Living with ADHD

Living with A.D.H.D. and other complications, A.D.H.D. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Unlike physical disorders, there are no obvious symptoms, in as much as there are no rashes, or bumps or swellings, that you can see with disorders such as, Mumps, Measles, or Chicken Pox, and unlike these diseases, it is not short term, a couple of weeks, and these disorders are a memory. The disorders mentioned, are either infectious, or contagious, whereas A.D.H.D. isn’t, communities, may be infected, by diseases like measles, in days gone by epidemics were common, but today thanks to vaccines, they are rare. Unfortunately there is no vaccine to protect against A.D.H.D., and although this disorder doesn’t infect communities, it certainly affects them.

To look at our fourteen year old grandson Jake, you would think him a normal teenager, just like any normal boy of his age, and thanks to his medication he does behave reasonably normal these days, but this hasn’t always been the case, Jake has displayed behavioral problems for most of his life, not only does he suffer from A.D.H.D., he also suffers from other psychological problems, from about his seventh year he complained of hearing voices in his head, these voices would tell him to do things, things that are considered socially unacceptable, we thought at first he was schizophrenic, but after many tests we were told he was not. Jake was not diagnosed with anything specific, until he was about twelve years old, when he was finally diagnosed as A.D.H.D. with complications. Jake through his years, has been a real Jekyll and Hyde character, at times he can be the most loving, kind and generous boy that anyone could wish to meet, and at other times he has had us fearing for our lives, as he would think nothing of taking a knife to us, or resorting to other forms of violence, if he could not have his own way, at these times,although he was only about five stone he displayed the strength of someone much older, and heavier. Along with violence towards others Jake would also self harm, he has done this on quite a few occasions in the past, usually this would take the form of cutting his arms, but on one occasion he tried to hang himself, fortunately he was found in time. Jake also displays an unhealthy interest in fire, and his antics to date have got him in trouble with the lawon several occasions, and he has been fortunate that the authorities have taken into account his condition, and have been lenient.

Back in the bad old days Jake was rarely out of trouble, but today thanks to his medication he is much better, although when he forgets to take his tablets, he soon reverts back to his old ways. Jake has spent a lot of his life with us, one reason being that his mother has three other children to look after, and the strain of caring for three children plus Jake has been intolerable at times. We have found that along with his medication, Jake needs a lot of love and understanding, we have to be firm, but fair, and hope that some day Jake will grow out of this terrible condition, and live a normal life, one where there is no need for medication.