To not give my teen DD medication

This makes me so angry.

My DD has ASD and ADHD and medication absolutely saved her life.

I can't say what I really think, but IMO any parent who won't even let their child try medication is abusive.

Also, I DO understand the reluctance you have. As a parent of a neurodiverse child, you absolutely do grieve the life you perceived for your child (no matter how outlandish or untenable that future may have been!), and with diagnoses often come the realisations that the hopes and dreams you had for your child may not be achievable/ appropriate etc. Your child sounds like mine in that they are ND, but are high functioning and for the most part are ‘ok’ (or to be hideously stark about it, more ‘socially accepted’) but that in itself can be hard as you can kid yourself that you’re child has ‘gotten away with it’ and you can pretend all the grief and stress hell that have been with you since the diagnoses can be pushed away and forgotten about, and then things like this come along and remind you that actually as the parent of an ND kid, you don’t ever get the luxury of ‘normal’ and then the grieving process starts again! So, I do understand. But, don’t let fear be the thing that clouds any judgement here ♥️

The medical professionals have told you she needs to start medication now, so it would be wrong to withhold that from her. It doesn’t sound like they are doing it on a whim. I get wishing she didn’t need it, but she does need it and that’s ok. I can’t see how it would be helpful to teach her that medication is bad.

She's unwell and needs treatment, it's as simple as that really. Ocd is really life destroying and your daughter needs relief from it , if medication is that relief then what harm. Its not forever, just for now .

It’s one thing to be sad that non medication treatments have not worked.

But to actively deny her medication that would likely make her life much better is definitely not fair when she is open to it, at age 15.

Yes. It is very unreasonable to deny your daughter the medication that will help her.
I was late diagnosed with ADHD and medication changed my life. I wish more than anything I would have had access to that in my teen years. A lot would have turned out differently for me. The only side effects that I am reliant on are the ones where I can live my life to the fullest. Don’t be that mum.

Medication isn’t something to be feared. Speak to her team so you understand it better (I don’t mean this in a patronising way at all, but to see if from the medical point of view). Our gut reaction to be anti medication is usually due to internalised bias and prejudice we have against it, when actually, we should just be grateful we now live in a world where these things are known about and accessible. Remember - she could always come off it. Knowledge is power though, so I’d ask more about the whys of it.

I’ve been medicated for years (very long term) and it’s changed my life in so many brilliant ways.

If I were in your situation I would talk to her team and explain your concerns but ultimately I think it’s up to her. Yes she’s managing but at what cost? Is it much harder for her and the medication could give her some relief? Think about her above all

If she's been prescribed medication, she must need medication. I doubt they prescribed it on a whim.

It’s worth a try surely? She deserves to try it out. If it doesn’t work out for her she can stop easily enough. Imagine if it’s the best thing for her

speak again to the team op

This isn't about you.

This is about what's best for her.

So what if she needs medication long term?

Would you deny her insulin if she were diabetic?

Is it not up to her, if she feels it might be of benefit.