2023-12-13 15:14:18
ADHD is attention disorder with or without hyperactivity. This disorder is associated with children who are unable to concentrate for more than a few minutes or even seconds.
If they are also hyperactive, this results in children who can’t sit still.
They need a new activity every 5 minutes or less.
They require constant attention from the adults around them. These last ones exhaust themselves in turn(1).
Most teachers fear them and other parents hate them.
And since no one knows how to deal with these children who are not quite like the others, they are given medication.
We prefer them drugged and asleep rather than scattered and excited.
However, the drug response is not trivial.
Ritalin is risky for the cardiovascular system
On November 23, a new study from Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals that long-term medication causes heart problems in ADHD children(2).
This study included 278,027 Swedish patients aged 6 to 64 years.
All received ADHD medication, i.e. one of the following molecules(3) :
- methylphenidate
- lisdexamfetamine
- dexamfetamine
- atomoxetine
- guanfacine.
The authors of the study come to the following conclusion: the longer patients have taken medication for ADHD, the greater their risk(2) :
- to have a stroke;
- hypertension;
- of atherosclerosis.
The study also shows that those who take stimulant medications, including ritalin, have a higher heart risk than those who take a non-stimulant medication.(2).
They recommend carefully taking into account the benefit/risk balance before distributing these molecules to ADHD children.(2).
The child facing the adult world
Yet when your child is suspected of having ADHD or diagnosed as such, all the responsible adults around him band together to convince you that he urgently needs Ritalin.
I know something regarding it. This is a situation that we experienced!
Our child was considered ADHD for two years, even though no official diagnosis came to validate this hypothesis formulated by the school where he was.
We always refused to let him take Ritalin.
And, indeed, there are many other things to do before switching to medication, although every situation is different.
You will perhaps tell me that in certain cases, this is better for everyone and that the child himself is better off.
Maybe.
But medication can, in my opinion, only be a last resort.
What I learned from our experience is that you have to give time, slow down and change the way you do things.
It worked for us anyway.
Does your child have ADHD?
The first thing to do is to refine the diagnosis.
This can involve, for example, a neuropsychological assessment.(5).
Likewise, meeting a psychiatrist can help you. Only the latter can make the diagnosis.
With our child, we saw a neuropsychologist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a psychomotor therapist. And there were many other options!
His assessment said that 98% of other children had a capacity to concentrate greater than his.
A therapist explained to us that he would need an AVS (School Life Assistant) throughout his schooling.
We were also told that our child had too much pressure on his shoulders.
We were told that we were “stealing his childhood” because he had too many worries and adult things on his mind. Think we were delighted!
At the same time, all this took place in the middle of a health crisis, in the middle of confinement.
We were all under pressure. Society had gone crazy.
However, these appointments and this support time allowed us to see that our child was anxious. He wasn’t happy.
I thought of a passage from Little Prince by Saint Exupéry who perfectly expressed what I felt:
“Night had fallen. I had dropped my tools. I didn’t care regarding my hammer, my bolt, thirst or death. There was, on a star, a planet, mine, Earth, a little prince to console!”
We changed pace and method.
We started the days with songs, we played more, we went to see all the psychologists, we discovered a vast universe.
We tested things, eliminated what was clearly useless and kept what was useful.
After a year, things were already better.
But the real improvement came when we changed our child’s school.
He was then in a Montessori establishment where we had put him in the hope that he would be under less pressure than in public school.
But our child needed structure, framework and repetition.
Two years later, when he returned to “normal” school, it was a relief.
He started learning once more.
Likewise, the psychomotor sessions were useful.
Three years later, things are back to normal.
This child does not need AVS. He likes to read, he likes music, he has many friends…
And it’s true that he is sensitive.
We got to know him.
At birth, the baby is not delivered with instructions for use.
You have to take the time to meet, even with your children.
Why does your child have ADHD?
To better understand your child’s disorder, you need to start with an investigation.
It’s a delicate moment.
Because it forces you to review your lifestyle and habits.
What’s wrong?
Here are some reasons your child may have ADHD:
1/ It’s his nature. This is how it is constituted. We’re all different. We all have our temperaments, our distinctive signs which can be strengths or weaknesses depending on the situation…
Is your child nervous, sensitive, on the lookout for what is happening? Maybe he’s a watchman? He has in him something of the sentinels of old, those who warn others when danger arises?
A distracted or inattentive child, a little off the mark, annoys adults.
But he’s still a child. It is still under construction. Maybe he just needs time.
2/ The child is saturated with toxic substances which affect the functioning of his brain.
Food additives have been shown to boost a child’s ADHD trait(6).
Likewise, it is possible that the presence of heavy metals can harm your child’s development.(7).
3/ His daily environment is too stressful.
Is there screaming at home? Are the relationships between parents complicated? Is this a bad thing for the family? Are teachers too strict or too stressed?
The pressure around your child can make him anxious.
Maybe he doesn’t think he lives up to your expectations?
Perhaps he fears losing your affection?
Is there a blockage linked to a given situation which seemed trivial to you, but which to him seems insurmountable?
In this case, support from psychologists of different types can be very useful.
Likewise, sport, outdoor or artistic activities allow the child to forget stress and develop in action or creation.
It is good to have spaces for expression and freedom within clearly defined frameworks.
The child feels safe without being hindered.
4/ He lacks sleep : does your child fall asleep at night? Does he have breathing problems? Etc.
5/ The child has nutritional deficiencies.
If the child has a digestive disorder and is poorly absorbing certain nutrients, for example, this can affect his physiology and behavior.
This is an investigation to be carried out with a nutritionist(8).
To start, you can opt for savory or protein breakfasts.
Oat or buckwheat porridges are better than the very sugary cereals found everywhere(9).
Likewise, do not hesitate to favor fresh and organic vegetables as much as possible.
This allows your child to eat fiber. And it is also a substantial contribution of vitamins and minerals(9) !
Food supplements and herbs useful for ADHD
Some doctors also sometimes recommend:
- taking iron(10)
- copper and zinc(11)
- or magnesium(12)
- and omega 3 good for the brain(13).
Your herbalist, moreover, may suggest that you try certain plants such as:
- bacopa, a plant that strengthens cognitive functions(14) ;
- saffron as a natural alternative to ritalin(15) ;
- rhodiola which helps the body adapt to changes(16)
- valerian or passionflower which are soothing plants that help you fall asleep.
No diagnosis, test or therapist’s words should confine your child.
He grows, he changes. What is true today may not be true tomorrow.
All your efforts to care for him and love him as best you can are paying off even though I know it’s not always easy.
And even though I also know that not everyone around you necessarily understands the trouble you are going through.
Your child knows you are there.
He knows he can count on you.
He fights with you.
Naturally yours,
Augustine of Livois
1702555448
#Institute #Natural #Health #Protection #ADHD #medications #risks
