ADHD
Tea Lover Denise
I have to admit, first of all, that I haven't been keeping up with the
ADD thread, so if someone has already asked/answered this question,
would someone kindly point me to an archive?
I pulled my 16-year old daughter out of ps in May; she was experiencing
some mild depression, had experimented with marijuana, and was generally
withdrawing into another world. I think when we actually pulled out of
school, it relieved a lot of pressure for her. She went to a few
counseling sessions (happened to be with our neighbor/friend, who is an
adolescent therapist) and since May, during this deschooling period, has
really started, note I use the word 'started,' to get her act together.
She was "diagnosed" with ADHD but of the hypo variety, not hyper. She's
always had trouble focusing on anything for more than a few minutes, and
she sleeps A LOT. A complete physical exam showed no physiological
reasons for this, i.e., good blood count, etc.
The doc has prescribed Ritalin or Aderal (sp?) (we haven't started
anything yet) and my daughter seems to really *want* to take it. She
gets frustrated at things like being at a movie, for example, and not
even being able to follow along for more than ten minutes. She said her
mind "wanders." My instinct tells me that once we are into our
unschooling/homeschooling, her symptoms may disappear; however, if she
feels that strongly about needing something, maybe I need to go ahead
and just do it. My question is this: Is Ritalin/Aderal easy to
"discontinue" once someone has been on it? What do I need to know about
all of this?
Thanks!
Denise, South Carolina
ADD thread, so if someone has already asked/answered this question,
would someone kindly point me to an archive?
I pulled my 16-year old daughter out of ps in May; she was experiencing
some mild depression, had experimented with marijuana, and was generally
withdrawing into another world. I think when we actually pulled out of
school, it relieved a lot of pressure for her. She went to a few
counseling sessions (happened to be with our neighbor/friend, who is an
adolescent therapist) and since May, during this deschooling period, has
really started, note I use the word 'started,' to get her act together.
She was "diagnosed" with ADHD but of the hypo variety, not hyper. She's
always had trouble focusing on anything for more than a few minutes, and
she sleeps A LOT. A complete physical exam showed no physiological
reasons for this, i.e., good blood count, etc.
The doc has prescribed Ritalin or Aderal (sp?) (we haven't started
anything yet) and my daughter seems to really *want* to take it. She
gets frustrated at things like being at a movie, for example, and not
even being able to follow along for more than ten minutes. She said her
mind "wanders." My instinct tells me that once we are into our
unschooling/homeschooling, her symptoms may disappear; however, if she
feels that strongly about needing something, maybe I need to go ahead
and just do it. My question is this: Is Ritalin/Aderal easy to
"discontinue" once someone has been on it? What do I need to know about
all of this?
Thanks!
Denise, South Carolina
Joel Hawthorne
Tea Lover Denise,
I don't know much about Ritalin except as a registered nurse I have to sign
it out from the narcotic cupboard because it is a controlled substance (in
Canada). It is used to treat some adult depression which is the context in
which I administer it. I know it is wildly over prescribed for children and
I would hope you would lobby your daughter to have a trial period of say 3
months, in which she would get a lot of attention from her family, no school
and perhaps read the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewelyn. Then if
she is still completely miserable consider medication.
Tea Lover Denise wrote:
best wishes
Joel
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Work together to reinvent justice using methods that are fair; which
conserve, restore and even create harmony, equity and good will in society
i.e. restorative justice.
We are the prisoners of the prisoners we have taken - J. Clegg
http://www.cerj.org
I don't know much about Ritalin except as a registered nurse I have to sign
it out from the narcotic cupboard because it is a controlled substance (in
Canada). It is used to treat some adult depression which is the context in
which I administer it. I know it is wildly over prescribed for children and
I would hope you would lobby your daughter to have a trial period of say 3
months, in which she would get a lot of attention from her family, no school
and perhaps read the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewelyn. Then if
she is still completely miserable consider medication.
Tea Lover Denise wrote:
> From: Tea Lover Denise <jalecroy@...>--
>
> I have to admit, first of all, that I haven't been keeping up with the
> ADD thread, so if someone has already asked/answered this question,
> would someone kindly point me to an archive?
>
> I pulled my 16-year old daughter out of ps in May; she was experiencing
> some mild depression, had experimented with marijuana, and was generally
> withdrawing into another world. I think when we actually pulled out of
> school, it relieved a lot of pressure for her. She went to a few
> counseling sessions (happened to be with our neighbor/friend, who is an
> adolescent therapist) and since May, during this deschooling period, has
> really started, note I use the word 'started,' to get her act together.
>
> She was "diagnosed" with ADHD but of the hypo variety, not hyper. She's
> always had trouble focusing on anything for more than a few minutes, and
> she sleeps A LOT. A complete physical exam showed no physiological
> reasons for this, i.e., good blood count, etc.
>
> The doc has prescribed Ritalin or Aderal (sp?) (we haven't started
> anything yet) and my daughter seems to really *want* to take it. She
> gets frustrated at things like being at a movie, for example, and not
> even being able to follow along for more than ten minutes. She said her
> mind "wanders." My instinct tells me that once we are into our
> unschooling/homeschooling, her symptoms may disappear; however, if she
> feels that strongly about needing something, maybe I need to go ahead
> and just do it. My question is this: Is Ritalin/Aderal easy to
> "discontinue" once someone has been on it? What do I need to know about
> all of this?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Denise, South Carolina
>
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best wishes
Joel
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Work together to reinvent justice using methods that are fair; which
conserve, restore and even create harmony, equity and good will in society
i.e. restorative justice.
We are the prisoners of the prisoners we have taken - J. Clegg
http://www.cerj.org
B & T Simpson
>>My question is this: Is Ritalin/Aderal easy to
>"discontinue" once someone has been on it? What do I need to know aboutDenise, I have been on Ritalin, and am waiting to get back on it, I did very
>all of this?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Denise, South Carolina>>>>>>
well, I also slept alot mostly during the day, and am add but not hyper, I
have been off the ritalin, and had no trouble in doing so, I did not crave
it, withdrawl from it or anything of that sort, I just know that it helps me
to focus and stay awake so I am anxious to get back on it again,
I hope this helped you, sorry it was so delayed, I have been gone from my
computer for about 2 weeks or more and have 800 messages to wade thru!!!!
Tanya Ohio
>
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>
>ONElist: home to the world's liveliest email communities.
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>Check it out!
>http://www.unschooling.com
>
>