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I know there is help, but where??

Posted by WhenHeSmiles on April 21, 2009 at 4:27 PM

I have 3 children and 2 step. They are all beautiful to my husband and I. Having 2 with ADD, 1 with ADHD and a teenager in full "emo" mode, our family blending has been... well.... trying at times. Our concern is our child with ADHD. I will call him "He Who Won't Stop Moving." He was diagnosed this past fall. We hurdled the school telling us to "place him in Pendleton" for he is only 7. We found adequate (I thought at the time) counseling. He is in treatment for his 99% off task behaviors,impulsiveness,difficulties with peers and noise-making he seems to be unaware of. The effects from the meds are awful, and they do not seem to work. His counselors staple statement is "Well, he seems happier now." WHAT?? His Rx counselor keeps dragging out the treatments even though they have not been effective. He is now on 3 medications a day and has already had his meds switched twice. The school is clearly taking the "it is not our duty to help" attitude.

I swing between anger, hopelessness and frustration behind our closed bedroom door at the end of each day. I hold back my tears for as long as I can keeping in mind our children pick up on our attitudes and outlooks. It hurts to see how our son not receiving proper help is affecting our entire family. It is not his fault. I research, make calls find a good doctor only to find out he is booked for the rest of 2009. I love my family. I keep moving forward. If anyone reading this blog has ANY advise or suggestions for parents that are new to this stuggle, PLEASE comment. I will be faithfully checking back in.

Categories: Having a Voice, Reason Why Parents Distrust , Our Community: This is who we are!

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4 Comments

Reply Amazing Me
10:28 AM on April 22, 2009 
If you are in Hampton Roads please email me or call 373-7102 and i will help you find a list of providers available for you in 2009!
Reply Advocate
04:28 PM on April 22, 2009 
Hello,
There is a list of medical and psychological professionals on this site you may want to try and yes some of them have long waiting list but not all.

Dr. Katz is a national recognized ADHD therapist, perhaps you should email him at duzlaps@gmail.com and ask if he can help.

The school can only place your child at Pendleton if you give consent. Instead, I would request that the school provide additional services. Some of these services could include, an OT evaluation for sensory issues (this could help with attending to task in school), Conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment by a school psychologist who is very knowledgeable about all behaviors associated with ADHD and the development of a POSTIVIE behavioral intervention plan. This plan should not include things like being sent to ISS or anything that is punitive. I hope this helps!

Cheryl Poe
Reply sandbis@regent.edu
04:17 PM on April 24, 2009 
I am on staff at Christian Psychotherapy Services in VB. If you would like, I would be happy to share the details of our resources with you.
Reply mikeysmom2001
02:35 PM on January 06, 2012 
I identify with this blog. I feel the same helplessness. My son was initially put on Adderal, and prescribed a sleep aide as well. He was only 8 years old at the time. I took him off the medicine after about two weeks. He was so lucid, and quiet, it scared me. His teachers hounded me every week through weekly reports and conferences. I was told that putting him on medicine would "bring out his potential". I sat through many, many meetings with his teachers over the years, and was adamant about not putting him on meds. By his fourth grade year (this year), after hearing the same thing from his new set of teachers, I relented and agreeded to go with the diaganosis and put him back on meds. He's on Strattera now, and though I feel like it helps him somewhat, the problems seem to still be there. His teachers are less than sympathetic, and even suggested that I "up his dosage". Scheduling appointments for him is a nightmare. The office closes at noon on Fridays, so I'm faced with taking him out of class for roughly an hour every other week. His teachers are frustrated that he's missing classtime..but what else can I do? I won't have him taking medicine without incorporating therapy sessions too. Help.