Caring for Yourself and Your Child
Print Version (PDF, 4MB)
Back to all Preventive Health Programs
Parents often feel frustration and stress
when caring for a child with ADHD.
This makes it even harder to care for the
child. Stress comes from dealing with
the symptoms of ADHD every day and can affect the whole family. Learning about different treatments
helps reduce stress. It is also important
to take care of your own needs. When you take care of yourself, you’re better
able to help your child.
1. Understanding Treatments for ADHD
It’s easier to help your child when you understand the different treatments for ADHD. Many
children with ADHD take medicines and often are on them for months or years. Your child must take medicine just as the doctor prescribes or the symptoms will come back. While your child is on medicine he or she should continue to see the doctor regularly. Watch for some of the following improvements after your child starts taking medicine.
- Changes in Attention
Better able to finish tasks
Better able to focus on schoolwork
- Changes in Emotion
Less frustrated
Less irritable
Fewer temper tantrums
- Changes in Hyperactivity
Less fidgeting
Able to play quietly
Fewer impulsive behaviors, like interrupting others
Medicine may help reduce your child's symptoms but it doesn't solve all the problems of ADHD and it doesn't cure ADHD. Medicine won’t change the way your child deals with other people,
schoolwork problems, or low self-esteem. Therapy can
help with these problems. Therapy can help your
child act better and learn to deal with others better.
Some kinds of therapy help your child and
family talk about your child’s emotional
problems. Therapy may increase your
child’s self-esteem.
Treatment won’t work without
your child’s effort. Reward your
child for trying to improve. Praise
your child when he or she succeeds
in acting better. This helps motivate your child to improve.
back to top
2. Other Treatment Choices
You may not be sure that your child should take medicine.
You may hear about alternative treatments. Some of these
don’t work. Others are dangerous or unhealthy.
Parents who have children with ADHD may tell you about
their successes with alternative treatments. Companies may tell
you that an alternative treatment is a sure thing. There is no
proof that alternative treatments like biofeedback, restricted
diets, allergy treatments, megavitamins, treatment for yeast
infection, going to chiropractor visits, eye training, or using special
colored glasses work for ADHD. Dietary supplements can
have serious side effects.
Talk with your child's doctor:
- If your think your child isn’t
getting better after starting
medicine.
- Before treating your child in
another way.
- If you don’t think your child
Should take medicine.
- To get suggestions about
other kinds of treatment.
- If you think your child is
having side effects from
medication.
- Before stopping your child's medicine. Never stop your child’s
medicine without talking to your child's doctor..
back to top
3. Take Care of Yourself
ADHD
isn’t just your child’s problem. It affects the whole family. Sometimes
you might feel frustrated and helpless. This causes tension in the
family. Here are things you can do to make it easier to work with
your child.
- Don’t blame yourself.
Don’t blame yourself, family members, or your home environment
for causing ADHD. Scientists don’t know the causes
of ADHD. Don’t blame yourself when things you do to help
your child don’t work. Be patient with yourself and your child.
- Get involved early.
Watch how your child behaves. Noticing
a problem early makes it easier to solve.
You will have less stress if you solve
problems early.
- Educate yourself.
Learn about
ADHD. Look at
books and Internet
sites to learn
about new treatments
that may help your
child. This will help you feel
more in control.
- Practice asserting yourself.
Be comfortable with being firm and
asserting yourself. It will be easier to talk
with your child. By being firm, you will be
able to help your child take responsibility
for his or her own actions.
- Notice small successes.
Feel good about yourself and your child.
Don’t demand perfection from yourself or
your child. Don’t be hard on yourself.
Don’t give up. When you want to solve a
problem, start with small steps. Success
comes in small steps. Enjoy small improvements.
They give you and your child the
strength to meet the next problem.
- Make time for yourself.
Take breaks when you feel stressed.
Sit in a quiet place. Do something that
makes you feel good about yourself.
A break helps you cool down and
rethink a problem.
- Focus on the good things.
Reward yourself for successes. Never give up
hope. During difficult times, it helps to
remember your successes. Think about the good
experiences with your child.
- Try to relax.
Learn relaxation techniques to
help you relax.
Some of these are
breathing exercises,
muscle relaxation,
and meditation.
Ask your doctors
or other health
care providers
about ways to
relax. Books and
the Internet also have information.
Eat and exercise regularly. Avoid caffeine,
alcohol, or other drugs. This helps you stay
healthy and lessen your worry.
- Build a support network.
Find someone to talk to when you have a
problem. This helps you decrease stress. Your
child’s therapist, a social worker, a school
counselor, or a pediatrician are all good people to
talk to. Talk to family members about your
frustrations and successes. Don’t be afraid
to ask for help.
back to top
4. Books for Children With ADHD
- Putting on the brakes: A child’s guide to understanding and
gaining control over attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
by Patricia Quinn, 1991. Published in New
York by Magination Press. (For children aged 4-7)
- Otto learns about his medicine: A story about medication
for children with ADHD by M. Galvin, 1995. Published
in New York by Magination Press.
(For children aged 4-8)
- Sometimes I Drive My Mom Crazy, But I Know She’s
Crazy About Me: A Self-Esteem Book for ADHD Children
by LE Shapiro and MS Hennie, 1993. Published in Long
Island, New York by Childswork/Childsplay.
- The Hyperactive Turtle by DM Moss, 1990. Published in
Rockville, MD by Woodbine House.
(For children aged 5-8)
- Help is on the way: A child’s book about ADD by MA
Nemiroff and J Annunziata, 1998. Published in New
York by Magination Press. (For children aged 5-9)
- Putting on the brakes: Young people’s guide to understanding
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
by Patricia Quinn and Judith Stern, 1991. Published in
New York by Magination Press. (For children aged 9-12)
- Adolescents and ADD: Gaining the Advantage by Patricia
Quinn, 1995. Published in New York by Magination
Press. (For children and adolescents aged 11-14)
back to top
