Tracy

It common for anxiety to co exist with ADD/ADHD and his doctor may want to give him an antidepressant to curb the anxiety. Sports are a great outlet for the energy that many ADHD kids need to expend.

I would try taking him to the park and engage him in really running and playing. Later that evening ask him how he feels; if he is calmer, point it out. Point out to him how he shines when he plays sports, that this is one of his greatest successes. You don't say how old he is. If he is in his teens, I would advise a book about children and teenagers. It is an easy read and would give him the information that he isn't alone. It is called You Mean I'm Not Lazy.

If he doesn't change his mind about sports he may be a creative type, and you shouldn't push him just because you think it may be good for him. It may be all wrong.

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I re-read and saw that he is 7 yrs. old. If his anxiety is crippling, then you may need to medicate him throughout the summer. The ADD meds help him to focus; that is in all areas of his life, not just school

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I would definitely talk to his doctor about the anxiety-giving him the specific details as to what your son says and does. He may need to have his anxiety treated with medication and there is also the possibility of having a panic disorder. Your doctor should be made aware of what is going on.

I have some anxiety and I feel much better on medication. It can make a huge difference.

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I am an ADD adult and I have 3 ADD children. They do not suffer from anxiety but they do perform their sports at a significantly improved level when they take their medication. My teenager sometimes describes it to us (he is an all star wrestler) as being able to do the moves automatically and naturally without having to think. Or being able to be ahead of the other kid.

When he tries to wrestle without his medication he has to think about every step. He feels like he is thinking so much that sometimes he is behind and catching up. We can sometimes see the difference and it almost looks like he is moving in slow motion. I would discuss the anxiety as a separate entity with the doctor, but I would consider taking the ADD medication for sports all the time- for practice and even for catch in the yard. It helps keep confidence up. One of my daughters trips over the soccer ball w/o her meds. One of my girls is a hockey player and it's a toss up. She is more aggressive without the meds but scores more with them. But my son never plays any sport without his meds. He does take the summer in between sports camps off now that he is older. Good Luck!!

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Delta,

My teenage son has been playing baseball 2-3 seasons a year since he was five (in Florida baseball is pretty much year round) and he also plays significantly better on his meds. He once told the coach he couldn't pitch that day because he forgot his meds. He sees the difference too. He realizes that it helps him to perform at his best.

Many people think the medication is only needed for school. They don't always realize how ADHD impacts every area of life.

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Hi!

My 8 year old son also had the same problem when he was 6 or 7 with soccer. Instead, I signed him up for individual sports. He loves swimming and Karate. Both sports are not team based, so he only competes against himself. We started Karate not too long ago. At first he was very timid and almost ran out. But by the 3rd class we noticed big changes. not only was he bolder in class, but he became bolder in school.

Football may not be for him. Find what he is a natural at doing. It will lessen his anxiety if he is set up for success.

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traceykreagan said: I have a 7 y/o son diagnosed this past year with ADD. I also have a mother and two brother with the disorder. One brother was much older when the disorder came to "light" as an actual diagnosis (other than just a lazy kid). The other brother was in second grade when he was diagnosed, and was a guinea pig for different meds until my parents found the right one after eight or nine different trial-and-error bouts. Adderall is the one that works for both brothers, my mom, as well as my son. My family take the XR, however when my son took it we noticed severe insomnia and switched him to just plain Adderall 5 mg, three times per day (two after breakfast, and one at noon). This was working great while he was in school, and we saw an immediate, and drastic change in his grades and behavior according to all teachers involved. And the retention talk stopped with in weeks.

The anxiety he experienced still lingered, but nothing like it was. We figured it was linked with how he saw himself in relation to the other kids, and once his self esteem grew from his grades turning around his anxiety level would decrease. WELL, sort of. Now he is playing football, and his anxiety is at a level that is crippling. We haven't medicated him much over the summer, just enough to complete his summer packet work. Also, we give it to him just before practice so he can concentrate while the coaches are instructing the players.

Our problem-Christian's anxiety level about playing is through the roof. He withdrawals, shuts down, and loses control. He cries and whines, says he can't do it, doesn't want to do it, throws himself on the floor, and this is on his meds.

We have discussed with him several times that no one is watching him, no one is assessing him but the coach, and the other kids are too busy with their own skills to pay any attention to him. Also that he is just as good, if not better than the other kids on the field, which he really is. His skills are VERY good, and he is able to perform just as the coaches need him to. We give him lots of positive reinforcement, and the coaches do as well.

My oldest brother had many of the same anxiety problems, but my father refused to push him. I firmly believe that as a direct result, when he got older, he didn't have the direction he needed, had too much time on his hands, looked for social acceptance in the wrong places, and turned to illegal behaviors. I also believe that kids need structure, and that good things can come out of organized sports if the children are guided through them correctly. I just need to know how to help Christian deal with his anxiety.

Please, any suggestions would be most appreciated.

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traceykreagan said: I have a 7 y/o son diagnosed this past year with ADD. I also have a mother and two brother with the disorder. One brother was much older when the disorder came to "light" as an actual diagnosis (other than just a lazy kid). The other brother was in second grade when he was diagnosed, and was a guinea pig for different meds until my parents found the right one after eight or nine different trial-and-error bouts. Adderall is the one that works for both brothers, my mom, as well as my son. My family take the XR, however when my son took it we noticed severe insomnia and switched him to just plain Adderall 5 mg, three times per day (two after breakfast, and one at noon). This was working great while he was in school, and we saw an immediate, and drastic change in his grades and behavior according to all teachers involved. And the retention talk stopped with in weeks.

The anxiety he experienced still lingered, but nothing like it was. We figured it was linked with how he saw himself in relation to the other kids, and once his self esteem grew from his grades turning around his anxiety level would decrease. WELL, sort of. Now he is playing football, and his anxiety is at a level that is crippling. We haven't medicated him much over the summer, just enough to complete his summer packet work. Also, we give it to him just before practice so he can concentrate while the coaches are instructing the players.

Our problem-Christian's anxiety level about playing is through the roof. He withdrawals, shuts down, and loses control. He cries and whines, says he can't do it, doesn't want to do it, throws himself on the floor, and this is on his meds.

We have discussed with him several times that no one is watching him, no one is assessing him but the coach, and the other kids are too busy with their own skills to pay any attention to him. Also that he is just as good, if not better than the other kids on the field, which he really is. His skills are VERY good, and he is able to perform just as the coaches need him to. We give him lots of positive reinforcement, and the coaches do as well.

My oldest brother had many of the same anxiety problems, but my father refused to push him. I firmly believe that as a direct result, when he got older, he didn't have the direction he needed, had too much time on his hands, looked for social acceptance in the wrong places, and turned to illegal behaviors. I also believe that kids need structure, and that good things can come out of organized sports if the children are guided through them correctly. I just need to know how to help Christian deal with his anxiety.

Please, any suggestions would be most appreciated.

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My son is 8 and diagnosed a little over a year ago. This summer we tried football also. He loves the sport, but did a lot of whinning and getting frustrated. Something would happen and someone would blame him and he didn't do it and felt the coach wouldn't listen so he would just walk off the field crying and refuse to participate. I tried talking to him but he felt they were all against him. I find that he is negative and angry a lot. I talked with his psych and asked he be placed on an anti anxiety med. We have been on it for about a month and I do feel he is happier and able to deal better with these frustrated feelings.

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My son is 9 and will be ten in June. He is in the third grade, we did not send him to kindergarten early. So he is the older one in his class. He struggles with spelling and Math but has an aide in school to assist with him. He is currently on Strattera. He is 40 mg. He was instructed to take it at night before going to bed. I am now questioning if this is really working for him.

We are coming upon baseball season again. The only sport his loves and participates in. The boys in his class are starting to excell in the sport. But son is good but doesn't give it the time or dedication because he is too busy downing himself or crying about it. He looses focus on the field and sometimes acts up in the dugout. There are days that I cannot get him dressed and ready to go to a game. Sometimes it just seems to be a struggle. More good days than bad though. I am not looking forward to another year, but he does like to play so I want to give him the opportunity.

I am just wondering if Stattera is not working well for him.

Also, he seems to be loosing a lot of his friends. He use to have many, many friends. Now there are just a few.

Help with any advise please.

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