First, they want to believe that their child's behavior problems are due to having psychological and not physical problems. Parents want to believe their child has a psychological problem that can be treated with seeing a psychiatrist instead of giving them medication for a physical problem. Second, they object to medication because sometimes the treatment seems artificial. They believe that it is not a good way to get to the root of their child's problem. Third, parents are afraid that if they put their child on medication, they might become dependent on it. They fear that the medication is a substance currently feared as a drug of abuse and the child might be addicted to it. Parents do not want to continue use of medication to handle problems. It is also important for parents to know that the effects of stimulant medication do .
not last forever. When discontinuing medication for a day, the child's tempermental problems may re-appear (Wender 78).
Therapy, I believe, is the path parents should take in helping their child succeed with the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy supports children directly in .
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changing their behavior. This support might be practical assistance like helping a child learn to think through tasks or this might be encouraging new behaviors by giving praise or rewards each time the child acts in a desired way. In addition, parenting skills training are offered by therapists or in special classes where they give parents tools and techniques for managing their child's behavior. One technique, is the "time out" when the child becomes too out of control, thus the child is removed from the agitating situation and sits alone quietly for a short time to calm down. .
Stimulant drugs (Ritalin) are unsafe medications to be given to children. There have been thirteen cases of acute liver failure and eleven deaths in patients taking Cylert (Wender 82). In addition, it sometimes produces irritability and depression.