Our first question was: Is ADD real?
We decided that the answer doesn't really matter.
We'll use the label because it makes it easier to talk.
The working hypothesis is: ADD is real but over-diagnosed.
Now let's tackle the next thorny question: medication.
Repeat: We are looking for ways to cope, not to score points in an ideological war. So let's think and/and, not either/or.
The spirit of this series is: Try drug-free ways first. They may be enough.
Medication if necessary, but not necessarily medication.
I cheer every time I hear a natural success story like this one, shared with permission by a Mom named Laura. We met on an online group. Laura put her hyperactive son on a gfcf diet. That means no gluten, no casein. No wheat, no milk or other dairy. Here is what happened:
"My son was hyperactive, aggressive and destructive. Many times a day I had to physically pull him off his (older and bigger) sister, or scream at him because he was about to hit her with something heavy. Punishment had no effect on his behavior, but a terrible effect on his self-esteem.
The day before our diet change, he stood on his chair at the dinner table, yelling and throwing things. The day after, he sat at the table and ate with us. It's been a miracle for our family. My kids now play together for hours. They have ordinary kid tiffs, which are over in two minutes and rarely physical. I have my sweet, sensitive little boy back."
Careful experimenting with a choice of good whole foods is harmless. If it doesn't work you lose nothing. Read more about his on Dr. Bate's website in the side bar.
On the other hand, I met a 9-year old online who said his first day on Ritalin was the best day of his life. Who am I to argue with that? We don't need guilt trips for parents who use stimulant medication.
One thing becomes clear when you read the individual stories: Pharmaceutical drugs are not risk-free. One child's sanity-saving medication can be another child's nightmare.
If your child is not medicated yet you might want to try all natural remedies and coping tools first. They may be enough.
If you need medication, think and/and.
A well-nourished child whose allergies are under control and whose individual learning style is being respected will be better off whether she is on medication or not.
Today's resource is some excellent online support groups.
Many of the parents on the first two lists use medication. They are wonderful warm people who know what you are going through. If you want to learn about Concerta vs. Adderall for instance, don't ask me, ask them.
Groups are also a fount of knowledge on how to make school and health systems work for you.
ADD-ADHD-Parents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
adhdparentssupportgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
ADHD_DrugFree-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
If you use medication, what have you tried before?
Leave a comment or contact me: mailto:ienvan@gmail.com?subject=ADD
We decided that the answer doesn't really matter.
We'll use the label because it makes it easier to talk.
The working hypothesis is: ADD is real but over-diagnosed.
Now let's tackle the next thorny question: medication.
Repeat: We are looking for ways to cope, not to score points in an ideological war. So let's think and/and, not either/or.
The spirit of this series is: Try drug-free ways first. They may be enough.
Medication if necessary, but not necessarily medication.
I cheer every time I hear a natural success story like this one, shared with permission by a Mom named Laura. We met on an online group. Laura put her hyperactive son on a gfcf diet. That means no gluten, no casein. No wheat, no milk or other dairy. Here is what happened:
"My son was hyperactive, aggressive and destructive. Many times a day I had to physically pull him off his (older and bigger) sister, or scream at him because he was about to hit her with something heavy. Punishment had no effect on his behavior, but a terrible effect on his self-esteem.
The day before our diet change, he stood on his chair at the dinner table, yelling and throwing things. The day after, he sat at the table and ate with us. It's been a miracle for our family. My kids now play together for hours. They have ordinary kid tiffs, which are over in two minutes and rarely physical. I have my sweet, sensitive little boy back."
Careful experimenting with a choice of good whole foods is harmless. If it doesn't work you lose nothing. Read more about his on Dr. Bate's website in the side bar.
On the other hand, I met a 9-year old online who said his first day on Ritalin was the best day of his life. Who am I to argue with that? We don't need guilt trips for parents who use stimulant medication.
One thing becomes clear when you read the individual stories: Pharmaceutical drugs are not risk-free. One child's sanity-saving medication can be another child's nightmare.
If your child is not medicated yet you might want to try all natural remedies and coping tools first. They may be enough.
If you need medication, think and/and.
A well-nourished child whose allergies are under control and whose individual learning style is being respected will be better off whether she is on medication or not.
Today's resource is some excellent online support groups.
Many of the parents on the first two lists use medication. They are wonderful warm people who know what you are going through. If you want to learn about Concerta vs. Adderall for instance, don't ask me, ask them.
Groups are also a fount of knowledge on how to make school and health systems work for you.
ADD-ADHD-Parents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
adhdparentssupportgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
ADHD_DrugFree-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
If you use medication, what have you tried before?
Leave a comment or contact me: mailto:ienvan@gmail.com?subject=ADD
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