Thank you, thank you for this incredibly articulate description of the drugging of our children. Sadly, I am reliving it with our grandchildren and it is painful.
I think you raise lot of valid points and there is much to think about here. McGilchrist’s book sounds like an important one to read. One question I have is what about cases where to attention issues (e.g. ADHD) are directly or indirectly impacting a child’s socialization. This was an issue that a parent I know struggled with in regards to her young child. Her child was missing social cues and having challenges getting along with others, and then the difficulties in school were starting to impact self-esteem and so on. The problems were happening at home too. My point is the concerns went far beyond grades on a test and to the general development of her child at a critical point. Medication has seemed to help: the child made progress in school and impulsivity and conflict was better.
Obviously this is anecdotal but hearing and observing the challenges of this family made me think, as those are some pretty tough decisions.
thank you for your kind comment! obviously i can't comment on the particular case as i don't know the child, if you have tons of free time and are really interested I cover lots and lots of different ADHD angles/situations on here, i think you should be able to access them all here:
the very short version of my reply, which you can probably guess from going through that link, and again in total ignorance of the specifics of the case, is to reject the premises. i do not see why modern mass schooling is worth succeeding in, especially not to the point of being drugged to do so, i think report cards grade all the wrong things, I think "self-esteem" is not the purpose of parenting or childhood, and I am absolutely sickened at the thought of giving a child cocaine to help him make friends. i hope that covers it! : )
A first glance at the description upon which we shouldn't comment strikes me more as a mild autistic trait than ADD.
In 30 year olds whose wives described their husband's ADD, on a few occasions I prescribed a short trial of stimulant and let the couple report the outcome.
I understand your perspective, and totally understand why you wouldn’t comment on an anecdote (especially a second hand one). I just see the complexity, especially in a world with limited options. Some people don’t have a choice other than public schooling. I’ll have a look at your link.
Winston Churchill, in the last years of his life, when his mind was finally starting to go, would be given amphetamines by his doctor to make it through speeches. Rumor has it a certain current president gets similar cocktails to stay upright on big occasions. That’s about all I know about it!
Thank you, Dr. Gaty for your incredibly smart essay. I will need to read it again to take it all in, but a quick question, is Dr. McGilchrist's book one that a non-medically trained person could understand?
Whenever I hear about a child being given medication for ADD, I tell them the story of my nephew. He was always a hyperactive child, full of energy, ignoring adults’ directions, getting kicked out of every nursery school and by fourth grade, age 9, a year in which he grew 4 inches taller, the school district not only wanted to put him on medication, but to put him in a school for disabled children. His parents refused and within the next two years, there was an incredible transformation. He started taking flute lessons and joined the cross country team and by sixth grade, was getting straight A’s in regular public school. I attribute it to the daily deep breathing more than anything. He continued to get straight A’s all the way through high school playing flute in youth orchestra and running cross country. He graduated from University with honors in a double major of math and economics. He worked for a large well-known bank for a couple of years and now is halfway through a PhD at a prestigious university. He is a balanced 26 yr old , who loves to travel and has a long-term girlfriend. I can’t imagine what his life would’ve been like if the parents trusted the advice of the school!!!
This is a child I’ve known from the day he was born, otherwise I don’t think I would believe the trajectory of my nephew’s life could unfold in such a way. By the time he was 9, I fully believed that it would be understandable if the parents had decided to go the Ritalin route even though I have always abhorred giving psychotropic drugs to children or to anyone for that matter!
Thank you, thank you for this incredibly articulate description of the drugging of our children. Sadly, I am reliving it with our grandchildren and it is painful.
I think you raise lot of valid points and there is much to think about here. McGilchrist’s book sounds like an important one to read. One question I have is what about cases where to attention issues (e.g. ADHD) are directly or indirectly impacting a child’s socialization. This was an issue that a parent I know struggled with in regards to her young child. Her child was missing social cues and having challenges getting along with others, and then the difficulties in school were starting to impact self-esteem and so on. The problems were happening at home too. My point is the concerns went far beyond grades on a test and to the general development of her child at a critical point. Medication has seemed to help: the child made progress in school and impulsivity and conflict was better.
Obviously this is anecdotal but hearing and observing the challenges of this family made me think, as those are some pretty tough decisions.
thank you for your kind comment! obviously i can't comment on the particular case as i don't know the child, if you have tons of free time and are really interested I cover lots and lots of different ADHD angles/situations on here, i think you should be able to access them all here:
https://gaty.substack.com/t/adhd
the very short version of my reply, which you can probably guess from going through that link, and again in total ignorance of the specifics of the case, is to reject the premises. i do not see why modern mass schooling is worth succeeding in, especially not to the point of being drugged to do so, i think report cards grade all the wrong things, I think "self-esteem" is not the purpose of parenting or childhood, and I am absolutely sickened at the thought of giving a child cocaine to help him make friends. i hope that covers it! : )
A first glance at the description upon which we shouldn't comment strikes me more as a mild autistic trait than ADD.
In 30 year olds whose wives described their husband's ADD, on a few occasions I prescribed a short trial of stimulant and let the couple report the outcome.
You could be correct: there may be mild autism. Not yet diagnosed though.
I understand your perspective, and totally understand why you wouldn’t comment on an anecdote (especially a second hand one). I just see the complexity, especially in a world with limited options. Some people don’t have a choice other than public schooling. I’ll have a look at your link.
Thank you Dr. Gaty! I wonder what your thoughts are on adults taking ADHD medication?
Winston Churchill, in the last years of his life, when his mind was finally starting to go, would be given amphetamines by his doctor to make it through speeches. Rumor has it a certain current president gets similar cocktails to stay upright on big occasions. That’s about all I know about it!
Thank you, Dr. Gaty for your incredibly smart essay. I will need to read it again to take it all in, but a quick question, is Dr. McGilchrist's book one that a non-medically trained person could understand?
I learned about it from his big fan Rod Dreher, who’s no doctor, so probably yes! But it’s a massive massive book, very intimidating.
This should be mandatory reading for all parents. And I’m going to forward it to some. Thanks Dr. Gaty!
Whenever I hear about a child being given medication for ADD, I tell them the story of my nephew. He was always a hyperactive child, full of energy, ignoring adults’ directions, getting kicked out of every nursery school and by fourth grade, age 9, a year in which he grew 4 inches taller, the school district not only wanted to put him on medication, but to put him in a school for disabled children. His parents refused and within the next two years, there was an incredible transformation. He started taking flute lessons and joined the cross country team and by sixth grade, was getting straight A’s in regular public school. I attribute it to the daily deep breathing more than anything. He continued to get straight A’s all the way through high school playing flute in youth orchestra and running cross country. He graduated from University with honors in a double major of math and economics. He worked for a large well-known bank for a couple of years and now is halfway through a PhD at a prestigious university. He is a balanced 26 yr old , who loves to travel and has a long-term girlfriend. I can’t imagine what his life would’ve been like if the parents trusted the advice of the school!!!
Thank goodness for his brave parents. What a wonderful story, thank you!
This is a child I’ve known from the day he was born, otherwise I don’t think I would believe the trajectory of my nephew’s life could unfold in such a way. By the time he was 9, I fully believed that it would be understandable if the parents had decided to go the Ritalin route even though I have always abhorred giving psychotropic drugs to children or to anyone for that matter!
Your Romantic Deficiency Disorder questionnaire made me chuckle. Great post.