The second thing to learn about controlling ADHD without medication is that medication itself cannot solve ADHD problems or even treat it in an adequate way. The most commonly prescribed drug is Ritalin whose main component is methylphenidate which is a Schedule II controlled substance. That puts it in the same category as cocaine! We now know that over 7 million children consume eight tons of Ritalin every year and the alarming thing is that a lot of these kids are getting it from other kids in the schoolyard and not from their family doctor. ADHD drugs can lead to substance abuse, have serious side effects and are risky for some categories of children with heart problems or psychotic disturbances. It is just another element in the insatiable appetite in the USA for drugs, both legal and illegal.

In Australia, there are worries that ADHD children are prescribed these medications for a very short time. The main worry is that unless other supports are up and running, then the child will risk having ADHD for life. What are these supports? How can we reduce medication by psychostimulants or indeed find an alternative ADHD therapy which will calm symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD behaviour therapy is now regarded as an essential support and that means learning parenting skills which will solve a lot of the problems associated with ADHD such as inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional and defiant behaviour and so on. Behaviour therapy is now recommended as one of the best ways of controlling ADHD without medication or at least reducing it to a bare minimum.

How else can we get away from medication ? There are now natural cures for ADHD which use homeopathics and they have no side effects nor do they carry any risks for the child’s health. They restore balance in the child’s brain and soothe the nerves while calming the child. These homeopathic remedies which are in the link below are made by one of the most reputable firms in the USA, carry a one year guarantee and have a facility which is approved by the FDA.

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

How To Learn About Controlling ADHD Without Medication

One of the main problems is the actual diagnosis of this condition which is also why it is so hard to define ADHD! Brain scans on a massive scale are advocated by ADHD expert Dr. Amen. Others claim that there is no great difference in the brain scans of ADHD children and those of normal children. One doctor said that ‘diagnosis is a mess’. There are rating scales, such as the Connors rating scales used and questionnaires are given to teachers and parents but it is generally felt that diagnosis can sometimes be hit and miss.

There seems to be some evidence that some genes are responsible and indeed the strong hereditary link would seem to support that theory. Others say it is a result of an imbalance in the neurotransmitters which carry messages to the brain and these control our moods, impulsivity and our hyperactivity or lack of it. While this seems a most reasonable ADHD definition, the problem is that nobody knows exactly how the ADHD drugs work on the brain and what the long term effects could be!

Once a diagnosis by a specialist has been made, then the next challenge begins about how ADHD should be treated and this very much depends on how the doctor wants to define ADHD. If he believes that it is neurological imbalance , then he will recommend the prescription of psychostimulants. These will certainly reduce the symptoms of inattention, lack of focus but they will not teach the child self-control or how to modify his behavior in any way. The problem here is that this type of treatment has considerable health risks and seizures, heart attacks and psychotic episodes such as hallucinations and suicidal thoughts are not as rare as doctors would like us to believe. This is why ADHD homeopathic remedies are now a much sought after alternative as there are no side effects and the risk to the child’s overall health will not be compromised in any way.

More enlightened doctors and pediatricians (supported by the more prestigious medical and psychological associations) recommend a complete and comprehensive plan which must include behaviour modification in addition to or even without medication. However you may want to define ADHD, ADHD behaviour is quite different in many ways from a normal child. The great challenge is to influence that in a positive way through good parenting which takes into account ways of reinforcing acceptable behaviour and trying to discourage inappropriate behaviour. This is basically what ADHD behaviour therapy is and I know many parents who have found it to be a life saver.

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

Problems And Challenges On How To Define ADHD

If we are still using the ADD label or (ADHD Inattentive type) as it is most commonly called these days, these children frequently are spaced out and have a lot of problems in finishing a task and may flit from one task to another. These children are daydreaming types as well and often do not cause any behavior problems at school. It is for this reason that because they do not disturb the class, they are often neglected and never diagnosed at all with ADD ADHD disorder.

In many ways, the children with hyper and impulsive tendencies have more problems with behavior at home and at school because they are noisier and more intrusive in every sense. They often are diagnosed with a co -morbid disorder called OCD (obsessive Compulsive Disorder) or ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). The ADHD Inattentive type child is more likely to suffer from co-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety.

As regards treatment for ADD and ADHD disorders, here are some facts for parents. Using psychostimulants is full of unknowns and there are lots of uncertainties about their efficacy and the long term effects. It is true that ADHD drugs can work in as many as 70% of cases. But when we say ‘work’, we should be cautious. Certainly these drugs are great at calming children down and helping them to get focused but the behavior problems will remain.

The drugs themselves such as Ritlain, Adderall and Cylert, to name the most popular ones, are quite powerful mind altering drugs. The most alarming thing is that nobody knows exactly how they work on the chemical neurotransmitters in the child’s brain. The drug companies are equally coy about their long term effects although Ritalin has been on the market now for over forty years and has been used extensively in treating ADD and ADHD disorders. So, where is the research? We should remember too that we are dealing here with amphetamines and they are still regarded as Class II substances so there are all sorts of problems there.

The above information is hard to find and many drug companies do not want to tell the full story about ADD and ADHD disorders. That is why thousands of parents are turning to homeopathic remedies which are gentler and will be equally effective in soothing and calming the child, although they too will certainly not solve any behavioural problems associated with ADD ADHD disorder. The best way of all is to opt for a homeopathic medication which combined with ADHD behavioral therapy will be the most effective in the long run. No pills of whatever kind will teach the child how to cope, socialise, manage tasks and generally grow up to be a well balanced adult.

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

ADD & ADHD Disorders – Must Know Facts For Parents