ADHDFamilies

ADHDFamilies originally launched in September 2002 as a response to my inability to find any supportive and helpful information about my stepson’s condition on the Internet. The goal of this site is simple, to provide as much information as possible about ADD/ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, ODD, OCD or other related conditions.

This is a place to discuss the challenges, show off the accomplishments, and gain knowledge and strength from the experiences of others. We strive to create a venue where those who live their lives in the eye of the storm can share ideas and insights with others from around the world. To provide a place to find support in times of trial, and to offer support when it is needed, and to provide a comprehensive directory of other web sites and sources of information on ADHD and other disorders, all in one central location. It is our sincerest hope that ADHDFamilies will be of aid to your families.

We’ve seen a lot of ADHD related sites come and go since our launch in 2002. We’ve been victim to it ourselves. There have been hackers, some all to frequent moves, server changes and life changes, all of which have resulted in ADHDFamilies’ coming and going, seemingly at random, almost to the point of my giving up on the project altogether.

This site is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or mental health provider! We are not doctors or mental health professionals, our goal is to assist other parents or affected adults through what can be some pretty difficult times. We’ve been though it, we understand where others might not.

We exist to celebrate the very unique children and adults that help to define the challenges and triumphs in our lives. These wonderful people are often misunderstood, even by those of us who live and work to help them, thought of as slow, unintelligent or unable to be a part of the world at large. Their families are misunderstood by those who do not live the experience, seen in public as unusually stern or lenient, looked on with a sort of pity by those with limited understanding, and branded as incompetent by schools and other institutions that may deal with our children, siblings, or spouses.

I found that on some web sites that claim to provide a community for people with these disorders, the children are either referred to as a huge burden, or with a sense of vague pity. As the very proud father of a child with ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, ODD and OCD I was genuinely shocked by this. My stepson has challenges, yes, but I neither see him as a burden nor pity him. Rather I revel in what he and the other children and adults with this condition accomplish on a daily basis. They are energetic, outgoing, sensitive, and intelligent… In most cases highly intelligent.

People who live with these extraordinary individuals should be praised for their patience and understanding, not looked down upon or pitied. For parents of a child with these disorders, life can be as much of a roller coaster as it is for their son or daughter. Dealing with outbursts or the results of an impulsive action, constantly searching to engage the mind of a child who is spinning out of control, or even getting the child to try something new are sometimes ordeals on an incomprehensible scale. We are, in a sense, the “best of the best”, parental warriors in a battle with an indescribable foe that targets our children. The battle is hard, but there is victory in numbers.

I am aware that there are many people in the world today that believe that ADD and ADHD are nonexistent conditions. Still others believe that there is an epidemic of over diagnosis, something I unfortunately tend to agree with. This site is not here to silence your opinions. You are invited to participate, as long as the discussion is respectful.

Regards,

Jerry D. Russell - Administrator, ADHDFamilies