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Post by Jorgy on Nov 29, 2003 17:29:30 GMT -5
I respect others opinions and hey, you can't argue about what works for you. That is the great thing about this group. It is accepting of these choices. Quite truthfully no one would like to medicate thier child or put them on a special diet or use behavior med BUT we all have to do what works. What is disturbing is the across the board generalizations. If not using meds works for Tom great. I don't use for my oldest but I have to for my 7 year old. I may not necessarilly like it but I sure do like living and dealing with him. I am using the meds to help in teaching him to control his impulses and to learn ways to compensate for his disablity. No one has the right to judge any of us, only God in His wisdom can do that and I don't think Oprah and Tom qualify.  Love ya all, Sue |
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Post by LitlBaa on Nov 30, 2003 0:18:31 GMT -5
If Tom had said "thank God for Ritalin", I would have understood that statement because that's how I felt re: my daughter's behavior. However, his statement that children should be taught to learn for themselves is horribly misleading. There are some of our children that are not capable of learning without medication, whether natural or prescription, or a special diet of some kind, or whatever we as parents of ADHD children have found that works.
As I said earlier, medication is a very personal issue. All I know is that the meds worked for my daughter when nothing else did. Other parents have had different results with meds and have chosen alternatives. Whatever works for you or your child is the right road for you.
I agree with Sue that it's the generalization that's disturbing. My impression of his statement is that since "nothing" works for him, "nothing" should work for everyone. And we all know that isn't true.
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Post by susanthemom on Nov 30, 2003 11:05:35 GMT -5
What is not being mentioned by Tom in his off-handed comment is that the larger agenda of the Chruch of Scientology is to refute the practices of psychiatry and psychology altogether. They would prefer that you not even seek a dx, for anything, period. They've been using Tom Cruise and Kelly Preston for a couple years now to hit at it from this angle. I find it totally appropriate that they would use Oprah for these purposes, as she has become a bastion of "new age" thought.
She did cover something similar to bi-polar/ADHD in children a couple of years ago, I think it was children with rage. In any case, she paraded out the home videos of enraged children and their desperate parents and, of course, a doctor who was supposed to solve all their problems, with alittle behavior management and a tweeking of the meds (like these parents hadn't thought of this themselves previous to their appearence on her show). Anyhow, I was amazed at how they skirted the potential dx of these kids by continually lumping them in the "rage" category, until they got them off of the stage with the doctor. I can't remember who the doctor was however, but I think he was the one who wrote the book that was being highlighted.
Sorry, but I haven't been a fan of Oprah for some time now, I really don't mean to offend those who do enjoy her show. But I've always been less than impressed by the Scientologists as a whole. Just kinda gets under my skin when I see or hear about their seemingly impromptu comments on the issue of medicating. It's one thing to teach of the potential repercussions of over-medicating and how to use appropriate caution, but it's another to stomp on the good intentions and intelligence of concerned parents. Clearly, my pet peeve. Sorry for the rant. :-/Susan
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Post by mom2tj on Nov 30, 2003 19:07:10 GMT -5
Those of us who medicate are NOT casting aspersions on those who use natural alternatives and likewise this should never ever be done the other way around. This should NEVER be a "battleground" between those who use meds and those who don't... we are ALL working towards the same common goal and in my opinion should respect each other's decisions and differences of opinion and continue to help and guide each other regardless of the path we have taken. very well ....said we are not here to debate or juge anyone we are here to suport each other |
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SKay
Member Emeritus
Posts: 1,126
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Post by SKay on Nov 30, 2003 22:12:49 GMT -5
I mentioned this particular show at the old site, but I thought I'd bring it up here, too. Awhile back (maybe 2000) Oprah did a show Why Can't My Child Learn? Her guests were Ellen Kingsley from ADDitude mag and Edward Hallowell who wrote Driven to Distraction. Another guest was Christopher Knight (Peter from The Brady Bunch). I know he takes meds. so if she is against meds, why did she do a show like this? While I don't know that meds were discussed, I don't know that either of the 2 experts are against them (but I haven't read Dr. Hallowell's book yet). I didn't see this particular program, but I found a brief summary of it on her web site. Maybe she once was not against them but changed her mind.
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Post by Honeysmom on Dec 1, 2003 11:23:51 GMT -5
I did not see the Oprah show, but I am not a fan to start. When she made the beef comments a few years ago it really hit us hard.  One thing I did see a few weeks ago was a series on Dr. Phil on parenting. Usually I do not listen to Dr. Phil when it comes to kids b/c I think he down plays the seriousness of some of the issues. On this particular show he did talk to one parent tellng her that he is giving her advice, but he feels that she needed to have her child evaluated for ADHD or ODD. The mother said she already had and the show went on. Point I am trying to make is that this was the FIRST time I have ever seen anyone on a "talk show" even hint at the fact that there may be a problem other then the parents. It made me happy to see it. Oprah does not have kids so I don't put any stock in her opinion. It is like when before you had kids and you said my kid will never...and then all of a sudden when they get a little older you see that they are not as easy to control as you may have originally thought!  |
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Post by jdmom on Dec 2, 2003 10:56:08 GMT -5
I got an e-mail back from the Oprah show. It was a generic form e-mail promoting Tom's new movie and giving a recipe for his favorite spaghetti. Kinda funny. I guess they read enough of my e-mail to see that I mentioned Tom Cruise and assumed that I was a fan. Oh well, what more could I expect?
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Post by Jorgy on Dec 2, 2003 20:27:18 GMT -5
 You did better than me. Maybe they didn't even read mine!!!
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Post by LitlBaa on Dec 2, 2003 23:04:02 GMT -5
I didn't get a response either. Oh, well...
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Post by Mom of Teens on Dec 3, 2003 11:50:54 GMT -5
I didn't see Oprah, but I just got done listening to the daily morning show on our local talk radio. The host (Bob Lonsberry) just finished bashing the idea that there is even a medical diagnosis as ADHD. He just wrote it off as bad parenting and not "training" the kids to sit still, make planners to remember, not be impulsive, etc. It's all I could do not to call him up and literally yell at him.
There was a man that called him on it, but Bob just argued with him, suggesting that if there was no physiological signs of disfunction (can't diagnose it with a blood test), then it is not a valid problem. He also eluded to the fact that if you were diagnosed as ADHD, you were "mentally ill".
I absolutely LOATHE people who judge without knowledge and understanding.
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Post by lovemyson on Dec 3, 2003 11:56:15 GMT -5
Maybe we should all write personal bash letters to this Radio Show host and let him know what we all think of him and his so called opinions. That really irks me that people can be so ignorant. I'd like to see him spend a day in one of our shoes (whith and unmedicated child) |
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Post by Mom of Teens on Dec 3, 2003 12:13:44 GMT -5
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Post by lovemyson on Dec 3, 2003 12:16:37 GMT -5
Maybe I will drop him a little line |
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Post by Mom of Teens on Dec 3, 2003 13:01:51 GMT -5
I wrote to him earlier . I also sent this website article ---- be sure and arm yourself with this one for those you encounter who require physical proof. www.adders.org/research4.htm |
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Post by Honeysmom on Dec 3, 2003 17:14:02 GMT -5
I don't recall there being a blood test for depression, or baby blues, but both of them are taken seriously.
The reason that people do not believe in ADHD is b/c they have not expeirenced it first hand. I wonder what would happen if one of his kids or one of his grandkids were not properly "trained." I think this is something most people have to see to beleive.
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