Living with ADHD

Today I had a great time chatting to a couple of amazing mums who have children with various ADHD and related issues. These mums are doing it tough but their love for their children shines through and they are doing everything possible to help their children progress well in life.  I love that they were able to keep a sense of humour even in the most frustrating of circumstances. I am encouraged by their determination and their spirit to push on even on the most difficult days. They represent many of the parents I speak to. All determined to have better outcomes for their children. This is why together we are better. Together we can support and encourage one another. Together we can brainstorm ideas that can make life easier for families. Together we can help achieve outcomes that might not otherwises seem possible.  Together we are more than the sum of the individuals.  Together we can make a difference in our world.

This is a great blog by a mum of a child diagnosed with ADHD http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/30/11289.html

This is the link to a great blog by the Mum of a child with ADHD. http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/30/11289.html

I don't know about you, but I'm amazed at how often we think we know what is best for others without trying to understand their situation first. I know in the past, I probably made the same mistake. ADHD is a complex disorder, no two children are the same and it manifests in many different ways. Of course there are many things we can do to help our children, and some of them are up on this blog. But I've noticed recently, that some people seem to think they know best. My experience is that this is mostly in the area of medication. It seems that when a parent chooses to put their child on medication, that it unleashes the best and the worst in people. I'm always disappointed when I hear of, or read of, people who just assume that medication is somehow the cop out and the quick fix first response. This is simply not true. Again, from experience, parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and other related disorders are not looking for a quck fix to make life easy for them...

Well its been a little while since I posted anything here. The last few months have been very busy. One of the great things we have achieved with our ADHD Support Group over the last few months is getting our "Being Me" kids program for primary aged kids up and running. We have found this a really useful way to help kids living with ADHD to understand more about themselves and to be able to use the toolsfrom the program to help them make good choices, understand their emotions and devlop their creative side. Oneof the great things about the program is that the kids can feellike they belong. Recently, one of our children said that it was the first time they felt normal. Another mum told us that it was the only children's program her child had not been kicked out of. We value the children in our programs and the leaders are great people, all with a solid understanding of ADHD. It's been great to see the children grow and develop. We are now at a point where we are rev...

I've just read a very interesting article on the association of ADHD and trauma called Towards an understanding of the ADHD-Trauma connection. (Littman 2009). I became more interested in this connection through involvement in our ADHD support group and also working with families affected by domestic violence. It became clear to me that there were similarities and I began to think about some of our families in our support group where trauma was also  present and to ask myself "Is it ADHD, or is it trauma/domesticviolence related?" There are similarities between the behaviours of children with ADHD and trauma. According to Littman, in response to repeated trauma, the child's brain will try to protect itself, leading to hypervigilance. This hypervigilance can mimic hyperactivity and inattentiveness because the child becomes more focussed on distractions. Littman says that since both ADHD and trauma result in similar cognitive and behavioural manifestations, this can le...

We are coming to one of the most exciting times of year. The end of the school year is almost upon us and Christmas is only a few weeks away. This is a great time of year for celebration, for family traditions and for holidays. This is also a time where children living with ADHD can be free from the constraints of school and enjoy much more free time. It does mean that there is often less routine and this can make this time a year a little tricky. Some thoughts on having a great Christmas holiday season. Try to keep as much routine as possible. I know that it's often a time when as parents we want to relax and let routine slip, however this can be quite off putting for some children. Keeping betime and morning routines can help maintain a better equilibrium for all involved. Of course, feel free to relax the routine if possible. Plan your daily activities well. If your child is in Vacation Care, they will have great activities planned for your children. If your children are a...