The debate over whether or not children should be put on prescription medication could go on forever. There are valid points for each side. Some people have great success with medication, while others encounter many negative side effects. Everything changes from person to person.
But in my situation, I am very glad to have the option to be on medication. I do not have ADHD, but I have been diagnosed with a few other things.
When I moved away to college, it was an amazing experience. I was five hours away from home, out of state, and totally independent. I was loving it! My sophomore year however, things started going wrong. I started gaining weight very rapidly. I was always sick. I wasn't sleeping, and I was always tired, but when I laid in bed at night I would stare at the ceiling until morning. I was always anxious. I was always worried and stressed, even though I wasn't sure what I was stressed about. I couldn't focus enough to do any homework, and I was too tired to go to class. So, inevitably, I had to withdraw myself from school. The girl in "Medicating Young Minds" reminded me a lot of myself.
I moved back home into my parent's house. The doctors all thought I was bipolar, but with further testing and evaluation, it turns out I had an extremely low Vitamin D level, which caused Hypothyroidism, which caused Anxiety, and Depression. With drug therapy and counseling I was able to become myself again. If I hadn't have had access to those prescriptions, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'm working a full time job in the healthcare field, and I am going to school full time to work towards my BSN. So although I do agree that sometimes medication isn't the right answer for all people, I am very thankful for it.
Your story is amazing. I always admire people who rise above their problems and go on to do something great.
ReplyDeleteI feel that sometimes the answer is as more definable like yours - being vitamin D deficient & treating hypothyroidism, this will show up in blood work. Other times it is more complex and subject to interpretation. Hopefully doctors will take the time to look for the right answers and treat problems accordingly. The ADHD dignosis seems to leave a lot of gray area for being wrong about the diagnosis.
Yes, I agree with you, even I have my opinion to be on medication. Your life story reminds me about a friend of mine, who had Vitamin D deficiency. Thanks to her doctor, who figured this out soon, she was on medication for few years and now she is doing great.
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