Children with ADHD often grow up in an environment that doesn’t accept them. The often demonstrate anger, anxiety, fear and low frustration tolerance. Parents of children with ADHD may demonstrate the stame tendencies. Doctors are trained in diagnosis and medication treatment however they are typically not trained in behavioral treatment. Medication is the first line of treatment for ADHD but many children cannot tolerate the medication or refuse to take it. This leaves children struggling to just get buy on a day to day basis, and parents equally stressed. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has become another common and often overdiagnosed condition in children.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD:
- Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
- Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
- Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
- Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish school work, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
- Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
- Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
- Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
- Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
- Is often forgetful in daily activities
ADHD is not an excuse for laziness. The opposite is very often true. What is ADHD and what causes it? Watch the video below to find out a little about it.
HOW CAN COUNSELING HELP?
The most effective non-medication approach to ADHD is behavioral modification. This treatment approach restructures a child’s environement to avoid stimulation, create structure, consistancy and predictability. This allows the child to feel contained and keeps them focused. Use of techniques such as a tolken economy, immediate discipline and clear communication can help ADHD children suceed at home.
WHAT CAN I TRY ON MY OWN?
Many people report only limited sucess on their own without therapy or medication. By the time a client is willing to look at therapy they have likely had a long life of frustration and underperformance. They may have tried natural remedies. Some may have a small level of sucess however the research is yet to prove these alternatives are regularly effective.
ADHD responds well to stimulant medications such as Adderall or Ritalin. Many people experience side effects from these medications such as increased anxiety and anger, decreased ability to sleep and appetite, uncomfortable physical symptoms and eventual tolerance requiring increased dosages. However for some, the benefits outweigh the side effects. Talk to your doctor about medical options.
Natural option include strenuous exercise 5 times per week for 30-45 minutes, diet and schedule changes. When nutrition enters the discussion the research becomes controversial. Many case examples have been presented but more solid empirical study is still needed. Initial evidence suggests a high protein diet, including supplementation with Omega-3 oils has some benefit in reducing the symptoms of ADHD.
For some individuals nutritional changes to eliminate allergies or kill off systemic yeast infections may result in enough relief that symptoms are no longer significantly problematic. Significant controversy about such alternative techniques is seen in the community. Strong statements on either side of the argument should be tempered to allow creative solutions for each individual. Doing a little research on the Internet for topics such as Candida (systemic yeast), Amen Clinic, NAET (allergy elimination) or medications such as Adderall, Dextrostat, Wellbutrin, etc. will give you a quick introduction into the controversy.
Biofeedback techniques can be extremely helpful in learning mental regulation necessary to compensate for ADHD.