Our ADHD Journey: A Follow-Up
Steffani Baty
8/3/20263 min read
A few weeks ago, I shared a blog post about the difficult decision to put my son on ADHD medication. I opened up about my fears, my doubts, and the constant back-and-forth in my mind as I wondered if I was making the right decision.
Well... it's time for a follow-up.
When we met with our doctor, we spent a lot of time discussing what we hoped the medication would help with, as well as all of the possible side effects. To be honest, that's when my anxiety really kicked in. Hearing the long list of potential side effects made me nervous.
Of course, that's exactly what our doctor was supposed to do. Make sure we understood both the benefits and the risks so nothing would catch us off guard. Even knowing that, it was still scary. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that we were taking this step because we wanted to give my son every opportunity to succeed.
Our first experience with medication was definitely not what I expected.
The first medication simply wasn't the right fit. My son became emotional, unusually quiet, hyper-focused on random things, and even began complaining about chest pain. As a mom, hearing those words was one of my biggest fears.
I immediately stopped the medication and contacted his doctor. We scheduled an appointment right away, where he received an EKG and a full evaluation. Thankfully, everything came back normal, and his doctor suspected acid reflux may have been causing the chest discomfort.
This experience reminded me of something incredibly important that I wanted to share with other parents: Never be afraid to take your child's symptoms seriously.
My mom always used to tell me, "It's better to be safe than sorry." Those words have stuck with me. As parents, we know our children better than anyone else. We notice when something feels different. It's so easy to search online and convince ourselves that a symptom is probably "normal," but if something doesn't sit right with you, trust your instincts and reach out to your child's healthcare provider.
We are our children's biggest advocates. Speaking up for them should never make us feel guilty. Most of the time, everything will turn out just fine. But if it doesn't, your voice could make all the difference.
Thankfully, my son received a clean bill of health, which gave me the confidence to continue working with his doctor to find a better option. And that's probably the biggest lesson I've learned through this entire journey. Finding the right ADHD treatment isn't one-size-fits-all.
Sometimes it takes patience, adjustments, and trying something different before you find what works best for your child.
We recently switched to Adderall XR, and so far our experience has been much more positive. My son has even told me that he feels better on it. We still have a little tweaking to do, he continues to struggle with some impulsivity and focus, so his dosage may need to be adjusted, but the difference has been encouraging.
The biggest change I've noticed isn't just in his attention. It's in his confidence. He seems calmer. He's listening better. He can actually sit down and relax for a little while instead of constantly feeling like he has to be moving.
As we get closer to another school year, I feel hopeful. Every child deserves the chance to feel confident in the classroom and have the support they need to reach their full potential. If this helps him learn, grow, and believe in himself, then every difficult step along the way has been worth it.
My biggest takeaway is this: Don't be afraid to explore new options if you think they may help your child. Ask questions. Advocate for them. Trust your instincts. And remember that finding the right path sometimes takes time.
Most importantly, ADHD isn't something that takes away from who our children are. My son is still the same imaginative, funny, creative little boy he's always been. ADHD gives him a unique way of seeing the world. He notices things others miss, thinks outside the box, and approaches problems with incredible creativity. Those qualities deserve to be celebrated.
Being different isn't something to hide…it’s often what makes this world such a beautiful place!