I have an 11 year old son diagnosed with ADHD, ODD and anxiety. He was first diagnosed at the age of 5. I experienced many years up until this age struggling with his behaviour and how to manage it, as Paediatricians don't like to diagnose ADHD before the age of 5.

Over the years, my son has been on and off many medications, which in themselves, have detrimental side effects. I have seen numerous specialists such as GPs, Paediatricians, Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and a Neuropsychologist, all to no avail. My son is constantly suspended at school because of his behaviour and the school is at a loss to handle this delicate situation. Because of this, my son's education suffers and so does my work and personal life. My son does not qualify for acceptance into a specialist school as he is above average in all aspects of his education-when he is in class. I worry about how he is treated at school (the teacher's are not trained to handle anything out of the 'norm' and lack of funding means that extra resources are scarce), so he just gets sent home.

I have fought the school for a number of years, and involved the Education Department, and finally my son has been granted an an education aide, though it seems too little too late as he is now in Grade 6.

My own health has suffered too because of my son's disorder, I have had severe depression and my son has been removed from my care once as he was violent toward me. I have 2 other children (one with Cerebral Palsy), and it's a constant battle to 'keep the peace' in my house.

Not enough is being done by schools, the community and the medical field to assist families through this tumultuous time, and it's a disorder that will become more frequent. It is a mental illness, and for far too long, my son has been discriminated against for a medical problem he has no control over.

I am part of a Facebook page for other families experiencing the same problems. There are hundreds of members, and we are all tired of the lack of understanding from the community, the lack of support, the effects this disorder has on each and every family as well as the constant struggle to just get what our children are entitled to, which is an education in a supported, if somewhat unconventional and adaptable environment. Main stream education is not for our kids, so where do we go?

I am also angry at people who like to think that this is a 'made-up' disorder for people who can't handle their kids. I have 2 other children who have been brought up exactly the same way, so why don't they have ADHD? This is a common misconception that needs to be addressed. It is a disorder that, despite what uneducated people think, doesn't just affect people from poor socio-economic families, or broken homes or from lack of discipline.  I invite anyone to spend a day with my son and use their 'expert parenting' skills to control my son.

He has never slept a full night in his life (another common side effect of ADHD, whether medicated or not). When my son had hallucinations due to one of his medications, I spent weeks with no sleep, going to work like a zombie, which eventually led to my depression. It puts a strain on personal relationships and I often feel that I neglect my other children because of the amount of effort I have to put into my ADHD son.

Good Luck with trying to Google places to make a donations for research into ADHD. They're few and far between.

With this article I wanted to voice my concerns and to let people know that this disorder is very real and more needs to be done to help families and the children who have to struggle with this on their own.

Shona Thornton is a Ballarat mother