by Elaine Thigpen

Created on: February 10, 2009

I have two children a daughter, 5, and a son, 11. My son has been medicated since August 2006. My experience with my son, life was becoming a nightmare prior to medication. I am not talking about just the behavior but the actions were scary and called for drastic measures. My son would appear to be "care free", but the actions were more care "less".

Going places such as the store or for walks were always challenging. Before going out I try to explain what is expected from him. Not every second I would hold his hand. When in the store he would begin running up and down the aisles, stand in the middle of the aisle blocking people from going by. Constantly telling him to stay next to me or somebody can take you. While in the store he goes up to people giving them hugs, some of the people were elderly. When it comes to the elderly people it makes their day. Regardless who the person was I always tell him that he can't go up to people he doesn't even know and hug them. Going for walks were constant reminders of stay next to me, don't go too far ahead. When we get home we talk more about the dangers of strangers.

There was a moment that was very horrorifying for me that became my breaking point. After the incident we sought help and there was no ADHD diagnosis until about 2 years later. Here is what happened:

One morning, on the weekend, I wake up (about 7:00) just laying in bed talking with my husband about running to the convenient store and discussing who will go. I told him that I will go. I live in a city, nothing big like New York City. When I get to the corner of my street, you come to our main road, across from that is a Rite Aide pharmacy. I would take a left to proceed to the convenient store. On my way back, I see a child running along the side of Rite Aide. That child was my son who was about 6 or 7 years old. What time did he wake up and leave? How could he have gotten across the main street and not been hurt or taken? I am so thankful that none of that happened. I am so thankful that I went to the store because I don't think that my husband would have caught him. That morning was not very busy.

From the time he left the house until he was picked up, he was exposed to strangers of all sorts. Anybody could have picked him up, kidnapped and/or hurt him, took him to the police, or an officer could have picked him up. Something and anything could have happened to him and I would not know about it. After talking with his doctor his actions like these mentioned were part of the symptoms of ADHD.

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