Attention deficit disorder?! in children

[Rucira]

Im looking for alternatives to feeding children amphetamine based meds! any info appreciated.

[Kunnskaping]

Im looking for alternatives to feeding children amphetamine based meds! any info appreciated.

Thom Hartmann has a site and online community full of all sorts of good techniques, insights, and support for parents of ADHD children. Check it out.

His books on the subject are wonderful, too. Basically, he's a gift to the world in many areas, his groundbreaking perspective and methodologies pertaining to people who were not born to sit and knit being but one.

[Braggi]

Thom Hartmann has a site and online community full of all sorts of good techniques, insights, and support for parents of ADHD children. Check it out.

Agreed. He's quite a guy. I've heard him on the radio. Here's an link to his latest on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Thom-Hartmann.../dp/1887424520

Read the reviews. People like his style.

Stay away from the drugs if you can. It's hard to say if they do much good, although for some they do seem to help.

The harm they can do is well documented and indisputable.

-Jeff

[Colleen Krinard LCSW]

Im looking for alternatives to feeding children amphetamine based meds! any info appreciated.

Greetings

This is a very multi-faceted and complex question with an equally multi-faceted and complex answer. And also a very important question to ask!

I am responding as a trained, licensed clinician with many years of experience working with both children and adults who are presenting with, or diagnosed with ADD and ADHD.

Some of the typical symptoms and behaviors associated with the Attention Deficit Disorders (both types, hyperactive and non-hyperactive) may include problems with focus, attention, concentration, memory, impulsivity, insight, distractibility, irritibility, mood swings, sleep, apetite, physical restlessness and agitation, daydreaming, relationship difficulties and task completion. The disturbances can manifest at home, at play, at school, or in all areas. Parents, relatives, teachers and counselors can feel frustrated and the child can often feel blamed, shamed, and guilty.

However, at the same time, there are at least five or six other diagnoses which can have these very same symptoms.

So the very first issue to clarify is whether it is a correct diagnosis, who gave it, and for what reasons. Parents frequently find themselves pressured to 'fix' these kids because they do not fit easily in standard structures and approaches. You may find well-meaning classroom teachers and family doctors mistakenly giving out these labels but some of the other conditions which must be ruled out by a competent, licensed professional include dysthymia, depression, trauma exposure during pregnancy, birth, and/or early childhood, attachment problems, bi-polar disorder, exposure to domestic violence and other stressors in the home and or neighborhood, allergies to food and other environmental factors, medical conditions, pre and peri-natal drug and alcohol exposure, basic temperament style, high creativity and intelligence, extra sensitivity, and even possibilities such as past life trauma and indigo identification.

Then once a correct diagnosis is made, there are both nutritional and behavioral interventions which can be very helpful. Most of the non-traditional approaches are labor intensive, requiring time and energy from both parents and teachers and practitioners to help identify and support the real unmet needs of the child. And there are times when medication is helpful.

Alternative approaches can be found through homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, nutritional supplements and dietary changes as well as by working with a wholistic or alternative psychotherapist and even psychiatrist. It may also be helpful or necessary to consider changes in school placements, or even school systems.

When a child or adult has these symptoms and behaviors it is very important to discover the causes and provide appropriate support because unaided the person may then be at risk for even more difficult problems at home, work, school, and with self-esteem.

It frequently turns out that these children are gifted in ways in which their immediate surroundings are not able to resonate in a positive way as they may have come in as agents of change. So the healing and learning journey often involves the whole family.

So while this is not a simple, easy answer, I hope this information will be helpful in shaping a journey of discovery and healing for all concerned.

In Peace and Happy Learning

Colleen Krinard, LCSW

[Dark Shadows]

Try reading 'Special Diets for Special Kids', by Lisa Lewis. She has many suggestions on how to make dietary modifications to improve behavior. I noticed a big improvement, just by making a few changes in my daughter's diet.

[ChristineL]

Try reading 'Special Diets for Special Kids', by Lisa Lewis. She has many suggestions on how to make dietary modifications to improve behavior. I noticed a big improvement, just by making a few changes in my daughter's diet.

Although I'm not familiar with this particular book, I would suggest reading it. My ex's son was diagnosed with ADD...when he spent the week-end with us, his attention span would lengthen, his hyperactive fits would decrease, etc. All I did was feed him nothing containing dyes (especially red), high fructose corn syrup or caffeine.

One of my close friends went through hell fighting the schools over her son's apparent ADD, especially his sudden hyperactive almost violent fits. They wanted him put on ritalin, she didn't feel this would help. After doing a lot of research and taking him to several different specialists for help, she found someone who tested him for allergies. A diet free of dyes, corn syrup and most sugars turned him into a different child. After years of being called to the school for negative reports, she called me up crying...her son's teacher told her what a pleasure it was to have her son in his class. Food allergies can cause behaviors that are immediately assumed to be ADD.

[terriann]

There is definitely a dietary component to ADHD & ADD. Call the Bowman College of Nutrition 987-7530. Ask them for referral to a Certified Nutrition Therapist (this is a state certification) who specializes in that arena.

--Terriann

Thom Hartmann has a site and online community full of all sorts of good techniques, insights, and support for parents of ADHD children. Check it out.

His books on the subject are wonderful, too. Basically, he's a gift to the world in many areas, his groundbreaking perspective and methodologies pertaining to people who were not born to sit and knit being but one.

[Dynamique]

Stay away from CHADD! They are widely rumored to be BigPharma front group.

Also, be leery of the high levels of sugars in XanGo. Yes, it is natural sugar but sugar nonetheless. Other than that, the XanGo seems like it has some beneficial substances in it.

there is a group called CHAAD that meets in Santa Rosa on the last Wednesday of every month.

Also, I recommend Xango Juice.
Dosage depends on weight.
Please contact me if you are inetrested in more info.

[bbphoto]

I don't have input about dietary needs of kids w/ ADHD, but the Santa Rosa Chiropractic Neurology Center has recently opened a special center dealing w/ this exact problem.

Dr Blake Ambridge has amazing results helping kids overcome ADHD. His office is on Mendocino just south of Fountaingrove. His office number is 575-9009.

I urge anyone who is struggling w/ this issue to contact them.
Love and Peace!
L2

[taishon]

My son was recently diagnosed by his education team and his parents (us) as being adHD..I agree with the diet issue (his grandmother feeds him constant sweets, processed foods etc and I can't get her to stop ). HOWEVER, I have seen other kids with some of the same diets or access to sweets behave vastly different. There are many issues (his intelligence etc etc) but the bottom line is his has to function socially and his behavior at home has become incredibly tiring. I realize we have made parenting mistakes (we finally enrolled in the TOTs program at Kaiser and it helped our moods towards my son if nothing else). He is an active, interesting fun but sometimes incredibly defiant kid. On top of that he has real strong potty training issues (which may be linked to sensory integration).

Interested in any and all responses to this rambling message.

Oh..we are also interested in fostering friendships with other parents (if this message hasn't scared you off ;0) for social gatherings (game nights, hikes, etc etc). Part of my son's issues, I am sure, is the very busy lifetyle of my wife and I and we have lost touch with our single and no parent friends.

Sal

Although I'm not familiar with this particular book, I would suggest reading it. My ex's son was diagnosed with ADD...when he spent the week-end with us, his attention span would lengthen, his hyperactive fits would decrease, etc. All I did was feed him nothing containing dyes (especially red), high fructose corn syrup or caffeine.

One of my close friends went through hell fighting the schools over her son's apparent ADD, especially his sudden hyperactive almost violent fits. They wanted him put on ritalin, she didn't feel this would help. After doing a lot of research and taking him to several different specialists for help, she found someone who tested him for allergies. A diet free of dyes, corn syrup and most sugars turned him into a different child. After years of being called to the school for negative reports, she called me up crying...her son's teacher told her what a pleasure it was to have her son in his class. Food allergies can cause behaviors that are immediately assumed to be ADD.

[clschellenberg]

My son was recently diagnosed by his education team and his parents (us) as being adHD..I agree with the diet issue (his grandmother feeds him constant sweets, processed foods etc and I can't get her to stop ). HOWEVER, I have seen other kids with some of the same diets or access to sweets behave vastly different. There are many issues (his intelligence etc etc) but the bottom line is his has to function socially and his behavior at home has become incredibly tiring. I realize we have made parenting mistakes (we finally enrolled in the TOTs program at Kaiser and it helped our moods towards my son if nothing else). He is an active, interesting fun but sometimes incredibly defiant kid. On top of that he has real strong potty training issues (which may be linked to sensory integration).

Interested in any and all responses to this rambling message.

Oh..we are also interested in fostering friendships with other parents (if this message hasn't scared you off ;0) for social gatherings (game nights, hikes, etc etc). Part of my son's issues, I am sure, is the very busy lifetyle of my wife and I and we have lost touch with our single and no parent friends.

Sal

Interesting feedback on this complicated condition - something else to consider as complimentary to nutritional changes is an advanced technology from Germany that helps boost the immune system and bring the body back safely back into balance at a cellular level. It's called the BEMER3000 and personal experience has shown some very positive reactions to its use. If you'd like to hear more about this at a general level, you can look at https://bemeramerica.com/LLS or reply to me privately.

[ElizabethSailer]

Hi Sal -

I'm a practitoner of Chinese Medicine in Sebastopol specializing in holistic pediatric care. I've helped a number of children with ADD and ADHD and I'd be happy to speak with you. Feel free to call me at 707/228-8102. If you'd like to know more about me and my practice you can go to my website at www.elizabethsaileracupuncture.

Best,
Elizabeth Sailer L.Ac.