ADD/ADHD OVERVIEW HELP! I JUST FOUND OUT MY CHILD HAS ADD/ADHD
It’s going to be OK! Now the worst is over…
The worst is not knowing what is going on, having nowhere to turn for help, feeling you or your child are constantly being misunderstood and even attacked, and feeling helpless in the face of ongoing problems and conflicts. The worst is feeling alone. The worst is knowing that your child is not getting what he or she needs and not knowing what to do about it. The worst is watching your child suffer and not being able to provide the right kind of help. The worst is the feeling of powerlessness in the face of unjust and unwarranted pain in the life of your child.
In that sense, the worst is over. We have help here. We can guide you, and even more important, join you so that you no longer feel alone. Now, you join the team of people all over the country and the world who are working to transform life with ADD from a struggle to a triumph.
But, the transformation will not be easy. While the worst is over, a lot of work is yet to be done. As the parent of a child with ADD, you will have to work harder than most parents, just as your child will have to work harder than most children, to reach the goals you desire. You can do it, and the information and camaraderie you find here will help you do it, but there will be times of stagnation, pain, and even regression. Take heart, though. This is normal. The progress in life with ADD never does run smooth.
But, you will get there. You and your child will make progress. A word of advice: never worry alone. Turn to us, turn to friends, turn to doctors and other experts, turn to teachers, turn to whomever you trust the most. The most important element in the long term treatment of ADD is love sustained over time. In order to love fully, you need to stoke yourself up. Turn to others, turn to us. We are all in this together.
What should I do next?
The fact that you are here shows that you are already taking some of the important next steps. There are many misconceptions about what ADD/ADHD is, and what it means for your child. Start by learning about what ADD/ADHD really is: we’ve created a overview right here, and have many other resources here on the site (as well as others that we provide links to) that will all help you.
If you believe that your child may have ADD/ADHD, but have not yet been diagnosed by a doctor or qualified mental health professional, we recommend making an appointment with one for a proper evaluation. If you are near Boston or New York City, the Hallowell Centers specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD. If not, there are many resources to find qualified doctors available here. You might also start by asking your family doctor or a school psychologist, if they are not personally qualified they can assist you in finding someone who is.
If your child has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, it will be of great benefit to both your child and you to seek out treatment and counseling. There are many very positive, wonderful things about ADD/ADHD that go along with its difficult qualities. Proper treatment will allow your child to harness the positive qualities and learn how to cope with and control the difficult traits as well. We call this the positive, strengths based approach to ADD/ADHD, and you can learn more about it here. We also discuss both medical treatments for ADD/ADHD and non-medicinal treatments.