Does anyone here have either kids or skids with ADHD who opted out of meds once they turned 18?
I'm just curious to know because I don't think I've ever really known anyone who was medicated as a child, then opted out of meds once they were an adult, and what the result of that was. Both of my skids have ADHD, and are medicated about 75% of the time (during the school week and at BM's house), but when they're unmedicated (with us), they are borderline out of control. Actually, not just borderline, they're very out of control. I've always maintained that if they don't get behavioral therapy of some kind in conjunction with medication, if they decide as adults not to be on meds, they really won't have the tools to be successful in life, but then I thought, I really don't know anyone who was on meds, who then went off. My BIL has ADHD, but was never medicated as a child because at that time, they didn't really know about it. His son has ADHD, and was medicated, but I'm not sure if he stayed on meds as an adult, or if he went off of them. I'm pretty sure DH has it, but again, undiagnosed AND has never been medicated, obviously. I just wonder really what the future will hold for the skids. SS14 has the type where he avoids anything that doesn't grip him right away, plus he is very defiant (that would be his ODD) and has a generally terrible attitude (though I believe that to be genetic since EVERYONE in DH's family has a generally terrible attitude it seems). At least on meds, is doesn't get into AS much trouble in school as he could. SS12, on the other hand, has the kind where he is completely off-the-wall, everything comes out, but nothing goes in where he literally doesn't even know what day it is, gets distracted by everything he sees, acts VERY obnoxious, and basically just makes random weird noises and voices all day long. On meds, he's manageable at least. All I see for them in the future off-meds without behavioral is SS14 getting fired from every job he has (provided he's actually interested enough to get one) because of popping off at the mouth too many times to the boss, and SS12 getting fired from every job he has because he can't finish anything he starts. Anyone have experience with this?
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Yeah, I'm still not 100%
Yeah, I'm still not 100% clear on why his kids remain unmedicated at our house, because in my mind, it's either be medicated all the time, or not at all. I think his parents have brain-washed him into thinking that they don't need meds, they just need to be talked to in a soft voice (even though that doesn't work and they can't control them, either). At the very LEAST SS14's ODD needs behavioral therapy because I know that is the only way to get that under control. Worst part is, I do behavioral, but I'm so fed-up of being the only one who follows any behavioral plan, I've just opted out of the whole thing now. They went to about 3 sessions with another behavioral therapist who wasn't me, and I think BM stopped taking them because the therapist was telling her the exact same stuff as I was when she asked my advice and didn't take it. Plus she figured out that any kind of behavioral plan requires work, and medicating them is easier. I have no problem implementing a behavioral plan at my house, but DH always counters me on everything, so I figure since they're not my kids, and I'm even fighting my own husband on this, however they turn out is how they turn out, I'm done trying, they didn't come out of my body and I've never really cared about them anyway. I was just wondering what other people's experiences were and maybe what I should expect.
On meds I'm on point and
On meds I'm on point and things get done, off meds I'm way off point and nothing gets done.
I have ADHD and did since I
I have ADHD and did since I was a kid. The truth is you learn to control the symptoms like the impulsivity, the interruptions, (not perfectly) but you see what is socially acceptable and not. I do take meds if it gets very bad and I get a lot of work done when I do and can actually focus but I rarely take them as an adult. IT's about learning to control these things. I have two sons who have ADHD and I'm hoping one day they will be off meds too if that is what they want.
How did you learn to control
How did you learn to control your symptoms, and how old were you when you learned? My skids will definitely not start learning these things until they're adults, I'm afraid, but was it just trial and error, or did you go to therapy...? Interested to know. It would be nice if someday the skids could be off meds and learn to control themselves.