Norrine and I have often talked about how beneficial it would’ve been to have known other parents with complex ADHDers as we’ve been on this parenting journey. Neither of us had the benefit of heartfelt and telling conversations with other parents who’d traveled before us. There’s much that can be learned from another’s story. At the very least, it can remind us we’re not alone. On some days, that would’ve been more than enough.
Nor’s Story continued: Never Have I Ever (been so confused)
Age five and we love him so. He’s tender and caring and loving and oh so smart. He’s adorable and melts our hearts and teaches me more about love than any human being ever has before. He’s been evaluated and tested and he’s smart and has ADHD and is getting treated and in a good school. I thought that meant we had it under control.
Why, oh why then the endless crying and inability to tolerate change and constant emotional vibration? Why the MELTDOWNS? Why the shoe throwing and the food throwing and the dishes throwing? Was THIS a part of ADHD? We are all so confused, including our son, whose world doesn’t make sense to us, much less to him.
Age five and we have our third diagnosis, only this time the new doctor doesn’t say to me, “All of these symptoms fall neatly into one diagnosis.” Diagnoses like anxiety weren’t enough on their own. Generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, childhood bipolar, and a new one, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, all get discussed. The difficulty of making accurate diagnoses is stressed to us. The difficulties of effective treatment for mood disorders at age five is also stressed to us.
How did we get here from there?
Age five and we are so confused.
Join us this week on the blog as we continue to unfold our diagnosis stories. There’s power in sharing your story and we invite you to share yours too. If you haven’t already, join our Two Moms and ADHD private page on Facebook today. It’s the perfect place to share and you never know who your words may help or whose words may help you.
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