Breaking the Rule: Overcoming ADHD Without Drugs

According to Block, R., Macdonald, N., & Piotrowski, N., On the Article “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)”, in March 2013, the New York Times reported that data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that approximately 11 percent of children between the ages of four and seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD, representing a 16 percent increase since 2007 and a 53 percent rise over the last decade. 

Even though those numbers are alarming, the true is that ADHD can be managed without the use of any medication. The use of drugs to help children to focus and low the hyperactivity levels is a common practice that follows a diagnosis. The side effects are not worth it, and children have to adjust the doses with the past of the time, making the drugs intake a never ending story.  

When my son was diagnosed with ADHD, was quickly referred to the psychiatric to get his drug prescription. I refused. That’s when I started to do my own research, and worked to solve the problem. Was not a quick fix, it took over 4 years to get to where we are now. A week ago on the Teacher and Parents conferences his Advocacy teacher said: “He is doing an excellent job! He’s outstanding”. If you have a child with ADHD you know the value of those words.

During the last years, we worked on changing his diet, teaching him to avoid what he can’t have. He learned social skills and organizational skills. He also learned respiratory techniques, meditation and yoga. The consumption of vitamins and mineral supplements also has played an important role. But the most important thing is the perseverance and the confidence he has built. Those two traits will be the key for his success.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS!!!

One of the most difficult parts on the control of ADHD without drugs is putting all the school pressure aside.  There is only one way to describe a NON cooperative school/teacher: TOXIC. The Good thing is that your child has rights!

The Special Education Program for ADHDers, is a fundamental to step forward on solving the puzzle.  The process begins with the Psychologist interview.  Once a “diagnosis” is done you have in your hands a magical wand that you can use to change the way your son/daughter has been treated at school.

The Psychologist will write a report, with his opinion, and suggestions (always of course the use of drugs).  When my son was diagnosed I took the report to the school and claim his rights to be on a Special Education Program.

This program, entitles that teachers, parents and social workers, work together in pro of the child, not against him. Sometimes the child is moved to another classroom with less students, but if in your case, your son doesn’t cope very well with changes, you can always ask to leave him in his same classroom and change the table to another with fewer children.

It also give you the right to ask for special chairs designed with hidden “toys”  to play with so the child can keep his hands busy and his mind focused.

Another change that can be implemented is to allow the child to take more time to complete his tasks without receiving a punishment.  No time out at recess for incomplete or missing homework. This are just few of the advantages you can take of it.

At the beginning it sounds that you are spoiling your child, and that he could get the wrong message. But you are not! Once the pressure comes down, you’ll feel more confident and relaxed to pay attention to another symptom and manage it. Its likes turning off the lights before going to bed, you probably won’t fall asleep right away, but certainly it will help.

On a next article I’ll share the process I went through to incorporate my son on a Special Education Program. Maybe you can avoid few mistakes I made!

LUBA SHARES HER EXPERIENCE

Luba Berki has decided to share her experience with us! It's always nice to read that other people are achieving the control of the ADHD without medicines!!! Thanks for your support! This is her post: 

"So I have tried Omega-3, Pedi-Active, Attentive Child, Zinc, cleaned up the diet (but we eat pretty healthy to begin with) - all that produced big fat zero result. Our pediatrician did say our 5 year old son has the symptoms of ADHD inattentive, but deferred the diagnosis until he is 6 (per DSM-V). Since we aren't interested in medicating with pharmaceuticals, I thought I would try caffeine. I know it is a stimulant just like most ADHD drugs, but it seems like the lesser of... evils. After all I have consumed tea since the time I was able to hold a cup by myself and lived to tell about it . I went for caffeine pills. 1/4 of a pill is about 50mg of caffeine; I dissolve it in a spoonful of water and add it to his morning juice. On the very first day his sticker chart came home with a note from his teacher full of high praise - he listened on the rug, participated, answered questions, followed along, was in the green zone on the behavior hart, was made a line leader for good behavior when they went to lunch, did great on his math, journeyed appropriately. Oh my gosh, it was eye opening. It's been almost three weeks and he is doing fantastic so far, according to the teacher, she sends frequent feedback on the sticker chart. I do have to put a piece of caffeinated chocolate in his lunch box ( about 25 mg caffeine, 1/4 of an Awake bar) to tide him over the afternoon portion of school, that's when his attention starts wavering, naturally. I guess I will keep doing it while it's working.

No sleep problems have been noted so far, nothing out of the ordinary. We make him practice writing, reading and math and just deal with impulsivity without giving any more caffeine at home. He doesn't like coffee and tea, sodas have too much carbonation for him and being the smarty pants that he is he usually instructs me that "sodas are bad for kinds”

MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

For centuries, music has been used as a complement in our lives. Music is magic, can change your mood; can transport you to another dimension. It doesn't matter what is your jam, if it's special for you, it will change your mood.

Some of you would probably remember when I shared how hard was for me to pick up my son from school on the first years. It was almost suicidal! I already knew I was going to receive a complaint from the teacher or form another parent. Every day I heard the same speech about what he hadn’t done, and how his behavior during class was.

And like a pattern, after hearing all the complaints, I was always visibly upset, talking to him, repeating over and over the same things: "Don't do this", 'Why you did that"... I knew better that he was disconnected from my conversation the minute after I started to speak. I was getting obviously more frustrated and with no more choices but to ground him. I even suffered from a wall chest pain a couple of times that sent me right to the E.R. due the high stress. 

I realized then, that I had to set a plan and include relaxation as a must in our routine. So I went to my app store and got some amazing wind music. I started to play that music on my car. I drove to the school paying attention to the tune, I let the music take me to another level, to another space, easing my worries and preparing me for the bullets I was going to receive.
That day, before leaving the car, I did my breathing, 1, 2, 3, 4… 4, 3, 2, 1… I Got off the car and waited. But that time was different, I was relaxed, I felt so well that I decided that nothing would change that. That day, I took the decision of not letting circumstances define who I am.

I have to admit that the complaints were fewer with the pass of the weeks, but certainly, having a better attitude helped me to connect easier with my son, who was actually starting to listen. He started to follow my advice, and modifying his behavior, just a lit bit at the time, but big enough for me to realize that my plan was working.

LET'S BREATH!

A correct breathing not only provides our body with the oxygen we need, also give us the benefit of relaxing. In my personal experience, a correct technique for beginners is easy to accomplish. Few weeks after I started to work on my plan to help my son, I realized that a new calmed and eased boy was in my life, he was ready then to learn how to cool down without running to the shower or lying on a bed! He was ready to learn how to breathe.

For children  and adults with ADHD, the simple the techniques the fastest the results. That is why I found the next two exercises very effective.

The first technique we started together just before our bedtime story, was the “Equal Breathing”.  It’s a simple exercise that can be done anytime anywhere. To get better results a quiet place is a must. All you need to do is start inhaling and count of four. Then exhale and count of four. This exercise is done all through the nose. The count can be increased, but the goal must be the same: calm and reduce the stress, and increase focus.

The abdominal breathing technique, it’s another easy ways to get relaxed, and can be done anywhere. We found that lying on the bed while practicing this method was more comfortable. To start, the person needs to put one hand on the chest and the other hand on the belly, then take a deep breath in through nose, making sure the diaphragm  and not the chest inflates with enough air to create a stretch in the lungs. This can be done five to ten minutes each day.

Those two procedures are very simple and beginner’s approved, perfect for children and adults. While combining relaxation time doing those activities that the ADHD person enjoys with these easy exercises, the family will notice a decrease of stress also is the pre step to another new task: Anger managing.

1,2, 3 AND RELAX!

Stress is one of the factor that can increase the symptoms of a ADHD person, such as anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, lack of focus and attention, just to mention a few. Nobody can deny the negatives effect of that in life. Even if you don't have ADHD, stress can knock you out. It’s been linked with cancer and other terminal diseases.

For a person with ADHD, stress plays an important role, and has to be managed. At this point, you should be asking yourself, why an ADHD person is stressed. It's easy to list some of the nvjhgkuf that they suffer everyday: Poor or none social life due to their poor or none social skills, misplacing or losing things all the time, depression, anxiety, sleepiness, enuresis, eating disorders, troubles at school, work and home, bad grades, and the list is probably endless.

This is why a relaxation routine is vital on the treatment of ADHD without medication. Relaxation means being free of tension and anxiety. As a mother and wife know that it sounds perfect on theory, and the problem starts when we try to make this a routine.

There are a bunch of relaxation techniques, but all of them need a preparation, a schedule or something that just don't fit on the busy-messy life of ADHD people. That's why is needed to find the way to melt those techniques in those busy and messy life styles.

After my son's diagnosis I knew I had to help him learn to relax. I needed to teach him, but in a natural way so he won’t reject the training. So I started observing him. I needed to find what causes pleasure to him. And I found out that there were many daily activities that he enjoyed so much that allows him to relax.

For my son, bath time was always a rush, either cause someone else needs to use the bathroom, or cause was getting late for school, dinner or bedtime. We changed that! We let him stay in the shower for 10 minutes or more instead of 5.

I made sure (still do!) that he has at least 30 minutes to play with his toys or videogames every day , and also made bedtime story part of our routine. These activities unconsciously relax him.

I need to mention again, that this was doing along with the magnesium intake, nutrition control, etc. Achieve the control of the ADHD without medication, is a multitask mission.

  

Let's be positive

As a mother of an ADHD child, I know exactly how overwhelming days can be. To be expecting a call from the school every day, a detention note, a complaint from the teacher among with all the stress at home that the condition could cause if it’s not being controlled. Going from chaos to calm don't need to be a fairy tale. That was my life during the first years.

The very first step is being positive. The high percentage of misdiagnosis on ADHD cases could give you some relief. However, you know the symptoms are there, and can’t deny all the anxious they cause in your house. That’s why I’ll insist on this blog to isolate each symptom, and work on them one by one.  

Addressing each behavior, sing and weakness is like building a tower. The stronger your foundations are, the taller it’ll be. And it’s possible. There are going to be rough days, and is then when you need to stick on your positivism. It not only will help you to keep on track but to be careful with your words and acts.

When helping your child to find his path through ADHD, staying calm and optimistic, bonds amazing ties and also provides the confidence needed.

A positive mind can achieve astounding things. When my son was 8 years old, his 3^rd grade teacher was very upset with him and his behavior in the classroom. She had just bad things to say every day. He was forced (by her) to sit outside during the recess, even during winter. Tears come to my face every time I picture that.  He couldn’t share with his classmates or play to stay warm. It happened during almost all the year.

The teacher claimed to be worried about my son’s poor social life. She told me one day, that she felt sorry because he had no friends. And that was true. He just had a bunch of bullies after him.

In the other hand a positive speech was used by the next teacher on 4^th grade. Not everything was perfect. I have to mention I was still working on the hyperactivity and trying and discarding other foods and vitamins.  

His new teacher came to school every morning with a very positive attitude. Nice words for him and cheering him up. Also his 5^th grade teachers worked on the same line and provide him with social skills’ workshop every week.  We have a special place in our heart for them. All the encouraging, help and guidance were essential to keep me in one piece through the ride.

Avoiding toxic comments and people will help to keep you calm and focused on the goal.

Magnesium and ADHD

As explained in our last article, there is an obvious link between a poor magnesium intake and some of the symptoms of the ADHD. But what is magnesium and how it works?

Magnesium is a grayish-white fairly tough metal and it’s responsible for hundreds of biochemical reactions, making it crucial for health. Recent studies has shown how even a mild deficiency of this mineral can increase sensitivity to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, and insomnia.

Some other studies have reported the involvement of magnesium deficiency in children with ADHD. Children followed by a regimen of magnesium, shown a dramatic decrease on symptoms such as aggressiveness, hypermotivity, lack of attention and hyperactivity.

The magnesium calms and relaxes our body and mind. That is the key. The body uses it to facilitate sending messages throughout our nervous system. With the needed amount of magnesium present in the body, a person can think clearer and concentrate better. Magnesium is also required in the production of serotonin, which is an important neurotransmisser. Lower levels of serotonin are related with irritability, moodiness and depression.

Also is important to mention a bunch of other benefits magnesium is responsible, few examples are: regulating blood sugar, better absorption of other important minerals and nutrients, hormone production, relaxation of muscle fibers. All these elements can improve the overall health of an individual and of course help manage condition like ADHD.

Magnesium intake is a fundamental on the treatment of the ADHD symptoms without drugs. Eliminating the deficiency in our body is a multi-step process: Eating healthier, removing stressors that could cause the deficiency and supplemental intake. On my own experience, I can assure a dynamical change on your physical and mental health.

Magnesium can be purchase over the counter at any pharmacy or natural store. The presentation may vary from pills, to powder, to liquid. The amount needed may vary, depending of the age and weight. Directions on the bottle can guide you to find the right quantity.  It’s important to mention that presentation gluten, artificial colors and sugar free is desirable on the treatment of ADHD without drugs.

FEEDING YOUR NERVES

One day while I was doing my research, I found something that immediately catch my attention. I was reading about one of the symptoms of ADHD: Hyperactivity. I was jumping from one book to another, and then I found this: Feed your nervous system.

A question pop into my head: what if my son's nervous system was starving? So I kept looking for information. What I found was amazing, not only one but hundreds of authors had written about it. They all state that people forget to feed their nerves. But how they can be feed?  Isn't a healthy and balanced diet good enough? The answer is NO.

Magnesium is a mineral and should be considered crucial in human metabolism. It’s found in small to mediums quantities in many of the healthiest foods. (See table below). Magnesium is necessary for over 300 chemical reactions in the human body, and it’s literally food for our nervous system.

In the last years a poor magnesium intake has been linked to the risk of several important chronic conditions such as depression. Is good to mention that the amounts of this mineral found on the foods doesn’t supply the daily needs of the body. However it can be purchased isolated over the counter at any pharmacy.

So, I started testing again. I bought it on the liquid version among with a bunch of vegetables and grains rich in magnesium. The first week I saw no difference. But as the time passed by, I noticed a very settled boy. The most accurate description about how he changed is that you could notice when he didn’t take the mineral for two or three days.

So I decided to try it myself.  Magnesium helped me to feel relaxed, my anxiety levels went down, I sleep better, but the most remarkable is the fact that it didn’t made me feel sleepy at all.     

I remember one day when one of his teachers asked me if he was taking drugs for the ADHD, when I said no, she told me: “whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!!”

Magnesium became an essential part of our ritual on the journey of managing ADHD without medication, but also part of mi diet too.  We spent over three years taking it every day.

Now days my son takes the mineral just occasionally (once a month). The hyperactivity has completely disappeared.

Healthiest Food Rich in Magnesium                       

FOOD	CALS
Pumpkin Seeds	180
Spinach	41
Swiss Chard	35
Soy Beans	298
Sesame Seeds	206

DON'T BE A BULLY

I remember when I was a teenager how cruel my classmates were with me. The cool guys always made fun of me: my acne, my skinny body, my tangled hair. I remember how my grades collapsed from A to Z. My self-esteem was buried. My parents were complaining and punishing me all the time.

The whole thing was just a chaos. As a teenager I didn't have the strength or maturity to avoid such vile treatment. If it wasn't enough, 15 years ago this problem didn't even have a name (at least on my country!)

Bullying is how this kind of abuse is defined nowadays; it includes not only the physical abuse, but the emotional and verbal.

As a parent, sister, wife or even friend of an ADHD person, is very easy to become a bully. Who, me a bully? Yes, you.

It’s hard to live with a person with the condition. To try to understand behaviors that are supposed to be outgrown, dealing with messy bedrooms, missed assignments, impulsive behaviors and much more.

As a mother it's easy to find yourself attempting against the self-respect and confidence of your child when you use tags, call names, or use physical corrections.

Don’t blame yourself. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions a parent have to live every day. However, bullying is something parents must elude in order to promote a healthier and peaceful environment.  

It’s necessary first to identify if we are in that situation: if we are bullying our son, husband, wife, sister, or friend. If so, it’s essential to remind ourselves every day that all those annoying behaviors are the ADHD speaking. It's not our s

on trying to drive us crazy or our husband fooling us.

To avoid being a bully it’s not easy. It’s something each person has to learn to control. The most effective way to avoid such situation is cooling down. Whenever you try to resolve a problem with the heat of the moment, the only thing you will get is something worst. A word hurts as much a punch.

While you take yourself under control, think what would be the best way to evade the problem. Create a plan. Then with a solution on your hands, discuss the problematic. Expose your point of view, your discomfort, present the solution, come to terms, and start working on your plan. Stick on the decisions taken and wait to see results. If the initial plan it’s not working it can always be modified.

SOLVING THE EAR INFECTION PUZZLE

As many other kids, my son developed about 5 ear infections during his first year of life.  The treatment was always the same: antibiotics.

If we use simple words, antibiotics are poisons that are used to kill. With use of antibiotics not only the bad micro bacteria is killed but also the good one. Humans have good bacteria protecting our stomach and intestines. So what happens when that good protective layer is destroyed?

The worst part occurs on our intestines, they become permeable, which means they would allow fecal material to penetrate through its walls and gets into the blood system.

When the blood is contaminated in such way, the person would present symptoms alike to those related with the ADHD.

On my personal experience, I went to our local natural food store and got some organic probiotics pills, we follow the instructions, and I noticed a change on his sleeping habits: he stopped teeth grinding. This small change also helped him get a better rest while sleeping. It's probably that when his blood stopped being poisoned the anxiety levels went down too.

It's very important to take probiotics after being treated with antibiotics. A good source of probiotics is yogurts, which contents the live bacteria to help restore our system. But if you are not a great fan of yogurt, there are plenty of probiotics pills on the market.

It is good to mention again, that ADHD symptoms should not be treated as vacation package where you buy everything with one payment. ADHD is much more than that. You need to identify every symptom of the condition; isolate it and address it.

THE DAY AFTER

I think I have to call this article the week after! It took me over a week to digest all the information the psychologist gave me. In his own words the ADHD was compared with the Autism spectrum disorder or the Asperger syndrome. My perfect boy was not that perfect.

I knew I had a new battle to fight, and the best thing you can do if you have to go to the war is to be prepare. So I did. I became a library mouse. I spent the following 6 weeks (or more) reading everything on the Swan system refereed to ADHD. It was over 50 different books, with different points of view. All the authors like a good prayer claiming that they had the truth on their hands. I'll tell you what; nobody has the truth but you.

Each child is different, so are they needs. That’s why there is no a one way road to address ADHD. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel when I realized that I have a unique boy, and that I had a new challenge on my hands: Knowing my son.

There are a lot of things a specialist needs to do before tagging a child. And there is much more to do by the parents to avoid the use of drugs. It's possible to manage ADHD. I can give you my word. It’s not going to be easy. There is no magic solution, or a one day solving problem rule. But maybe if you walk on my shoes and read my story, you will find the clues you need to solve your own puzzle.

My articles are based on my own experience, and I have to mention that I'm not a doctor or psychologist. I'm not trying to change your mind about what you think is right or not. I just want to be a little voice on your shoulder telling you "try this, maybe it will work for you!” It’s going to be a long journey, so get your best red wine ready for tough days!!