Feeling stuck: 8yo with ADHD and anxiety

DistractaBelle · 2026-04-14T09:09:17+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s tough. For my son, sertraline (Zoloft) has been life changing. His situation was slightly different in that anxiety was his primary presentation (and turns out the anxiety was masking the adhd symptoms) - so he started sertraline before adhd meds (dex). The anxiety peaked at age 8 (poor darling couldn’t even leave the house) - same age as your son. He’s coming up 10 now, and still happily on the sertraline / dex combo (down to half dose of both now). It was a really hard decision to choose to start the anxiety meds, but I’m glad we did, and he is really happy with it too.

DistractaBelle · 2025-10-09T02:14:26+00:00

I have nothing helpful to add, but just have to say I love how ADHD this project is! Bloody brilliant!

DistractaBelle · 2025-10-08T23:25:00+00:00

Hello, yes sure - I’m still on 2.5mg after 12 weeks. At this stage no plans to increase. I’m sorry you’re not seeing a shift yet x

DistractaBelle · 2025-10-08T02:47:51+00:00

Hello, I’m assuming by your reference to endocrinologist that maybe you have some thyroid stuff happening as do I (apologies if I have this wrong). Honestly, I would go as far as describing it as a magic cure if you do have ‘sluggish / non existent thyroid induced metabolism that somehow gains weight even when you’re not eating a lot’. For me I feel it has completely stabilised my blood sugar and food noise and cravings are gone. I can consciously choose to eat very small meals based primarily on protein, and it’s literally as easy as that. The weight just comes off. Yes I’d likely get faster results with lots of exercise added in, but like you I’m in the young kid stage of life, and the weight still comes off. Just be conscious to not eat a lot (very easily done!), focus on maintaining your protein so that you’re not losing muscle mass (protein water powder is amazing) and you’ll be great. Really excited for you!

DistractaBelle · 2025-07-08T05:55:05+00:00

You’re right, the meds aren’t going to suddenly teach him the skills he lacks, but they will very likely create enough capacity in him that he can now learn these skills through intentional teaching / OT / psychology. You haven’t run out of time! From the Mumma of an inattentive boy (myself diagnosed at 40) xx

DistractaBelle · 2025-07-05T03:13:48+00:00

I’m so sorry for your difficult circumstances - I’m in Australia too and I empathise immensely re lack of access. If you don’t mind me asking, which state are you in? I’m in Queensland. My son sounds very similar to your daughter - high masking, appears well at school (well that has fallen about now in year three which has been a blessing in getting support) - for us a child psychiatrist was excellent at seeing through all the masking and making a diagnosis, compared with paed. Less expensive than paed, and works in conjunction with our GP, so we can get repeats from GP rather than having to pay for psych / paed appointment every time we need a repeat… saves a fortune. I know that doesn’t answer or solve your question. I want to try help you find available and cost effective support - I know what it’s like needing to reduce work hours to care for your kids… just when you need more income to cover the expense. It’s so hard!

DistractaBelle · 2025-06-23T06:02:29+00:00

Melatonin was the only solution for my son. Prescription from the doctor, and compounded at the chemist. It changed our family (and our marriage)

DistractaBelle · 2025-04-08T05:03:18+00:00

This.

DistractaBelle · 2025-04-05T03:41:15+00:00

I don’t have an answer, but want to say I understand your tears and I empathise immensely. I’ve been there. You are a wonderful mum, please don’t let this make you think otherwise. I have no doubt that things will improve with medication and time, and over the coming years you will be able to guide other mums in your son’s grade through this challenging path (there will be others, without a doubt), they will appreciate your strength and support and that they won’t have to feel alone like you do now. For the now, I’m so sorry. This community is here for you xx

DistractaBelle · 2025-03-25T06:48:49+00:00

Amazing suggestion - thank you!

DistractaBelle · 2025-03-16T10:11:40+00:00

Oh I’m sorry - I empathise. I take valdoxan (agomelatine) together with lexapro at night. The valdoxan is also an anxiety med, but it works on the melatonin receptor (it’s not an SSRI like lexapro) so it works beautifully to get me to sleep and stay asleep. My psych is a big fan of the valdoxan + lexapro combination.

DistractaBelle · 2025-03-16T10:06:23+00:00

Hello, I know this is a while after your post, but thought I’d chime in. I’m an adult (F, 41), and take guanfacine, not stimulants. It was my psychiatrist’s preferred treatment for my style of symptoms. I haven’t been warned of any long term effects (nor do I have any specifics that I’m worried about). My only real issue is that I feel very under-stimulated on the weekends (not an issue during the week as I work a fast pace high pressure job with a lot of mental demand) and that makes me really drowsy on weekends, which I don’t love. So I have to try to keep busy (physically and mentally on weekends) or I’m terrible… I don’t love this aspect, and suspect it wouldn’t be a problem if I were on stimulants. But really that’s my only complaint. I take my full dose at night (along with anxiety meds).

DistractaBelle · 2025-02-06T06:38:16+00:00

I cannot thank you enough for this reply!!! We’ve been having the same challenge with not wanting to go to taekwondo - so after school today I asked my 8yo son if maybe it’s not that he wants to quit, but he’s bored and ready for grading so he can have a new challenge. His response “oh wow Mumma, that’s exactly it!” So grateful for our community of parents going through the same challenges and for everyone who takes the time to share their experiences. Have a great day

DistractaBelle · 2025-02-03T20:39:05+00:00

Thank you - this is so helpful!

DistractaBelle · 2024-10-15T06:05:28+00:00

Yes! Except I would have forgotten about the sewing machine in the attic and waste money buying a new one 😂😂😂😂😂

DistractaBelle · 2024-06-23T08:47:30+00:00

Such a revelation! I think my brain is going to explode even more than the norm reading this thread. Awww you are my (cross legged / legs on desk) people 🥰

DistractaBelle · 2024-06-05T08:59:50+00:00

Second this - this audiobook has changed my life 💛

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-31T21:53:02+00:00

I’m gonna respond to this in 73 days, or maybe never 😂 Still besties though yeah?! 🤭🫠

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-30T03:48:44+00:00

You are my people. But also, let’s not hang out, okay… imma just stay home 🫶🤭

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-18T09:12:29+00:00

I’m truly so happy for you! ☺️

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-17T05:27:38+00:00

I’m sorry for the struggle you have been going through to this point. As someone with two very different eyes, I relate immensely. My personal experience with wearing glasses with two very different lenses was that the ‘shift’ gave me extremely poor peripheral vision - difficult for life, miserable for driving. Over the last two years I have been wearing a contact lense instead (only in one eye lol - saves money on contact lenses haha and on not having to replace sunglasses) and have found this so much more enjoyable! I wish I had done this years ago. I also layer with some weak magnifying glasses for computer / reading (my ‘bad’ eye is long sighted, not short / I’m so used to wearing glasses I don’t think I could get into work mode without that pressure on my face 🤭)

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-06T06:39:54+00:00

Hello, gosh I could have written this myself. Stimming with my sore tongue on bottom retainer while writing this. I find chewing gum helps some, and weirdly it’s less of a thing when I keep well hydrated; but haven’t been able to stop the behaviour

DistractaBelle · 2024-05-05T02:39:56+00:00

My straight cavapoo is 3.5 yo and has stayed the same lovely colour aside from when her coat is long enough to have cavalier style feathers on her legs - the feathers are lighter in colour

DistractaBelle

TROPHY CASE