Have you ever felt like you were taking on more than you could handle in your home? Or like you just can’t keep up with the constant daily tasks of being a parent? Meet Heather Moore. She’s managing a three-year-old, one-year-old, and a full-time job all while her husband is away in the Army. However, she’s found a way to handle her busy schedule: Adderall.
Following her first child, Moore began to feel like she couldn’t keep up and would often forget things when going out. Wanting to provide the best care for her child, she sought medical attention for a prescription to help her manage. After describing symptoms of ADHD and passing a test proving she’s drug-free, the doctor gave her a prescription.
“I told him I had heard about Adderall… can I try it? It was that easy,” she said.
Dr. Stephen Garrison of the Carson Texas drug and rehabilitation center says that doctors are sometimes too quick to write prescriptions and moms are shopping around for what they need and will share or compare notes to figure out what works. Dr. Garrison also states that once the stimulant wears off, a person doesn’t feel normal and will repeat the process all over again.
Even though Moore says her use is based on need and not recreation, she’s admitted that it’s something she could live without, but doesn’t want to; and despite not sleeping well at night and shaking a lot, she continues to take the pills.
“At the end of the day, whatever it takes to be the best mom I can, it’s worth it,” Moore said.
Read the complete article and view the video on WFAA.com.
BMWK– Would you take prescription drugs to become a better parent? Do you know any parents who have used stimulants to improve their abilities to manage a busy schedule? What are some alternatives?
As a mother of three, I feel overwhelmed all the time! I’ve just accepted it as a part of this phase of my life. While the thought of taking a pill to make it better or easier is tempting most days, I wouldn’t unless medically necessary. I’m learning to just lower my expectations and not allow myself to make things more stressful than they really are. It’s a daily struggle.
As a mom, I can understand the overwhelmed feeling too. As a military spouse (Go NAVY!!….lol), I know the overwhelming feeling of having to do things all alone. However, when things get hectic, I think about what must be done verses what things would be nice to get done. When I figure out the priorities, I then see if things can be delegated. All I’m trying to say is that there are better ways of handling business other than to take a pill. If necessary, learn how to say no to other commitments until there is a conquering of the ones commitments have already been made. This may mean school projects that require only adult help (i.e. bake sales, PTO/PTA, etc) or a postponement of personal interests (i.e. book club, wine clubs, etc). Learning that one person can’t do it all is a daily lesson which daily application is necessary. However, taking a pill is only preventing the lesson from being learned, not helping the learner to attain that knowledge.