Is ADHD a Mental Illness — well…

technically some brainiacs  may want to label it that way.

I just can’t get him to be quiet!

I’m a bit skittish about labeling people.  Labels tend to follow a person for the rest of their  life.

Many parents with ADD/ADHD children have put them on the social security rolls.

When my son was young I refused to do that. I knew if I had, that label would have followed him the rest of his life. I just wouldn’t couldn’t do that to him.

What’s the purpose of labeling ADD/ADHD a mental disease or disorder?

I really don’t know.

I had a young man who has been diagnosed with adult ADD/ADHD,  comment here on this blog.

He was a bit irritated because he felt I was painting my son and other people like my son, as a freak. This young man said–

There are a number of ways to deal with adult ad/hd… and we aren’t just some freaks… the way you illustrate it in your blog. You probably won’t agree with how i feel about your post…I’m surprised my underachieving ability is able to write a coherent thought, but here I am.

I understand; you want a sounding board to scream out your frustrations with dealing w/ adhd people… awesome!

Don’t bill your blog as some place people can talk about adhd and grow when all you do is COMPLAIN.

I’m not doing that. And, I’m sorry he felt as if I was.

I’m writing about how life is living with my son who happens to be ADD/ADHD.

If writing about sleepless nights, loudness, mouthiness, frustration [his], throwing things, breaking things etc… is complaining then, so be it, I’m complaining.

How would this young man feel about the article I just read: some in the psychiatric community want to label ADD/ADHD as a mental illness?

From ADD/ADHD RESOURCES

Although my thinking might bring the wrath of the ADHD community down on me, hear me out. To me, it seems appropriate to call ADHD a mental illness. Years ago it might have been reasonable to separate the severely abnormal behaviors seen in the “mentally ill” (i.e. when a person became psychotic) from the lesser abnormal behaviors, seen in those with ADHD, but our new knowledge about the brain eliminates this distinction for me.

I don’t think he’d like what was said here either.

My whole point to this blog is to vent my frustrations. Also, to show how someone like my son acts on a daily basis.

To show that people like him are difficult to have a relationship with.

Like, last night, for me, it was another sleepless night. He had company in my house at 3:00AM which, I didn’t appreciate.

So, I tried to discuss with him how this action was disrespectful.  Well, that was like talking to a remote control in mid-switch.

His mouth blabbered [it’s almost as if he’s speaking another language] as fast as his brain — the dog listens better than he does.

He just won’t put the shut with the up!

I believe that if he would go to counseling and receive the help that he needs life would be better for the both of us.

Right now, I make sure he eats balanced meals and he, on his own, does go out and exercise.

Things are better than they were but, we’ve got a long way to go.

ADD/ADHD or Bipolar

Now there’s a question.

ADHD OR BIPOLAR

Because ADHD and bipolar disorder do share some symptoms and sometimes coexist, children like Alex are commonly misdiagnosed. ADHD is a more common condition in children and often the first thing a doctor thinks of.

Which could he have. With adults it’s possible to be both.

“An adult with bipolar disorder can also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, better known as ADHD. That’s what Timothy Wilens, MD, and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital found after careful study of 51 adults diagnosed with ADHD.” Read More —

Adult ADHD

With my son he’s up and down up and down. Some psychiatrist believe it could be Bipolar disorder. Many of them believe that ADD/ADHD is over-diagnosed.

If those educated in the field are at polar-opposites [pardon the pun] between the two then, how are we, as parents, suppose to know.

We’re trusting the professionals to know what they’re talking about.

When my son was in elementary school I had him to three different psychiatrist and they’ve all agreed that he is ADHD.

Well that’s wonderful, we knew what the problem was, dealing with it was the hurdle I never leaped over.

Me, as his mother believe that right now,  he could be suffering from bipolar disorder too.

When he hits bottom and is depressed, no one can live with him. He barks at you, talks nasty to you, throws things and sneaks and self medicates.

When he’s on a high, you still have a hard time living with him. He doesn’t bark at people as much but he still throws things, plays tons of tricks on you, and definitely doesn’t sleep much.

Sounds bipolar to me but, what do I know.

Right now, he’s up. He’s going to graduate from school and is doing an internship.

I’m so proud of him. He stayed on task and got through this course. He did very, very well.

He had some problems relating to the other students but, he controlled himself and dealt with the situation.

He’s feeling pretty good about himself as he should. Most importantly, he knows I’m his biggest fan.

His Brain Switches Like a Remote Control

ding, ding, ding

You can see him leave the planet. It’s as if he’s headed out towards the galaxy far, far away. It’s as if he’s rocketing up, up and away so he can swing from the rings of Saturn or orbit Neptune or Jupiter or some unknown planet.

I’m serious!

James’ eyes cut back and forth like an arcade game ball. You know, when you push the buttons and the paddles connect with little ball then, you hear a  “ding, ding, ding” while the little white ball goes back and forth back and forth.

Well, when my son’s eyes perform this amazing feat, means that “James has left the building” and his brain is switching channels so fast that you want to snatch the remote and take out the batteries.

I know you know what I mean. Picture your husband or boyfriend with a remote in his hand.  Yet, he constantly switches the channels looking for something to watch even though there’s already perfectly good program you’re watching.

Can you honestly say this doesn’t bug you?

Try living with a human remote. One minute they’re planning one activity then WHAM! all of a sudden they’re on to another subject.

This is a constant occurrence — no breaks.

Can you say that you wouldn’t be living in a continued state of frustration?

I can’t — I’m always frustrated and irritable

Yet, people like him are very intelligent. They have above average intelligence but, are under achievers.

Read  ADD/ADHD

These are suppose to be my Golden years — I didn’t know Gold rusted!