ADHD Resources

Treating invisible disorders is tricky but it can be done with some degree of success. As doctors and health practitioners struggle to find the cause of this and other mental/'alphabet soup' disorders, information is limited and open to interpretation. This is where our journey as parents begins in really getting to know our kiddos and what their specific needs are. Every body is different and has different requirements, therefore, there is no 'one size fits all' and what has worked for some, may not work for others.

It's also important to note that progress takes time, patience and a good deal of love and understanding. Take small bites, allow time for digestion and have an open mind. You  never know where good information, answers to questions or progress will come from. Try to keep a positive outlook and find the silver lining. As a parent, I learned that I have to take care of myself first and foremost. These kids are relying on us and we have to have a very steady and sure foundation beneath our feet. I have listed out some of the top supplements, tests, and other resources that have helped me through the years.

One of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself is that of support and there are great blogs, websites, and communities that can offer just that. Be sure to take a look at my Parenting page for other great tidbits to help smooth out some of the rougher edges at home.

Diagnosis
In my personal opinion, seek out a Neuropsychologist that will do some testing with your child as to really target what issues your child is suffering from or struggling with. Most kids with ADHD oftentimes have several other disorders as well. It's unfortunate, but true. Your doctor will also provide you with various options and suggestions for managing the diagnosis.


Known Neurological and Physiological Aggravators
Artificial Food Colors and Dyes
Artificial Flavors
Partially Hydrogenated Oils
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Corn Syrup
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Preservatives
Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Splenda, Sucralose)

These ingredients affect our bodies on a cellular level - oftentimes effects that we don't even notice. Regardless, they leave their mark and multiple studies have shown these toxins do aggravate symptoms of ADHD and autism among other ailments including strokes, heart disease, migraines and weight. 

Support
It is so helpful to talk to other parents who have experienced or are currently experiencing something similar to you. There are local support groups, parenting classes and other outlets that are worthwhile to delve into. There is a national group called CHADD that is a good place to start with this. I loved the book and community associated with www.EasyToLoveBut.com  I actually wrote back and forth with the author about the fact that the title of the book was a little off; they actually aren't all that easy to love at times. Ultimately though, there isn't anything you wouldn't do for your kiddos which is exactly why you continue to trudge through and take one day at a time. I recently saw a saying that I have been repeating to myself every morning: Today is a good day to have a good day!! Another website that has some helpful articles is www.AttitudeMag.com. Look around for information that will help you in your own personal journey.

Make Your Home Your Families Favorite Place to Be
I've found that most of these kiddos struggle with feelings of inadequacy and low-self esteem - they are always in trouble and feel they are inferior to their friends, siblings and fellow students because of issues that arise from learning disabilities, inability to focus and impulsive behaviors that get them into trouble and attract the wrong kind of attention.

CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. Creating a positive environment for them is paramount; this can be achieved through simple shifts

in perspective and seeking out the positives in your child. Find the wit, cleverness, artistic inclination and even humor in the various situations and scenarios that impact your day. Now, that doesn't mean we turn a blind-eye on bad behavior; we need to be helping them to become more self-aware and and accountable. However, we can use that positive mental shift to guide us determining natural and appropriate consequences or offering incentives for effort. That's another big one - work hard to praise effort. So often we focus on results; recognize the work and effort.

BE AN ENCOURAGER. It is natural human behavior to respond to and be motivated by encouragement. With all my kids, I have found praise to be a far more effective tool in eliciting movement and change in a positive direction than negative feedback or punishments.

OFFER CHOICES. Learn to give your kids choices; this will help them feel more in control. It can be as simple as "Do you want to wear your coat or take it with you? Do you want peanut butter and honey or peanut butter and jelly?"

DON'T TEACH DURING A TANTRUM. Make teaching time count - in the middle of a tantrum, meltdown, or other irrational emotional episode will garner no lasting results.

EAT DINNER AS A FAMILY. You've heard this one before, but I think there is something to it. And here is the one rule at the dinner table - this is a criticism-free zone.

LEARN YOUR FAMILIES LOVE LANGUAGES. If you haven't yet read The Five Love Languages, stop what you are doing and do it now. You can find the tests online (there are tests for adults, teens and kids) that each one of you should take and then work daily to speak each other's love language. Maintaining the relationship and having more loving experiences versus teaching experiences is paramount to anything else you can do. Honestly, at the end of the day, everybody wants to be loved and especially by their parents. Take every opportunity to hug, laugh, be goofy, and say, "I love you." Always be careful to teach your kiddo that you them no matter what even if you struggle with their behavior and choices.

On a lighter note, stock your video library with comedies and positive movies and collect games that are easy to play and offer opportunities for lots of laughter.

And finally, be sure to pick and choose your battles.

Mentors
Provide opportunities for your kids (and yourself for that matter) to be around people they look-up to and who are good examples to them. My kids really look up to my Dad (and partially I think because I do as well) and I can't think of a better person for them to be around. All kids are sponges and soak-up what is available to them, so do your best to give them awesomeness to absorb. This is also a good reason for you to take care of yourself and model the type of behavior you would like to see from them.

Supplements
There is no end to various supplements that have been suggested in helping with ADHD as studies have shown that kids with this disorder are usually deficient in several key vitamins and trace minerals. Universally I have found that Vitamin B and a good fish oil high in EPA and DHA is recommended. When it comes to supplements, it is worth the extra dollars to get a whole foods-based supplement. The body can utilize whole foods much more readily than any synthetic and chemically processed vitamin. I like Garden of Life, New Chapter and Standard Process. For EPA and DHA Barlean's Omega Swirl is tasty and kids enjoy it.

There are several other supplements that I have read about that have shown to help and they are as follows:

Vitamin B6, B12
Fish Oil
Lithium Orotate
Grape Seed Extract
Vitamin C - specifically in combination with Grape Seed Extract
Lemon Balm
L-Thianine
Magnesium
GABA

I have found Standard Processes' Cataplex G, which is a fat soluble form of B, to be very helpful.

For sleep:
Melatonin
Lavender Oil

I have replaced most of my OTC medicine cabinet with essential oils from I started using essential oils several years ago and have had a lot of success with it in treating my family. Lavender oil is great for calming and helping with sleep. I use oils for headaches, upset stomach, muscle aches, fevers, coughs, congestion, diaper rash - everything. In my own personal opinion, the fewer exposure to toxic chemicals the better.

Behavior Modification
This is done with the help of a counselor and people report success with this. There are various types of therapists that can help with this including Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Play Therapists and Psychologists to name a few. Ask your pediatrician and friends for recommendations and check to see if any of them are on your insurance plan.

My Favorite Books

The greatest gift you can give to yourself and your child is knowledge. This in turn leads to understanding and greater patience. When you understand the nature of the beast, you know what to look for, what will help, when to back-off and when to move ahead. Learn what your kiddo's disorder embodies, what it looks like and how you can help them manage it. This is so key. These are a few of my favorite reads and resources to have on hand and reference often:

Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids and True Stories

Edited by Kay Marner and Adrienne Ehlert Bashista

I also highly recommend getting involved on their facebook page and their blog http://www.easytolovebut.com/ and become part of the support community!

1-2-3 Magic by Dr. Thomas Phelan

 

Dr. Bob's Guide to Stop ADHD in 18 Days by Dr. Robert DeMaria





Taking Charge of ADHD, The Complete Authoritative Guide for Parents, by Russell A. Barkley, PhD

The Explosive Child, by Ross W. Greene, PhD
This is a MUST read. Very, very insightful.

Love and Logic Parenting Classes

You can look up videos on You Tube with Jim Fay and Foster Cline or visit their website for additional resources.

Podcasts
The below link is to the podcast I heard years ago that was very helpful in understanding the brain and its various processes, vitamins and minerals and some remedies to help with ADHD, autism and other neurological disorders. As these disorders become more common and widespread, the resources only continue to grow. Research and try various approaches to find what helps and what doesn't. 

http://personalpower.podomatic.com/entry/2011-05-03T17_25_17-07_00

Dr. Gray has also developed his own wellness line that includes a detox, meal replacement shake and supplements through Isagenix. I followed his suggested protocol with my first kiddo as we slowly weaned him from his medications, specifically Concerta and Zoloft. I have since moved on to other supplements and vary our shakes and smoothies to get more raw superfoods into his diet, but this initial approach did seem to help even more than the medications at that time. *Every body is different and you need to do what works for you!

The following is his suggested protocol derived from the above podcast. 

1) Start on 300 mg of Grapefruit Seed Extract and 600 mg Vitamin C/day
GSE in capsule form (Dr. Gray uses Vitamin Research Products, vrp.com)
*Per Dr. Gray, this combination was tested in a double-blind study and proven to be more effective than Ritalin.

Tutoring
Given that these kiddo's have a hard time staying focused it is easy for them to quickly fall behind. This leads to a domino effect that negatively impacts their self-esteem and fuels that feelings of inadequacy and inability. I've heard good reviews of Kumon, that teaches independent learning and Mathnasium that works one-on-one with your student. Always utilize online practice sites that your school suggests; this makes learning fun and the repetition is what seems to be the most helpful. Having someone else work with your kids in the homework department will also help preserve your relationship as it is one less battle for the two of you to engage in.

www.k5learning.com






Outlets
Find that outlet for your kiddo whether it be dance, gymnastics, soccer, etc. Find something your kiddo excels at and be their number one cheerleader!

Optimism
This may seem silly, but it is integral. Raising these kids is exhausting, frustrating and takes a heavy toll on the whole family. DON'T GIVE  UP. Stick with it, stay hopeful, find the silver-lining and embody optimism.