The Forums › Forums › Ask The Community › Life after starting treatment… › Re: Life after starting treatment…
mannyc:
I’m curious to read about how you are doing now!
I also just wanted to say how happy I am that there are ADHD folks out there getting off drugs and getting their lives together. since being diagnosed very recently, it dawned on me that my older brother has very likely been struggling with the same condition. he was always very creative, smart and curious – but horrible at school and easily bored with most kinds of work. over the years, I have watched him get scolded for daydreaming, for being too “lazy” or sleeping in every day.
I believe that the self-esteem he’s undoubtedly lost during that time added to the constant stress that was present in our family life is what drove him to cut school and experiment with drugs. he was using heroin for about 6 years. he is 32 now, and though he’s been technically off drugs for a few years, he’s stuck in jail for something dumb (made more serious by an extensive criminal record), and if he weren’t, he would still be abusing things like alcohol over-the-counter pills.
he’s not only depressed but his entire personality has changed. he can’t hold a conversation, he can’t be there for me in any way; once he almost hit me, actually. I miss having my older brother; he is the only sibling I’ll ever have.
I really went off on an unexpected tangent here. I just deeply hope that more parents, caretakers, and educators start to recognize the signs of ADHD. and more than that; I hope that we can focus on encouraging children’s strengths instead of judging and shaming them for their differences. I’ll bet there are many other tragic stories out there like my brother’s and they can be prevented.
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