Adderall is a prescribed drug for ADD (attention deficit disorder), popularly used among high school and college students. I dedicate this post to all parents and students as well as administrators and faculty.
One of the culprits for my son's psychosis is Adderall prescription. Highly motivated and competitive, my son wanted to reach a certain GPA at college and thought that through focusing and studying for many hours until dawn could help him with achieving this goal.
What it helped achieve was: induce psychosis. His doctor a GP (general practitioner) prescribed this drug too often, whether he thought that my son had ADD, he never sent him to a specialist to confirm through comprehensive testing what my son was alleging. I didn't know about this fact until later, when I discovered empty bottles of this medication.
The side effects on a non- ADD profile, can range from induced psychosis to suicide. Therefore, it changes the chemistry of the brain's response. It is as well extremely addictive like cocaine, and its effects are very similar to methamphetamine.
Nowadays, people from all walks of life take this medication for performance, and doing more in less time, some people like this drug because it suppresses appetite.
Schools and colleges should have conversations of awareness about this prescribed drug with their faculty and students. Doctors shouldn't prescribe it casually; they need to have proof of ADD before dispensing this medication.
To everyone who is considering getting this drug to attain goals easily: for instance, doing more is less time, I say, if you do it slowly, and safely you will reach further than the stars, don't hinder your potential by using artificial enhancers. They could afflict you with illnesses serious enough to hinder your future.

HIPAA:"Can't see the forest from the trees" ?

     HIPAA: "Can't see the forest from the trees" ?

I will not go into details about gun control and second amendment, since it can be too much of a controversial subject to all of us. Nevertheless, it prompts the following expression in my mind: "Can't see the forest from the trees." Why? Well, to no surprise to all of us, Many reasons come to our minds!
- I do agree and support thorough background investigations for gun licensing, ownership or purchase. We don't need a Rambo appearing in every community. Even so, if we really think about it, if someone truly wants a gun and is rejected officially to own and use it, one could easily purchase it through other channels and suppliers.
A Band-Aid approach
Alongside of weeding out the unfit, HIPAA should allow parents the transparency they need from the doctors. Such an alliance throughout their son's and daughter's therapy would be significant to help prevent and diffuse disasters.
Bending the rules when it matters most should be one of HIPAA's main amendments: I could personally help add this amendment if you like and save us, the taxpayers, lots of dollars and cents! Here it goes:
In any case of diagnosis for mental illness, parents should have the right to partner with and receive information from but not limited to: physicians, hospitals, and schools regarding their son's or daughter's compliance to therapy and medication, whereas the health department would support such transparency throughout the treatment, for aim to encourage parents' involvement with safety and adherence to therapy.
I guess, THIS is seeing the forest from the trees!

 

Don't be afraid to get your feet wet !

 

Donations are easy to make to any charity or cause that you may choose. You may give money online or send a check by mail. However, a real donation is when you get involved, when you cause a change, and when you volunteer your time and effort within the team.
If you happen to be a family member or a friend who cares, don't find excuses, team up!
The main caregiver (me in this instance) often wondered at the loneliness and the lack of assistance I faced during stages of distress. Part of it was my fault since I disconnected myself and, which could have been the reason for others to look the other way!
This is my advice to the "others" on behalf of any caregiver:
- Remember to check in from time to time, a phone call isn't strenuous to make.
- Remember to ask if you could be of assistance, even if the answer is: "no, thank you," the caregiver will appreciate your offer.
- Remember to get more informed about the illness. Nowadays, research is easy through electronic devices.
- Check in with your friend periodically, inquire, ask questions and above all demonstrate your involvement.
- Caregivers see through excuses and evasions. They don't need to handle more aggravation.
- But if you really can't handle , or cope with the situation, be open about it, explain it to your friend, and then please--- walk away.

                                       The Tsunami effect of Schizophrenia

Very much like the effect of a Tsunami, Schizophrenia hits families with little to no notice if one isn't really paying attention. The receding waters of the ocean, until the formation of the big wave is all what parents get for notice on the devastation.

Being puzzled is one's first clue. Is my child's behavior a phase to get noticed? If I don't put too much emphasis will it go away? Is it a late stage of rebellion? Is my son/daughter on override?

After a while, when the first symptoms are here to stay, we move on to the next series of questions:

Is someone really following him? Is he in trouble with the law? Is he on drugs? Anything could be better than a mental illness lucid if it ever crosses our minds.

  After a length of time which could take until the initial evaluation and prognosis, we start hearing the word schizophrenia for the first time. This is when I personally started looking for self-blame interpretations: Is it because.... But why my second child didn't.... I did raise them the same way.... Unevitably? The self-blame game starts taking over, looking for clues and reasons to explain the unexplainable?
Only when the "tsunami" wave settles, and after we look on its overwhelming effects on our children, our action plan starts taking shape. This is when everything but researching my son's illness became redundant.