But the same failure is a travesty today. She had vivid memories of being a confident young child who became severely depressed around the age of 10, sitting inside looking out the window rather than playing with her friends. She was finally properly diagnosed when she was 30, and began getting both medication and psychotherapy. While her depression lifted and she was able to make progress in therapy, she was painfully aware of the lost potential that could never be reclaimed. His agitation and restlessness, dating back to childhood, were classic signs of ADHD, and the tragedy is that he was not diagnosed and treated until he was well into middle age.
Early treatment is almost always far more effective treatment.
The malleability of a child's brain chemistry and personality diminishes with the passing of time. Many problems that we see in adults are the result of having been derailed developmentally during childhood. A person cannot re-live his youth. There are reasons for being wary of medicating young people. One is the legitimate concern regarding safety.