[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

QuickTidal, on 06 February 2025 - 04:43 PM, said:

Two years of trying to help my sons ADHD with just behavioural routes has failed, my relationship with him is strained from what he's like at home and his teacher just called and said there's zero focus, he's falling behind in subjects, he's nasty to other kids, shouting and gives attitude to the teacher, disrupting other kids not just in class but at recess (complaints from other teachers) as well. I mean even at home he goes from 0-11 immediately on any topic, and is screaming as a first reply to something he doesn't like...his emotional regulation is just utterly nonexistent. He's either shouting (when we are calmly speaking to him; we make sure to not shout even if he's being scolded for doing something bad) or he bursts into spontaneous tears over nothing. Just complete topping out at either end of the spectrum of emotions over simple day to day things.

So with the help of his paediatrician we are turning to meds. He won't be the first in the family to have to go on meds for ADHD (one of his older cousin's was on them when he was younger and another of his cousins is currently on them), but I still feel like a bit of a failure because we could not do this without medication...which I know is irrational, but as a parent it's hard to just be like "He needs help beyond what we can offer" and not feel that like a gut punch.

Sigh.

On the contrary, concluding to explore this route because you feel it will be beneficial for him makes you a good parent (though I understand why it feels like quite the opposite).

I will keep everything crossed that this helps him - it's only anecdotal but I have two friends who only accessed medication as adults and they both expressed that it would have made their childhood and teenage years much easier had there been access and understanding then for them.