What are some of the best ADHD treatments?
There are several ADHD treatments available these days, from counseling, to behavioral, to drug therapy. Services offer occupational therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, mineral and heavy metal chelation, herbal and vitamin supplements, dietary regimens and more. One expert will tout his favorite alternative as the end of ADHD if only everyone would listen. Another expert will recommend a complicated combination of absolutely everything on the market (most of which isn’t covered by any insurance.) The best ADHD treatment is simply what works for your child and fits into your beliefs, budget, and lifestyle.
Nutritional approaches, including herbal supplements and dietary restrictions work best when managed by a holistic physician. Instead of buying the latest book about the ADHD diet, consult with a naturopathic physician, who can test your child’s allergies and heavy metal levels, and consult their body chemistry, using actual lab results, to ascertain the need for supplements. Parents who have used this approach swear by the results, since they’re personalized for every child. Simply placing your child on a strange diet because it worked for the neighbor, or because you read an article about it, isn’t really a scientific approach and isn’t likely to work.
Drug therapy is popular for everything from ADHD to hair loss, to weight loss. Drug companies spend a lot of money researching and advertising their wares. It’s an easy solution to keep a child somewhat docile and compliant. Schools and institutions that are not equipped to meet the needs of an ADHD child often prefer to have them medicated. Parents are often adverse to this method, rightfully wondering about the safety of this approach. Some schools will illegally inform parents that they must medicate their child, for fear of involving Child Protective Services. However, that is an erroneous fear tactic. Check with your local children’s rights advocate if you feel you’re being bullied into medication. If the potential fears about long-term safety aren’t a concern to you and you don’t have the desire to research other options, then maybe medication is for you.
Counseling and behavior therapy boast the highest long-term success rates. Counseling is important for helping ADHD kids maintain a positive self-image. Being different can be stressful to a child and the social limitations of ADHD can make a child feel lonely, defective or worse. Behavioral therapy helps an ADHD child physically learn to manage their own energy levels. By deliberately involving kids in active pursuits, and strategically working on calmer activities in between, a behavioral therapist who deals with ADHD kids can work miracles. Children can learn to recognize and appreciate their own inner guidance system, and learn how to work with their high energy levels, being productive and helpful rather than distracting.
Imagine if your child, instead of bouncing in their seat at the dinner table, went outside to chop firewood. The only trouble with behavioral therapy is that it’s best for kids to have 24 hour access to help. Many boot camp boarding schools are offering behavioral therapy for ADHD treatment, and while parents may initially be uncomfortable with the idea, the benefits to the child are worth it in the long run. Before deciding on an ADHD course of treatment for your child, be sure to evaluate all of the options. Think long-term and use all of your resources to give your child the very best childhood he can imagine.
