Teeanger Daughter Diagnosed ADHD/ODD and Depression

As the mother of an ADD child, my first tip is: get help. My daughter's therapist is the most wonderful person. She has a way of suggesting coping strategies and helping my husband and me see what elements of our behaviour are helpful and which aren't without us feeling judged or critizised in any way. My daughter adores her.

The second: Find a mantra that helps you deal with the sometimes aggressive, diffcult elements of ADD. Something to repeat to calm yourself when tempers run hot. Mine is: She wants to but she can't. (control herself in some situations).

The third: Make a list of the positive sides of your daughter's personality. Sometimes we focus so much on the challenges, we can lose sight of the parts that make ADD kids so wonderfully creative and fun. Focus on the positive things 8 times, look at the negative things once, then move on.

And remember: AD(H)D is a challenge you can meet, not a death sentence, not a tragedy. You can do this.

I cannot give much advice, I have had a lot of experience with both though. Both have become a very common diagnosis and one of the most important things is to not allow her to live up to these "labels" just because she now has them. It is difficult enough being a teenager.

I hope that makes sense. =)
I wish you and your family the best!!!

Look into a natural Fish Oil supplement along with a good natural multi-vitamin. They're not on the market to treat this, but I've read that alot of kids with ADHD are greatly improving with the use of these supplements. Why? Because the immune system is being boosted to help combat stress, depression, focusing, & much more. I was on Pre-nate DHA (DHA is in Fish Oil) as a prenatal supplement for two years & my stress totally disappeared... I didn't allow anything to bother me, but once I stopped taking them I started getting common colds easily again & my stress level went sky high. Do some research online... it's a way better alternative then using drugs which do nothing but suppress symptoms & cause a rack of side effects.

FYI... Fish Oil is a natural supplement that you can buy at any Health Food Store. It's not a snake oil or scam. Alot of Western doctors don't recommend natural remedies because they want your money. They want us all to stay sick & keep coming back for more drugs. There are no prescriptions out there either that will cure anything. All I'm saying is to look into it. Even ask a specialist about it. If they're any good, they should know all about Fish Oil.

Greetings from a Rochester NY native (grew up in Fairport and my family all lives there) My daughter was diagnosed with ODD and I can tell you it's a frustrating problem. I never would have believed in the diagnosis if I didn't have a child suffering from it. The more I try to understand, the better I get a handle on it. I will be glad to offer you some prayers and a shoulder if you need one! Good luck! (I know a very very good psychologist in Pittsford if you're interested. She was mine and she was amazing!

For starters, listen to the specialists helping your daughter. Tap into their expertise and don't rule out medication based in misconceptions. Medication may make all the difference in the world. Address any concerns directly with the specialists, not the general public.

Be very careful of scams and misinformation. There are a lot of snake oil peddlers out there when you say ADHD or any brain disorder. Diet, vitamins and detoxing will not cure the above conditions. Again, talk to the doctors who understand the conditions inside-out. They really do deserve their medical degrees and have the expertise to help your daughter.

Join CHADD and subscribe to ADDitude magazine for useful insights into daily life with ADHD and the co-morbid conditions you've mentioned.

Recognize that you're not alone. I've been dealing with our son's ADHD and co-morbid conditions since he was three and he's now eight. It's a long, difficult road, but there is hope. Listen to the doctors.

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.