By Tina Smith, M.Ed., LPC

To medicate or not to medicate, that is a big question!!! As a mental healthcare provider, I receive lots of questions concerning the use of medication to treat ADHD, especially with kids. Parents tend to worry about their kids becoming zombified, losing their appetite, struggling with sleep, or having an addiction problem. These concerns are very legitimate and alarming. However, untreated ADHD can negatively affect many other areas of their lives if left undertreated.

Young children with hyper form of ADHD may be misdiagnosed with
Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder. In another form of ADHD, (sluggish cognitive tempo), the child may appear lazy, and unmotivated, and tend to be overweight or become obese which contributes to increased shame and low self-esteem. The scary part is that these kids with improperly treated ADHD become adults with untreated ADHD. This tends to lead to adults being in unhealthy and unfulfilled relationships, poor financial situations, unfulfilled careers, or turn to drugs to self-medicate.

Therapy and medication management can be the most effective way to treat ADHD. However, there are many types of medications that, unfortunately, take trial and error to find the right fit. So, weighing out the benefits of when and how to treat ADHD symptoms should be tailored and specialized to fit your needs. When ADHD medication is working effectively it is like a window that opens for 6 to 8 hours, just enough time to self-care, schoolwork, chores, practice sports, interact with family and friends. Then the window closes. Effective ADHD medication typically does not linger into the next day. Then the process is repeated. With effective ADHD medication, benefits should outweigh the side effects, which would be noticed within 2 to 3 days and not weeks like other psychological medication for symptoms such as major depression or generalized anxiety. If this is not the case, you should have conversations with your doctor to
adjust or change your medication.

Your therapist should explore patterns and habits that appear as treatment-resistant such as poor eating and sleeping habits, time management, and
other external and internal factors. It has been truly enlightening to see adults in my practice discovering that they may have had untreated ADHD, which explains a lot as they look back at their lives. This recovery is not a time for shame but to engage hope and direction for a better future. This future will have meaningful relationships, happier career opportunities, and greater self-worth.