Are you experiencing the new world of having a child with an Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis or, as it is more commonly known as – ADHD? If so, you may be feeling relief at finally having a definitive diagnosis with a plan with which to forge ahead. Alternatively, you might have feelings of concern, frustration, and even fear. Regardless of what you feel right now, know that you are not alone and support is available.
Get Support
Your child will receive support and care from a medical provider and any other professionals upon diagnosis. Continued guidance will be disseminated as appropriate to their specific situation and needs. Even though they are the ones with an ADHD determination, it still affects your life and everyone else in their orbit. It is imperative that you seek out helpful ADHD Parent Support from a qualified source to your own mental health. As the adage goes, knowledge is power. To that end, knowing about ADHD’s functionality, along with the how’s and why’s of this disorder, are helpful to incorporating it and any related treatment options into your life. A helpful support resource will help educate and guide you. Questions you need to be answered will be available. A good resource will even give you answers to questions you have not thought of yet.Â
Find Your People
Support groups abound for every type of situation or affliction. Easily find an in-person or online group for ADHD. You can also ask your child’s medical provider for contact or referral information. Finding parents who are having similar experiences as you is immensely comforting. You already know that you are not alone, but having actual people who are going through the same things that you and your family are tackling is validating. You can share information, talk about shared experiences, and discuss ways to move forward as effective parents. Sometimes, a support group is just that – a way to receive support when you are bogged down in daily life. As you continue on your path as a parent of a child with ADHD, you will gain invaluable information that you will, in turn, be able to pass on to the next generation of parents just entering into this diagnosis.Â
No More Stigmatization
As with most things in the world, they can be challenging to understand when they are new and a source of anxiety and distress. Sometimes this is the way with ADHD, especially if you have never been exposed to a child who has this diagnosis. ADHD diagnoses and discussions have become so commonplace that they are considerably more understood and accepted than in the past. That is a good thing for both children and parents. The stigma of having ADHD is long past and now accepted as something that can be dealt with and managed as a part of daily living. It is estimated that approximately 7.7 percent of the population aged 7 to 11 years of age are living with ADHD in the United States.
In life, there are ups and downs. When you find yourself in a situation where a new diagnosis such as ADHD is given to your child, seek resources to help you and your family find a new way forward.
