still a bit a little boy at heart too.  :)  'Night all! 

[sappho1971]

My son is 15 and has been on ritalin since the age of 7. This condition DOES exist!!!
We had to go through alot of tests AND behavoural therapy BEFORE Sam was given any form of medication.
Also the therapy continued after the diagnosis.
I have 2 other children who do not have ADHD.
I spent years of critisism, branded a bad parent because my child was impulsive and "naughty".
Why then wernt my other 2 children the same as Sam???
Iam over the gossipers now, yes I still resent the fact I was branded but out of all this I have a lovely 15 year old, he doesnt hang around street corners getting up to no good, he is doing really well at school now, although he will never be einstein he is getting top marks in the classes he is in. Iam proud he is my son and know out there that there will be some mothers who can never say that!
Daniel Beddingfield the singer/songwriter has ADD.