Friday, June 6, 2014

Parenting a child with a Behavioral/Mental Health Disorder: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder)






Hello Families & Professional:

If you have child a child with ADHD, you have a family with ADHD.  Living with a child who has butterflies in their head or who cannot not sit down at the table and have a meal “like a normal child” or who is so impulsive to the point that they get in trouble all the time for not thinking before acting…you know your whole family is affected.  As a parent, it can often feel so out of your control and chaotic.  How many of you out there say a small prayer as you are getting out of bed that goes something like, “Lord, please grant me the patience to be the best parent I can be this morning and please, please, please make this morning a good day for my ADHD child, so that we are not late to school and work!!”  Not to mention, the chaos of trying to get homework in or the end of year school concert or graduation ceremony or school field trip to the park without an incident.  One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as a parent is to understand that your child can not help it.  They are not trying to make you late or trying to frustrate you or intentionally dragging their feet.  They simply cannot help it.  I really hope the resources below can be of help to you. 

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER MEDICATION?  This is one of the best articles I have seen and wanted to highlight it: http://www.chadd.org/Membership/Attention-Magazine/View-Articles/ADHD-and-the-Decision-to-Medicate.aspx

What is ADHD?         
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Children's Mental Health New Report, ADHD is the most common mental health diagnosed in children in the United States. Based on the report, my guess is that you likely know a child with ADHD or you are parenting one.  ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults. It is described as a “persistent” or on-going pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that gets in the way of daily life or typical development. Individuals with ADHD may also have difficulties with maintaining attention, executive function (or the brain’s ability to begin an activity, organize itself and manage tasks) and working memory. There are three presentations of ADHD: Inattentive, Hyperactive-impulsive, Combined inattentive & hyperactive-impulsive. 

Resources on Diagnosis and Understanding of ADHD:
ADHD Awareness Month http://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/symptoms-and-diagnosis/
Updates to ADHD in the DSM-5 http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/ADHD%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf  
National Resource Center for ADHD http://www.help4adhd.org/      
My ADHD http://myadhd.com  

NATIONAL Support Resource:
One of my favorite group is CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) they are great resource and have many group and training opportunities for parents and there are many chapters around the country.  CHADD has a great interactive resource list of professional working with ADHD Clients that you can utilize: http://www.chadd.org/Support/Professional-Directory.aspx            There is a virtual 

Chapter of CHADD with online support group meets you can locate that at: http://www.chadd.org/Support/Virtual-Chapter.aspx

National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/index.shtml?utm_source=REFERENCES_R7  



Attention Deficit Disorder Association http://www.add.org/ Resource for ADULTS & Older Children living with ADHD



OREGON Resources: 
Portland Metro CHADD has satellites in Eugene & Hillsboro/Beaverton: http://www.chadd.net/template.cfm?affid=246&p=about

Oregon CHADD Resource List: http://www.chadd.org/Support/Directory.aspx?state=279640047

Portland State University List of ADHD Resources: http://www.cwpsalem.pdx.edu/netlink/ADHDFundamentals/ADHD%20Resource%20list.pdf

WASHINGTON Resources:
Eastside CHADD http://www.eastside-chadd.org/Professional.html offers monthly classes to assist in parenting a child with ADHD.  The next class is on June 17th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Evergreen Health Care in Kirkland:
Dr. Harlan Gephart - ADHD in the Family. What do Families Need to Know? Dr. Harlan Gephart, noted national expert who trains pediatricians in the diagnosis and effective management of ADHD, will explain what parents, their children, and teachers need to know about ADHD. What is it? What do families need to know about ADHD? What strategies can families use to be more effective? Dr. Gephart will share his extensive expertise about ADHD to help us develop a comprehensive approach to treating this multifaceted condition.
Washington State CHADD Resource List: http://www.chadd.org/Support/Directory.aspx?state=279640062#sthash.M4wmxp0Z.dpuf  

APEX Summer Camp for Kids with ADHD with UW and Seattle Children’s http://depts.washington.edu/camp2013/Apex_Summer_Camp/Home.html


PUBLICATIONS:
Parenting Your Child with ADHD, A No-Nonsense Guide for Nurturing Self-Reliance and Cooperation Author: Craig Wiener EdD (Book)

ADDITUED Magazine: Living well with ADHD http://www.additudemag.com          

A good list of books about ADHD by ADD Warehouse http://www.addwarehouse.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/parents.html       






















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