Why is it everyone thinks the answer to every health or life issue can be handled by taking a pill? If you’ve had some time to read my blog a little bit or even just take a look around you’ll see that in my family we have a child with a special needs. I blog our story in a separate section of the blog. If you want to read more about it just check out the Autism Journal category.
Anyway, my buggy has been very anxious lately. It’s not news to me that he is a perfectionist and that the anxiety from the possibility from making a mistake is difficult for him and stresses him out. But why is it everyone’s answer is “Medicate Him”, “There are medicines you can give him you know?” Some of these people are parents?
Would you medicate your child or is that just ok to tell me to do to mine? Have you read some of the side effects of these medications they want us to give to our kids? How can he learn to cope with life’s anxieties if I keep him drugged up to the point where he doesn’t have to cope?
He will never learn how to cope with life’s situations and learn that he doesn’t need to be perfect and that no one expects him to be if we drug him up so he doesn’t have to learn how to cope.
I’m sorry this is just a venting day I guess. Someday’s it’s ok to hear that and I can just blow off comments like that but somedays it just plain makes me angry.
© 2009, Nanette Gomez. All rights reserved.
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You are wise to consider the ill effects of medications on your child. There is little research done on the long term effects of these type of meds on children. While it may be harder in the short term to help your child deal with stress, the long term benefits of working with your child are unmeasurable. Best wishes to you and your family!
Katie,
Thanks for your kind well wishes. They are appreciated.
I totally agree with you; medication should be a last resort and even then only used as long as needed while continuing to work on the issues through other treatments.
Anxiety is such a huge deal for our kiddos. Lately I have seen some improvement after my son started going to a group therapy session with several other boys on the spectrum – he has been so happy to meet other kids who think like him and be able to talk about some of the stuff they struggle with.
My son goes to a group therapy session as well and he just loves it. It’s so much easier for him to make friends in a small group of 4 or 5 kids and learn to work and learn through fun activities. It makes him feel special. That is his special weekly activity.
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