I just posted on the "would you cure add" thread, about wanting a cure becuase of the harm that can come one's way because of ADHD. DS and I had two terrible experiences, and want to open discussion up for other experiences as well.

One, where we decided to try the meds, was when DS hyperfocused on "fixing a pen" during playground time, with a pair of scissors which resulted in not fixing the pen, but in slashing the base of his forefinger open, barely missing some serious nerves and tendons, to the tune of 5 stitches or so.

Second, last week we went out shooting with some friends in the early evening. One gal brought her puppy along, and we were all watching out for her, there were several toys brought along and I wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed for eyes and ears, and everything laid out. DS went for the rifle which takes 38s, and loaded them with 32 pistol ammo. :eek: Also went out there without eye protection. Good thing the rifle jammed on the first levered round. It actually took me a while to see what he had done, and I had watched him put that ammo in there. It was quite a shock that is still with me, the rifle could have imploded. When I told him to go get his eyes and we lay the rifle down out of commission, we found out that the keys were locked inside the truck. In the middle of nowhere. We broke glass to get home, and all was well, but that was minor in comparison to what could have happend had we both been able pay better attention and focus better on the project at hand at the time.

I'd feel better to hear some of the other ADHD stories out there.

Hi There.

I can totally understand and agree with some of what you're saying in regards to some of the dangerous activities that many ADHD kids can get up to and I'm the first to admit I've caused my poor mother, late grandmother and many teachers near coronaries with some of the "risk taking" or dangerous activities that I used to get up to eg: jumping from high set port racks, jumping from a playground swing when it's still going, having accidents that require stitches etc etc although I'm happy to say that while I'm still reckless and accident prone my injuries aren't anywhere near as drastic as they used to be...I can also say I've gone 27 years without sustaining a broken bone...not many ADDer's or Non ADDer's for that matter can say the same!!

At the same time many "normal" kids can also be dangerous and reckless at times as well and it's not just an ADHD thing at all there have been many a times when I've been at school or other places and "little Johnny Rotten" who doesn't have ADHD will come into class or wherever with a bandage around his head and then go into graphic detail as to how he split his head open because he recklessly jumped off the roof of his house...so yes whilst kids with ADHD can be a little or a lot dangerous depending on what they get up to but so can "normal" kids.

What I'd like to know is how did DS get his hands on a rifle in the first place?? shouldn't you or the father have kept it safely locked away out of his sight and reach??:eek:

While kids will be kids, I know there are many dangers that parents can't keep a eye on 24 hours a day and there will be unfortunate accidents from time to time even us adults will have silly accidents from time to time!!

Selena:)




I just posted on the "would you cure add" thread, about wanting a cure becuase of the harm that can come one's way because of ADHD. DS and I had two terrible experiences, and want to open discussion up for other experiences as well.

One, where we decided to try the meds, was when DS hyperfocused on "fixing a pen" during playground time, with a pair of scissors which resulted in not fixing the pen, but in slashing the base of his forefinger open, barely missing some serious nerves and tendons, to the tune of 5 stitches or so.

Second, last week we went out shooting with some friends in the early evening. One gal brought her puppy along, and we were all watching out for her, there were several toys brought along and I wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed for eyes and ears, and everything laid out. DS went for the rifle which takes 38s, and loaded them with 32 pistol ammo. :eek: Also went out there without eye protection. Good thing the rifle jammed on the first levered round. It actually took me a while to see what he had done, and I had watched him put that ammo in there. It was quite a shock that is still with me, the rifle could have imploded. When I told him to go get his eyes and we lay the rifle down out of commission, we found out that the keys were locked inside the truck. In the middle of nowhere. We broke glass to get home, and all was well, but that was minor in comparison to what could have happend had we both been able pay better attention and focus better on the project at hand at the time.

I'd feel better to hear some of the other ADHD stories out there.

What I'd like to know is how did DS get his hands on a rifle in the first place?? shouldn't you or the father have kept it safely locked away out of his sight and reach??:eek:
We were out shooting, and he is a very experienced shooter. That is what was scary. Here's a young man who really does know what he's doing, and probably because of his ADHD, just loaded the wrong size in the rifle, and me with my ADHD, watched him do it. YIKES. I think my OCD takes over and will put systems in place in future, to just keep an eye on him, which I usually do, just I was distracted taking care of everyone else and the puppy, and not wanting to hover over him the whole time.

It's the lack of attention to the details that concern me as his mom.

In regards to the lack of attention to detail....I can understand your concern and so would a lot of other people out there and yes the rifle incident sounds like it could've been disasterous but luckily it WASN'T!! whether he's an experienced shooter or not...maybe you should load the rifle next time before he uses it!! but I still believe this incident could have happened to anyone whether the child had ADHD or not!

My mother probably said the same about leaving me alone with the vegetable knife!! I was 9 years old and I was helping her cut up the pumpkin, potatoes etc etc for dinner and as I was cutting away at the vegies the knife slipped and there you have it I nice gaping cut in my left wrist...I looked down and very vaguely said "Look Mummy, there's a hole in my hand" and of course like the panic stricken mother she starts yelling "Oh god" and so on and wraps my hand in a towel and we had to run across the road to the doctors and get the hand stitched...needless to say I now have a slight but noticable scar on my left wrist...and what's worse is that I was medicated and my concentration was good...whilst on medication!! go figure.

Another time when I was 5 I was playing on a trampoline at kindergarten and I somehow managed to cut my chin open and there you have it...I needed stitches again!! and again I have a slight but not disfiguring scar on my chin...so yes I've had my share of accidents and yes I see what you're trying to say regarding the dangers of ADHD but at the same time all I was trying to point out and many others would probably agree with is that these types of things can also occur in "normal" children and accident proneness and reckless behaviour ISN'T just an ADHD thing....NO child is immune to disasters or accidents!

I think this will turn out to be a interesting thread, you will have many people sharing their stories and airing their points of view.

Selena:)
We were out shooting, and he is a very experienced shooter. That is what was scary. Here's a young man who really does know what he's doing, and probably because of his ADHD, just loaded the wrong size in the rifle, and me with my ADHD, watched him do it. YIKES. I think my OCD takes over and will put systems in place in future, to just keep an eye on him, which I usually do, just I was distracted taking care of everyone else and the puppy, and not wanting to hover over him the whole time.

It's the lack of attention to the details that concern me as his mom.

It's a fact . One impusive decision can lead to a dangerous situation. ADDers have to live with this fact, and there are many situations wherin I have to repeatedly make a major effort to not make dangerous mistakes.

Adults with adhd sometimes do have issues with potentialy dangerous situations. Myself, I don't run with scissors and I make an effort to curb my impulsiveness when I'm in a situation that requires me to be 100% there.

I've been lucky. I don't wreck my car, and I don't get traffic violations, speeding tickets, etc. Some ADDers do have issues with automobiles and end up in court a lot and can demolish a car in short order.

I know some ADDers who do not drive a car because they are just too scattered to stay on task. These people find driving to be overwhelming and perhaps a bit scarey.

For most ADDers safety is not an issue... but honestly I wish I had a dime for every time I acted impuslively and later wished that I had not.

I'm really hyper when not on meds and I accumulate lots of cuts , bruises and scratches from colliding with things as I walk. I've usually got minor cuts and scrapes healing all the time. About the worst thing I've done thus far was separate the toenail from my big toe after stubbing it on something that was in my way. It took a year to fully heal.

I don't think that having ADHD is dangerous per-se, but it can be a factor in some hazardous situations.

I can recall that my ADHD son went impusively to close a window by pulling out the wooden prop under the sliding window. At the moment he started for the window his mother and I were shouting "STOP!" but he was acting on impulse and could not hear us. Unfortunately his other hand hand was in the way and the window slammed down on it hard. We ended up making a trip to get an x-ray to make sure there were no broken bones. Fortunatel there were none, but I was surprised that there were not.

Me :D

It never fails to amaze me how often and how much I can relate to Speedo's posts. I too have never been in a car accident or caused one, but I prefer driving with meds on board.

Re: pulling out a prop holding up a window: I was only two and a half years old when I pulled something holding a window open. I have an interesting finger print on the damaged finger and the accident is my earliest memory.

Yes, other people who don't have ADHD have accidents, but we know that people with ADHD are easily distracted and that meds do help with this. We also have to remember that ADHD is also a developmental disorder and that a kid's chronological age and developmental age may be as much as three years apart.

I have had accident but luckily very few due to impulsive behavior. . . .I learned four year olds don't fly even with a cape on. . . .I got four stitches in my forehead on Thanksgiving day .

Several times I was lucky many times I was simply very ingenious at being able to maneuver myself in and around situations because I was so active.

Driving I learned unmedicated in Dallas at 18, I have had three accidents one was due to faulty braking system on the car I was driving{only three of the four brakes actually work}, the second one some one else ran a stop sign, the third another man pulled out from a stop sign and broad sided me because he wasn't paying attention. . . . .hardly due to my ADD.

Using guns is common in many areas of the US especially in the more rural. I know several individuals who routinely take their children to shooting ranges and on hunting trips. Loading of the wrong ammunition may or may not have been due to him being ADD. Mistakes can happen some times we are very lucky the results were not as disastrous as they could have been. I am simply glad no one was hurt. . . . . .

Please note: The use of guns is a personal choice and can easily turn into a political discussion or a parental one and this is not the place for either.

I agree with Imnapl when she states that ADHD is a developmental disorder and the children's chronological and developmental age may be as wide as 3 or so years apart, this is also stated by many medical specialists who write books on ADHD...yes meds do help to an extent with impulsivity.

Selena:) It never fails to amaze me how often and how much I can relate to Speedo's posts. I too have never been in a car accident or caused one, but I prefer driving with meds on board.

Re: pulling out a prop holding up a window: I was only two and a half years old when I pulled something holding a window open. I have an interesting finger print on the damaged finger and the accident is my earliest memory.

Yes, other people who don't have ADHD have accidents, but we know that people with ADHD are easily distracted and that meds do help with this. We also have to remember that ADHD is also a developmental disorder and that a kid's chronological age and developmental age may be as much as three years apart.

Meadd823

I doubt that Frazzle was intending on trying to start a political or parental debate on the personal use of rifles, she was merely sharing information about an accident that her son had which happen to involve a rifle, I asked a question which went along the lines of how did he get his hands on the rifle and she answered it, most of us understand that the use of guns is a personal choice and most of us also understand that this topic isn't about political views or parenting welfare concerns and most of us will try to keep to the subject at hand...which is the dangers that occasionally come with having ADHD.

Thanks for the advice.

Selena:)

I have had accident but luckily very few due to impulsive behavior. . . .I learned four year olds don't fly even with a cape on. . . .I got four stitches in my forehead on Thanksgiving day .

Several times I was lucky many times I was simply very ingenious at being able to maneuver myself in and around situations because I was so active.

Driving I learned unmedicated in Dallas at 18, I have had three accidents one was due to faulty braking system on the car I was driving{only three of the four brakes actually work}, the second one some one else ran a stop sign, the third another man pulled out from a stop sign and broad sided me because he wasn't paying attention. . . . .hardly due to my ADD.

Using guns is common in many areas of the US especially in the more rural. I know several individuals who routinely take their children to shooting ranges and on hunting trips. Loading of the wrong ammunition may or may not have been due to him being ADD. Mistakes can happen some times we are very lucky the results were not as disastrous as they could have been. I am simply glad no one was hurt. . . . . .

Please note: The use of guns is a personal choice and can easily turn into a political discussion or a parental one and this is not the place for either.