ADHD, Treatment options?

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Okay, I took a test through my psychiatrist. 2 for my parents, 1 for me. According to the test, I have ADHD. So, that brings me to my question: What are the treatment options? Are prescription drugs my only choice? Anything natural I can do? Is this something I will grow out of, or is it for life? -Thanks

Ah yes the big question. Ok one thing u gotta understand is i work in a pharmacy and i HATE it when people bring in medications for this disorder...why u ask? well let me tell u. You see the big problem with this is everyone thinks that medication is the quick solution, lets just drug everyone up. In reality its not...... I ALWAYS recommend proper counseling first. If everyone tried simple counseling first i bet you 80% of the cases could be solved b4 medication is used. Now i know alot of dr's that would much rather write up a Rx before they go through the trouble of counseling first. Just try the counseling and see if you can solve the problem that way, who knows it could be easier than u think.

umm he has been going to counseling, i think a combination of medication and counseling work best, counseling can't change something that's chemical

Yes i know that, but im sayin in most cases it isnt chemical and people just go to the easiest option n say somethin is wrong with them that cant be changed with a little hard work

How do you know that in most cases it isn't chemical?

Because ive seen it many times and ive heard it from psycologists. Paople just freak out because they cant concentrate for example, go to the doc, the doc is to lazt to do ne type of counseling so they just prescribe something for it and the people end up on medication. When in fact when they went to couseling in stead they learned that their study habits and things like that were the actualy cause fo their symptoms. So instead of takin a pill they could just go study in a quiet rooom (as an example)

Is that your scientific study? I can start pulling studies that say the opposite for you. Where are your facts?

I see it every fuckin day since i work in a pharmacy! People bring in scripts from a normal family doctor. They arent bringing in these scripts from psycologists, they are getting them from regular md's. Thats not right, they shouldnt be able to prescribe that stuff, thats whats wrong with the world. If you have a problem like that you shoudl go to a psycologist first. All im sayin is that medication needs to stop bein the first answer to everything. I know alot of people that have been on medication, to realise that counseling was a much more effective way to a solution. I never said that it would work for everyone, but isnt it worth a try?

I am on a programme which treats ADD. This programme does not perscribe any medications of any kind. www.ddat.com.au is the Australian site branch. Research has shown that ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Asperger's (I think), and many learning difficulties are all caused by a development deficiency in the cerebellum...and it's treatable. I've been on the programme now for about half a year or so for learning problems...I know it sounds corny and all, but it's like a miracle cure. A lot of the changes are subtle, but they are definately there (my parents notice the changes a lot more than I do). Basically, it comprises of physical exercises of various sorts...that's it. Simple and as complicated as that...well, a bit more complicated than that...but not by much.The cerebellum controls a large amount of the cognitive (thinking) functions, as well as a large degree of motor control. In people where the cerebellum is overloaded with information (often people who are highly creative and artistic in any fashion, or just people who's cerebellums aren't well developed), the brain routes that extra processing off to other parts of the brain...which aren't designed to handle that extra work properly, and so get tired very quickly. (Whenever I got home from school, I fell asleep until dinner...I was so mentally buggered) These exercises cause the brain to work in such a way that it must rely on pretty much only the cerebellum to do all the work, forcing it to adapt, and therefore, making it become proficient at processing the tasks at a level that is acceptable.You know of the 'dumb' kids who went through school? Quite often, this treatable issue with the cerebellum is what the cause of the 'dumbness'...and it very largely goes undiagnosed. So yeah...Again, that site is www.ddat.com.auIt's like I'm waking up la The Matrix style...I hope this helps.(The less meds you take that screw with your brain the better, imo)

With all respect, you are misinformed. There is certain part of the brain that is shown in those with ADHD to be underdeveloped. This underdeveloped part of the brain can be made to "grow" via drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, etc. So this disorder, called Minimal Brain Disfunction in the 1930s, can be outgrown, if it is caught early enough. Sitting in a quiet room will not impact the overall functioning of the child/adult. You may work in a pharmacy, and I am glad for you, but my son has the disorder, as I do. I have done the research, talked with the doctors, the pshychologists, etc. Medication will impact the person so that they can focus, and "grow" that particular portion of the brain, and counciling will effect the negativity that usually accompanies this disorder. Counciling will also gtive stratagies to the person to help manage this disorder. Usually, ADHD is accompanied by other issues, like depression, anger issues, poor self perception, etc., and must be treated on a multiple of levels. If you do not know what you are talking about, as ADHD is a serious problem that effects many people, please just sit back and learn. Thanks. This illness does not impact you, so it is not expected that you will exert yourself to become informed. I fully expect that instead of allowing that you might have been in error, you will instead take umbrage at my suggestion relating to you misinformation. Fine. Others who read this post will gain knowledge, and that is all I care about.

Fair enough. Well, it's not like the first time I've been misinformed before. You're right. I don't know much about ADHD. However, I know about the programme I'm in, and I know what sort of effect it's had on me personally...given that ADD & ADHD are included in the things that it can treat (without drugs with widely varying negative side effects, no less), I just thought it would be a good idea to mention it. Your comments on the brain are interesting, and something that I shall follow up. After all...the more knowledge we open ourselves to, the better...right?

Hey man, I wasn't directing my comments to you. I was speaking to the pharmacy guy. I haven't read your post, since I wanted to vent my spleen lol!, but I will read it. I am, as I hope many parents would be, concerned about the longterm effects of drugs on my son, so anything that could be done without drugs is worth looking into. I have seen some kids who have had ADD, which is a subset of ADHD, and these kids were out of control. One mom of such a little boy told me they weren't going to medicate him. I was suprized. If that boy went to school acting as he did with only his mom and grandma around, he would be incorigable at school surrounded by thirty other little kids! There HAS to be some way to treat this disorder, and if meds are the way, it must be done. If there is another way, like I said, I will explore it. By the way, we are ALL misinformed, in varying degrees. Some just are more able to admit it.

Gah! Cripes...sorry. Heh...I didn't realise. Serves me right for not paying more attention.

lol! You DO have ADHD, don't you? Lol!! No biggy man, aint no sweat.

I agree with wincubus. My son has ADHD and I have ADD and our doctors wanted to prescribe us medication. I opted not to. I have try alternative methods to medicine (against my doctors' suggestion). We are doing a lot better now - drug free.

I'm happy that that worked for you, but I don't think it works for everybody.I have a friend who has two ADHD kids, and we've had discussions about it. The kids are on meds, but it's not a decision he and his wife made lightly. I asked him if it was really necessary, and he made a good case for them, in their particular case.

I think what he is saying is that its misdiagnosed? or something along that line? I can belive that based on what I know about it and thats pretty limited to tell you the truth. My g/s so who lives with his dad was diagnosed with that years ago from what I understand. they opted to not jump straight to drugs but seek counseling and change from a general family doc to a specialist. as it turned out it wasnt a correct diagnosis for this particular case after seeing a specialist he was correctly diagnosed and with a few changes in teh way he studied and the way he was treated at home he turned around. Today hes pretty normal and gets good grades.Like I said I have no real grounds to speak on this Im just offering up a single example to try to illistrate what I think he meant by that post.

I understand it doesn't work for everybody. My concern though is that doctors don't encourage other options before medicating their patients. When I opted not to use the meds for my (then) 4 year old, I was discouraged. I was even given a write-up on the controversies of my plan. I was told that it was going to be a very difficult and time consuming journey. These words came from 2 different trusted doctors. Luckily, I'm educated myself in this and have done some extensive research so I was determined to try the alternative methods first. If all else fails, if it means to put ease on my son's education and self-esteem, I'd medicate him in a second. However, after trying out these options, it worked for him.Doctors often do misdiagnose. They don't spend enough time to really assess the core of a problem - at least in my experience and experiences of those I've encountered. (I will give credit to those who do). There are so many other diagnoses that resemble ADHD characteristics but some of these doctors aren't specialized in knowing the difference. Often times they go under a generalized, common assumption.I've also come to these forums where a new member claims that s/he was just diagnosed with ADHD, and members are encouraging these people to look into various medications. Personally, I don't think that's morally right. There ARE other options, people just aren't aware what they are. If there's any way to work outside of that, I think people should be encouraged in doing so first. That's just my belief.

I don't disagree with what you're saying. ADHD is not an acute problem with a fatal outcome; there is time to try diffent treatments. A non-pharaceutical solution is usually a good thing, although some herbal treatments have surprising and unpleasant side effects.What treatment did you find to be successful?

Well... I'd say in the long run ADHD can be a great life detrement (if not fatal) if left untreated. I have a brother who grew up in a time when ADHD kids were just "bad seeds". He's a great guy with a terribly messed up life due IMHO directly to his ADHD tendencies.
That said....

Medicine's for ADHD are NOT prescribed as a sole treatment for the issue but rather in relation to a much bigger program. School and family participation as well as the "adhd" child, along with medication can be immensely successful (17 yr old who went from a VERY aggressive child, through a program as described above is medication and assistance free in his Junior year). Currently we are working with our 11 yr old. Personally, I find that the general lack of knowledge and stigma that has been attached to ADHD has been very detremental in getting proper treatment.

* As a side note I feel the need to add that ADHD people are shown to generally have higher IQ's.