A mother’s desperate call regarding her son who was given detention every single day of the week. A frazzled email from young parents about their daughter’s recent diagnosis. A skeptical father who doesn’t even know if ADHD is real. These are just some examples of the many individuals who are struggling with ADHD.
The first thing they have to know is: they are not alone. The ADHD road can feel like a lonely one to travel. That’s why it is crucial to reach out to others, learn from their experiences, hear their stories and share your own. This can provide a great deal of comfort and inspiration to parents or families feeling confused, isolated or unsure.
Next, they should seek out community resources available to them. With 16,000 members and 200 chapters, CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is the largest national resource available. A non-profit organization run by professional volunteers, many communities have a local chapter, which offers free support groups, free access to educational experts and monthly meetings open to the public. Our local chapter number for San Fernando Valley is 615. Keeping parents in mind, CHADD also offers Parent2Parent (P2P) training, a seven week course that teaches parents the tools needed to successfully manage their child’s ADHD.
By leaning on the community and connecting with others, you won’t have to face ADHD alone. Rather, you’ll gain the support and education necessary to navigate towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.