regarding ADHD and ritalin, etc....PLEASE READ

[Guest guest]

I am new to the group. I joined a while back but have not been reading

or posting much.

I recently was reading a very flaming post about ritalin.

At first I was offended because I am almost 30 years old and was only

just recently diagnosed with ADHD. Not only that, but my Psychiatrist,

therapist (a PhD), and my son's autism specialist are ALL adults with

either ADD or ADHD. Most of us take medication for it.

I am trying to not be offended because whoever posted that (I dont

remember and it's not worth checking), probably doesn't know what they

are talking about. People tend to speak emotionally and passionately

about things they really know nothing about. But let me assure you all

that not only is ADHD real, it doesn't go away with puberty.

I was a very compliant little girl. I was a dream teenager. I never got

into trouble, I wasn't even " hyper " ,but guess what??? I have ADHD. I

got great grades, I tested into the Talented and Gifted program, I was

social, and I was popular (which I found out later because I didnt know

then). But I never felt like I measured up. I felt like a failure even

with a 3.75 GPA.

There are probably kids out there being medicated that don't really need

it, but please do not get all militant about FIGHTING THE RITALIN LIE or

whatever it was that was said, because it's not a lie.

We are parents of autistic children, we, of all people, should be

sensitive to other disabilities.

How would you feel if you had just joined a support board and found a

post about how all kids diagnosed with autism are just suffering from

poor parenting??? I do not want any kid to be needlessly medicated and

teachers should never NEVER NEVER push parents to seek medication, but

there are kids out there that really need it, and it is a safe medication

for a lot of kids, AND I would not be able to take care of all my kids'

needs without it, even at age 30.

I get stuff like this a lot because my second son has Bipolar Disorder

and that had only been recognized for two years. Sympathetic doctors and

published information are both hard to come by. My son could die from BP

if he was not on medication.

ADHD is an organic neurological disorder that sometimes requires

medication.

Please open your minds before you open your mouths.

Thank you.

Amy M

Mom to Dylan (7 autism), Jonah (5 ADHD, ODD, Bipolar), and Connor (2)

Oregon online autism support

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ORAutismSupport

Bipolarbear Cubs online group

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bipolarbearcubs

The Mind's Eye http://www.geocities.com/babyvan_99