There’s no doubt that being a parent in California can feel like a full-time job. It isn’t always easy, especially when your child frequently breaks the law. With that in mind, one parent recently found out that a single diagnosis changed the course of her son’s life for the better.
Difficult beginnings
The mother lived the life that most moms were familiar with, which involved raising her young son and making sure he attended school. Unfortunately, most of her memories from this time involved her attending meetings with teachers and principals about her son’s behavioral issues.
While she had a good relationship with her son, things began to spiral out of control once her son became a young teenager. Instead of receiving punishments for talking in class or pushing classmates, her son was now committing juvenile offenses. After numerous offenses, a judge ruled that the son had to attend 30 days in a detention center.
A life-changing diagnosis
As the son spent a month in a detention center, his behavior problems stopped almost immediately. His grades improved, and he became somewhat of a role model for other prisoners. But his encounters with the law weren’t over. After obtaining his release from the detention center, he would continue landing himself in jail.
One day, he showed his mom an article about the effects of ADHD. After meeting with a medical specialist, this person revealed that the son was living with undiagnosed ADHD. Soon after taking new medication, her son stopped committing crimes and straightened out his life.
After a lifetime of confusion, a mom who wouldn’t give up on her son found out that undiagnosed ADHD caused his behavioral problems. Currently, this same young man speaks to youth about the dangers of undiagnosed ADHD.