A cure for ADHD, would you use it?

okay first of all that is just stupid. consider the source kitkat - whoever thinks it's ever a good idea or "discipline" to smack anyone across the face is a backwards moron.
discipline, yes. firm, yes. difficult to accomplish, yes.

second of all, as a side note: sounds more like bipolar to me - and kids with bipolar are almost impossible to discipline without medication. and i am not an advocate for meds. if you haven't already done so - get a second opinion. because if you are using meds, and he is bipolar - that could be part of the problem. good luck. and forget about those hate mails - they completely do not understand and they need someone to blame.

edit - i might add that it is tempting at times to want to slap a difficult kid across the face - i wouldn't do it. as frustrated as i've ever gotten i could never forgive myself.

Wow, um who ever said that is in need of an anger management intervention. A slap in the face doesn't cure a thing! That is sheer ignorance from someone who has never encountered someone who truly has ADHD.

Honestly if there was a *real* cure, I don't think I'd use it. Let me explain why:
Kids with these disorders (meaning they actually have these problems, it's not just the classic over diagnosed, looking for an excuse for bad behavior) are some of the most brilliant people I know. My husband is ADHD and has unparalleled mechanic's abilities. He's brilliant with his hands and with memorization. I could not imagine him having those same God given skills without ADHD. I believe God used ADHD in his life to bless him with those abilities.

Now as far as medications go, they have their purpose as short term problems solvers until you can help your child modify his behavior. I don't believe in using medication for long term use and that's not what it's intended for. My husband was on his for less than 4 years (he was a severe case of ADHD). He has been medication free and coping with the effects of ADHD wonderfully since he was a pre-teen. True though that medications cannot replace good parenting, structure and discipline. Those things are key as well.

Anyhow, I don't think I would use a cure. God made people the way they are for a reason, whether it be for their own benefit and learning or someone else's. I see those types of disorders as gifts if the person learns to use them as such.

*Kit* The haters obviously didn't read the question. The just see "slap a child across the face" and then don't bother to read the rest. Don't feel the need to justify yourself to the ignorant ones who don't read the full question.

I'm not even convinced it's a real disease.

I think your major problem as a parent is that you and dad both have to work and you don't have time to raise junior properly.

And you've got some kind of soft hearted thing against basic discipline, because you've never really had the time for parenting, and consequently you don't really know what you're doing.

So you drug him into submission instead.

But that's just my personal opinion.