We live in a world today where people don't blink twice about taking meds for their heart, lungs, thyroid, etc when they aren't working properly. However, when the subject of medicating for something that is more mental, than physical, there is a lot of controversy.
A lot of mental/emotional illness can be treated by diet, exercise, and sleep. Some people have very strong opinions that this is the way to go. You SHOULD NOT use medicine for mental and emotional issues because it will just mess you up further. That and put needless chemicals into your body.
Other people have the opinion that medicine should cure it all. You don't need to make lifestyle changes. Just take a pill.
I personally stand on middle ground. I think lifestyle choices make a major impact on how someone feels emotionally and mentally in addition to physical health. I am currently taking medication for depression and anxiety, and it helps a lot. But I also try to watch what I eat, get as close to 8 hours of sleep each night that my children will let me, exercise often (even if it is taking the dogs for a walk). All of that helps me manage my issues.
For my kids it is not so easy. Cinderella deals with a lot of anxiety, she takes meds for it, but lifestyle choices tend to be more like an average teen. Guy and Spike take ADHD meds, and live their lives the way they want. The medicine helps them all dramatically, and I am glad we made the choice to try it.
However, Scooter is another story. Scooter has always had a vivid imagination. From the time he was able to talk he was always telling us about Scooter's world. Even now that he is 6, Scooter's world is very real to him, even though he is now aware it is all imaginary. On a daily basis, it is not uncommon to come into a room and see Scooter walking around talking and interacting with those in Scooter's World.
This school year started off on a really rocky start. I often got calls from the school that Scooter was acting out and having behavior problems. The first time he threw a desk and chair. Then he was banging the computer mouse against the desk. Kicking the teacher, hurting other students, not respecting others space, standing in the back of the class room yelling, running away from school..... I knew we needed to do something, I just didn't know what. I thought it was possible he has ADHD like his brothers, (I also deal with this by the way), or may even be high functioning autistic. I made an appointment to see the Dr.
The Dr gave us evaluation forms for the parents and teachers to fill out. Based on the answers he says that Scooter is sever ADHD. And recommended that we put him on the same meds we give our other boys, starting out at 10 mg instead of the usual 5, because his behavior has been so sever.
We have him his first dose Saturday morning, and it did calm him down, but it also got him talking. If you know Scooter, then you are already aware that he is a charter box, talking to anyone he meets with no filter. Well, on his meds he started talking non-stop, and getting really upset when someone won't listen to him at that point. No matter the situation, and how appropriate conversation is at that time. He is usually talking all about Scooter's World and what is going on there. He isn't acting it out anymore, he just follows me around giving me a play by play of what is happening. It is rather exhausting. Then came night time. He just couldn't fall asleep. He was too wired. We tried giving him melatonin like the Dr suggested, but even a high dose seemed to have little affect. He had lost a tooth that day, and finally around 11:30 he told me he doesn't believe in the tooth fairy. I told him tooth fairy or not, no one could switch his tooth for a coin unless he went to sleep. He finally did, and the tooth fairy was able to come.
Then yesterday, he was at it again. Constantly talking. Come bed time, and beyond, he couldn't get to sleep. I tried, the hubs tried, he just wasn't going to sleep. We finally just went to bed, and he eventually came in our room, and started taking to his dad about all kinds of things. The hubs was really patient with him, and kept answering his questions, until he dozed off enough, that Scooter's next comment startled him awake. The hubs sat up so fast, it scared Scooter, and Scooter started crying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. " I tried to get Scooter's attention at which point he covered his ears and went screaming from the room. Afraid he would wake the whole house, I followed him out. He had moved to the corner of the window seat in the kitchen. I sat by him and he started screaming, "Go away! Go away!" Hands over his ears again, he refused to listen to what I was saying. I told him he needed to calm down or I would take him outside. I have learned from experience that when a child is really upset at night time, taking them out into the cooler air for a minute often will help them calm down. He refused to calm down, so I took him out. He did calm down at that point enough for me to talk to him. I was able to get him to be calm and go back to the area of the house near his bedroom. He and I then sat on the couch and talked. He told me it is really hard to not be able to act out Scooter's World. I found myself wondering if these meds are good for him. His dose may be too high, he may need a different med. But what if none of these meds help him focus without taking away his ability to be who he wants to be? How do I help him then? It is my current quandary.
This morning he told me his stomach hurt, which he has mentioned the last few days as well. This could be a side effect to the meds, or it could be something else. I let him stay home from school, and he was constantly at me talking to me again. I tried to encourage him to act out the ideas he was talking to me about. I got him paper and crayons to encourage him to draw out his ideas. We will see if he goes to sleep any better tonight.
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