To medicate or not to medicate...?
I’ve always had an open mind about medication. My mother learnt about homoeopathy when I was a teenager and so many of my formative years involved taking arnica for bruises and other homoeopathic remedies for other ailments. When it was my turn to have the BCG injection at school, I was given a homoeopathic alternative, along with my siblings. This led to much teasing by my so-called friends about taking ‘herbal remedies and I’ve no idea to this day if I have immunity or not.
In my early twenties, I struggled with depression, off and on, and was eventually prescribed anti-depressants which were a significant factor in my recovery. Since then I’ve had countless conversations with people reluctant to take anti-depressants, about what they are and how they can help. I eventually got to the point where I could ‘feel’ my depression creeping up on me, and a mental mind shift was all that was needed to keep it at bay.
If I get a headache, going for paracetamol is not my instinctive response. I’d always prefer to resolve things without resorting to tablets if at all possible. As a parent, I’ve used everything; medication, homoeopathy, and alternative therapies to keep our family healthy and well. We’ve used the Safe and Sound protocol which is a listening therapy, Bowen, NAET and even crystal healing to rid my son of warts. So when my eldest son was diagnosed recently with ADHD, I was interested to see what he would think about taking medication.
He is in his final year of A levels and was drowning. He jumped at the chance to see if medication might be helpful. I’d clearly rather he wasn’t taking medication, however understanding where he was in his education, and the factors he was struggling with, if medication would help him finish this year in the way he needed to achieve, then perhaps that was the right approach.
It hasn’t been a magic bullet. The first three weeks of incremental dosages didn’t seem to be making any difference at all. We then started again with a different medication and gradually as the dose has increased, he’s started to notice a positive impact, with minimal negative side effects.
He has just completed his first week on a full dose and to use his words:
““I’ve had the most productive week of my life, I feel like a new man.””
He even drew a graph to explain to his friends the effect the medication is having.
At nearly 18 years old, this was of course his decision. And whilst I’m not a fan of medication, I also get that it has its place. I’m hoping this is an interim phase where he can re-learn what life might be like for him without the difficulties of his ADHD. There are lots of studies that show how men in particular have managed to live without medication by combining a lifestyle that includes lots of exercise with working in an area where hyperfocus is easy to achieve.
I’m hoping a few months of living a life where he can concentrate and be productive will spur him to see what might be possible without the need for medication. And if he has to medicate to achieve his potential then I’ll also be cool with that.
Medication is a tricky decision for us as parents. Had he been much younger the decision may have been left to me, and I’m not sure what I would have decided. I only hope I’d have had the opportunity to speak with other parents who had been on this road before me who could share their experiences to help me make an informed decision.