Hey, Mommas. I want to run a theory past those of you dealing with kids who have ADD, ADHD, Sensory Integration, blah blah blah. My ds has taken a form of ritalin for 18 mo. I can't deny that it helps his ability to attend, but now I'm upset.
I'm upset because the ritalin makes him malleable in school. It DOES NOT allow him to see himself as others see him, a person who is disruptive and needs to be aware of his impulsivity. If he could see those issues, non-medicated, perhaps we could work on his changing those behaviors, organically and not pharmeceutically.
I've taken away the ritalin over winter break from school. I want to see if his inability to focus can be controlled by diet and by lack of over-stimulating environment plus lots of exercise. Now I am trying not to fall into looking at him negatively, because he is a :wild :blah kind of guy. I keep losing patience with him because he sneaks sweets (just threw away an entire pan of homemade brownies b/cause for the fifth day in a row, he's stolen sweets) even though I have explained to him that I MUST know exactly what he has eaten each day. He is allowed sweets, but only when I say it's okay, so I can figure it into my observation of his behaviors.
Oh, my God, I feel like I am losing my mind over this child. I don't want him on ritalin, I'm not equipped to deal with him off ritalin, and it's tearing me apart.

He's eleven years old. I haven't had the bloodwork done; I'm supplementing him with magnesium and calcium as well as EFA's in the form of fish oils which are formulated for children and have been screened for heavy metal pollutions, etc. Has anyone worked with the Davis Method on issues of ADD?

If you don't have the sweets in the house, he can't sneak them. Start by keeping what he can't have off the grocery list.
What things did you try before starting him on medication? Anything that seemed more effective?

Articles you might be interested in:
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ADHD drugs' long-term effects examined
WASHINGTON (Reuters) --Drugs given to children to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could have long-term effects on their growing brains, studies on rats suggest.

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How common is ADHD?

Thank you for the links, Ms. Mary. I read both of them.
As for the sweets, I am no longer bringing them into the house, with the exception of full-fat Ben and Jerry's ice cream, which ds is allowed to eat after dinner.

Can I offer a book recommendation? "The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses." The author is against the use of Ritalin and other drugs, addresses school issues and has a very positive focus on the individual child. It's a very hopeful book.

I have an extremely ACTIVE four year old and I've been looking into things lately, hoping to avoid him being labeled as ADHD. I had hoped he might outgrow some of the behaviors but that doesn't seem to be happening. He isn't completely unmangeable but his behavior is beyond the normal range at times, complicated by the fact that he's a REALLY bright child who won't accept any answer he can't fit into his perspective and understand. That's a challenge...but I like that he's a free thinker, I just need to find ways to help him function w/in society more smoothly.
Several people have recommended to me the books Kids, Parents and Power Struggles and Raising a Spirited Child . I haven't read them yet, but I plan on looking for them very soon.

Just remember, when a kid is taken off Ritalin his behavior temporarily gets worse due to the withdrawal symptoms. People stopping the use of illegal amphetamines have the same reactions. That is why it is best to withdraw gradually under the supervision of a medical professional.
But since you have already taken him off, putting him back on will most likely not do any good. As for stealing sweets, non-ADD kids do this too. If it were my kid I would give her a limited amount of sweets and not keep extras in the house. People coming off stimulants often report overeating of "comfort foods" as a side effect.
ADD or not, you will probably find new challenging behaviors to deal with and you are equipped to deal with them - it's not hopeless! I also believe there is a way your son's behaviors can be worked with and turned into something more positive for everyone.
One doctor I like is Peter Breggin - two good books are Talking Back to Ritalin and Reclaiming Our Children. There is also another called Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Drugs that I haven't read, but it teaches people how to safely withdraw from Ritlain and other medications.
How does your son feel about the medication, his school, and his diagnosis?

My son understands intellectually why we've taken the drugs away. I specifically asked his doctor about withdrawal issues, and she said there oughtn't to be much of a problem. I disagree with that idea. Anything taken for eighteen months, five (and sometimes seven) days a week is bound to have become a habbit at best, and an addiction in the worst case.
The stealing of sweets is alarming to me because I see it as an addictive behavior. He will eat sugar from the jar, he ate sugar-free jell-o out of the package yesterday, he will eat an entire container of the Paul Newman version of Oreos. His older brother is Type One diabetic and I worry that this child as well will develop diabetes. There is evidence to support both that eating many sweets doesn't as well as does have a connection to diabetes; I can only go on my gut.
I will be looking up the titles of the book names, especially "talking back to ritalin" because that's what I'm doing, I think.

Overeating is common among people who withdraw from any drug - cigarettes are an example. I know people who have gained 50+ lbs after coming off stimulants! I think eating calms their nerves. Does your son sleep a lot too?
Doctors receive grants from the manufacturers of Ritalin, so they aren't likely to say too many bad things about it. There are a few doctors who turn down such money, so they might give you a different opinion. Most doctors, though, will just say "Yes, I receive thousands of dollars from such-and-such drug company, but it doesn't influence my views in any way!":rolleyes:
If it helps, every time he starts to behave badly, tell yourself that nothing is wrong with you or him, he is just having the reaction that a normal person would from withdrawing off stimulants.

I'm stuffing him with really healthy, balanced food at each meal. I'm giving him a fruit, or fruit-only spread, at each meal to help wean him from the sweet stuff. He's not overeating, per se, he's just gorging on sweets. It's been an issue with him ever since he has been able to figure out how to sneak them. So, I dumped everything in the garbage. Then ds and I had a conversation about how many different things he could have if we didn't love him. Things like Playstation, Cap'n Crunch cereal every morning, R-rated movies, non-organic foods, etc. He and I got a good laugh out of that, once he saw the humor in it.