ADHD: Living and Learning Through Tragedy

Barbara's sons, Chris (left) and Greg (right)

by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins

Not long ago I attended a book fair. As an author, one of the more popular questions asked was, “What will I learn from your book?”  So, in greater detail, I am going to answer that question right here with this post. 

Readers will learn that ADHD is not some new excuse for a child’s misbehavior. This diagnosed brain disorder has been around for a long time. As much as ADHD can benefit a child’s creative thought process and abilities, as demonstrated by countless successful adults who had learned to use it to their advantage, there will always be the threat that the child will choose a far more slippery slope in order to cope with ADHD when they choose to self-medicate with alcohol and illicit drugs.

When I think about those who read my book, they will learn about the  path that my both my sons chose, as readers follow along with the actions I constantly took to try to help them. I did not stop trying.  Rehab didn’t help, and I eventually had to stop my co-dependent behavior. However, readers will also see another side of the coin; how I didn’t stop living my life and reaching for my goals and realizing my dreams, and managing to keep my faith throughout our lives.

Stigma and the Uphill Struggle

 by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins

I received a book review from Carol T. Maxfield, Ph.D., a clinical Neuropsychologist, and the first line she wrote is the subject of this blog post. Carol wrote, “It is rare that a mother who has lost her sons would be willing to share her devastations in a candid and truly genuine manner.”  

One of the driving forces behind my book, An Uphill Struggle, and this blog for that matter,  is to stamp out the stigma surrounding mental illness and chemical addiction; a stigma that is all too prevalent in society today. I truly felt writing as honestly about my situation as possible would help with that. If I shared my experience with the connection between ADD and Chemical ADDiction in the life and death of my two sons, perhaps others would feel more confident and fearless about sharing their own stories.

We need to get past the judgement, the labeling, and seriously get down to the business of understanding the damaging effects of untreated mental disorders. Eliminating the stigma has to begin with those who are directly affected. Today, the growing numbers of children with ADHD are at a higher risk to self-medicate as teenagers and adults, and, as a society, we have a real problem on our hands, especially if we are still mired in the stigma of mental Illness. 

If we can learn how to properly engage children with ADHD in the home and in school, we are giving them a fighting chance that they will not turn to drugs and alcohol to cope later on. Perhaps if parents and teachers were more aware of stories like mine, communities will act quicker both in planning and implementing, as well as funding new programs that better serve the growing population affected by ADHD.