ADHD treatments

 

In my middle school years, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). My dedication and passion for success in school was hindered by my diagnosis and although I finally had an explanation for my challenge, I was still frustrated with the lack of help I was getting.

I felt that I was being accommodated instead of guided with ways to overcome my disability. For example, instead of finding ways to help my disability and acquire methods in which I would be able to decrease its effect on me, I was being taught of ways to go through my schooling with more ease. While that may have allowed me to get through my school years with fewer struggles than I potentially could have faced, it did me no justice for the long term.

I began to feel as though I was actually incompetent. But then, finally I turned eighteen; an age at which I can make my own decisions without my parents being involved. I made the decision of putting myself on ADHD medication, and was happy about it. The doctor, willingly prescribed me Adderall, and I was finally feeling the way all my friends have their whole life, I felt wise, I felt capable but mostly I felt worthy.

When I began college, in the fall of 2012, I felt that it wasn’t fair that I had to be on medication in order to live the life most already do naturally, and I took myself off the medication. Immediately, I was right back where I began. I was completely unfocused, impulsive, and hyper as can be.  

With some major research, I found behavior therapy.  A method of treatment that would teach me the skill set that a person without ADHD is born with.  Behavior therapy gives a chance for the child to get better and potentially eliminate some symptoms that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has.

 This post is sounding like I believe in strictly behavior therapy; while this may be true, after some of the research I did I found much evidence that proves otherwise. Dr. Pelham is seriously involved with the disorder and much of its research once stated that “Parents who see that medication is working are less motivated to follow through with behavior therapy. That would be fine if the data showed that medication alone helped the long term trajectory of ADHD kids. It doesn’t.”  Dr.Pelham goes on to mention that with his experience in the field he believes that medication along with the therapy works best. The medication will keep kids focused enough to go through the process of therapy, and after some therapy the child can slowly reduce the dosage until the only form of treatment they are receiving is therapy.

The other problem with medication alone is that although a child will be less impulsive, they will not know what to do after avoiding the impulsive reactions. The behavior therapy will teach the child what kinds of actions they can perform, and or say and do instead of the impulsive reactions.

I can truly say that after going to a few sessions of behavior therapy and being back on the stimulant, I now can say that I own my disorder, I believe in my treatment, and am hopeful that one day I can begin to live my life in a way most of the people around me do.  I truly encourage all parents who have a kid going through the same thing, all people going through the same thing, and all people trying to deal with a kid with the disorder, don’t write them or yourself off… be patient, be kind, and set out to help yourself and them.

To learn more about the complications of medication click here.

 

I will attest to the fact that in the last few months I personally, and quite frankly, most of the people that I speak to on a day-to-day basis have done is complain. Complain that the food we get is not good, we don’t have enough time to complete our work, and that our laundry was not done on time, by none other than, our mothers. Earlier this week I watched a movie “God grew tired of us” a movie produced in 2007, about the civil war in Sudan in 1987. This movie brought a whole new perspective to my life.  To see more about the movie check out “God Grew Tired of Us”

                In 1987 a civil war between south and north Sudan broke out, and drove around 20,000 boys around the ages of six and seven away from their families. These young boys traveled over one thousand miles to Ethiopia and back to escape slavery and death, which are two consequences their sisters and parents were facing. Their sisters were often raped and sold for slavery, while some of their brothers were forced to join the rebel army.  Over the course of the journey, half of the boys died, while the survivors were placed in a refugee camp in Kenya. The young boys that made it to the refugee camps became known as the “Lost boys of Sudan”. In 2001 the show “60 Minutes” covered the story of the “lost Boys”, click here to see part of the interview and gather more information.  

The boys are now men, and most live in the United States. However, some are still stuck in Sudan, living a nightmare. They NEED our HELP. Help can come in various ways. One way to help, could be to help create awareness about the issue, the more people know how serious the matter is, the more help we can find for these young boys and as of lately, girls as well.

The second way of assisting the cause is the donation of money. Economic times are rough, and I understand that financially not many people can afford to help, but it is important to know that even the littlest bit of money helps. A couple dollars will even do.  The committee that I would most recommend helping would be the International Rescue Committee. It is a committee which “responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their loves. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.”
                To read more about this organization click Here and you will find the organization’s mission statement, their plans, and their past jobs.  If you wish to make a donation you can do one of two things, the first would be to directly send a check made out to “IRC- Sudanese Assistance Fund” and send it to:

IRC Atlanta

2305 Park Lake Drive, suite 100

Atlanta, Georgia 30345

Or, the other option would be to directly make a contribution online by clicking Here, (the minimum contribution online would be 10 dollars).

Thank you very much for your care, and contributions in advance. I know these “lost boys” need us, and although we feel as though we do not always have enough food, time and money, we have more than they probably ever will. Please be kind, and help.