Your child can't sit still, can't focus, is bringing home poor grades and notes from the teacher about how they behaved - and it's not good. Eventually, you resort to taking your child to the doctor, where you hear the news you didn't want to hear: your child has ADHD. (For natural ideas to treat ADHD, check this out.)
Marion County has many things going for it, but one thing it's lacking is support for parents of kids with ADHD. There's a general support group for parents of special needs kids at the Headquarters of the Marion County Library on the 4th Wednesday of each month. But that support group can't really help you understand the unique challenges that come with ADHD.
What can help is Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). This is a national support group for both children and adults who suffer from ADD or ADHD. With groups all over the country, it's a solid web of information, understanding and empathy from those who've been there or are there right now.
CHADD does not have a chapter in Ocala or Marion County. However, it does have one in Gainesville, the Gainesville Satellite of CHADD. They meet on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm. The meetings are held at 529 NW 60th Street, Gainesville, FL 32907, near the Oaks Mall. The easiest way to get there from Ocala is to take I-75 north to Gainesville's Newberry Road exit. Head east on Newberry Rd. past the mall to NW 60th St and turn right. 529 will be on the left.
If you have questions, you can also call 352-331-5100 or email Dr. Lee at drl@ehsfamily.com before attending the meeting.
It may seem like a lot of work to drive from Ocala to Gainesville once a month (about an hour drive, depending on the route you take) for a support group. It's true, it is quite a drive. And you will have to shuffle some things around and really put in an effort to make it, depending on your work hours and other commitments. But here's the thing: ADHD isn't going to go away. If not properly treated, it will get worse. If not understood, the little things that come along with it will add up and drive you nuts. Dealing with it all by yourself with no one who understands will lead to massive amounts of stress which will take its toll on you, your child, and everything else in your life.
Attending even one meeting can have a huge benefit. You can get tips on how to deal with various issues, what to expect down the road, how to handle doctors and teachers, and so many other things that someone who has never dealt with ADHD can't possibly understand or help with.
If you strongly feel that the drive to Gainesville isn't worth it or you can't make it, check out CHADD's online communities, which can offer you some of the same sense of community and tips that you would receive in the in-person support group. If nothing else, it gives you an outlet to vent your frustrations and be validated.
Another option to look into is the Parent Advocacy Coalition, which offers support and education to parents. You can get in touch with them in Gainesville at 352-374-9873 or by email at PACgville@att.net.
Reach out and find support and understanding. The challenges that come with raising a child with ADHD can be stressful and frustrating. Whether in person or online, find others who can listen and understand because they've dealt with it themselves.
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