Results of Non-Medication: Part 1

As you all know, from the subjectline of this blog page, one of my goals is document our life as a family that has a child with ADHD.

Before I continue, I would like to stress that this is a "real"diagnosis for my oldest son-not my husband and I just passing off poor parenting. If you know me, you know how tough of a cookie I can be when it comes to my sons and their discipline. Donovan's ADHD came as a result of three of his elementary school teachers saying the samething at conference time. "Very bright..unique thinker..difficulty focusing..staying on task..getting started on an independent assignment...impulsive..difficulty with keeping organized..easily misplaces things..etc. It also came as a result with things I saw outside of school. Again..lack of focus..disorganized..easily distracted..impulsive..hyperactive...hands-on, especially with siblings...blames others for mistakes..you get the idea. So, this has been a well thought out decision to accept this diagnosis for Donovan and, as a family, try to help him cope with his "uniqueness".

We try very hard to be certain Donovan does not see his ADHD as a "disability". Rather, we emphasize that his brain "thinks differently" or "works differently" than other peoples brains. Some of the greatest minds of our history were people with ADHD. You can Gooogle famous people with ADHD and you get people like Thomas Edison, Beethoven, Albert Einstein, William Shakespear. It is important for children who are diagnosed with ADHD to have extra-help with their self-esteem. ADHD children can often be the subject of peer bullying, which do great damage to their already fragile self-esteem. So my husband and I try our best, as often as possible, to make sure Donovan doesn't feel "labeled".

Most children recieve medication to help subdue the symptoms of their ADHD. Ron and I have chosen a non-medicated natural route. We chose this way because, first of all, his grades are not being affected yet. We can chalk that up to helping Donovan have the tools and learn the techniques to try and stay on task and finish what he starts. The non-medicated route involved cutting back greatly on processed foods, eating organic when our budget permits us, staying away from additives, preservatives and food dye. One of the things we use instead of medication is a chocolate coffee protein shake that Donovan drinks in the morning. The protein helps feed the brain and the caffeine in it keeps him focused. It performs better than a low dose of Ridalin. (If you google natural remedies for ADHD, you can go to the website where I found the shake reciepe.) In addition, we also include plenty of exercise for him (recreational play and baseball) and he sees a couselor to help him with his self-esteem and emotional control.

Well, we have our good periods and our bad periods. Right now, we are in a good period-grades are good, things are getting done, agruing about what resposibilities we have are at a minimum and we have lots of outside time-thanks to longer days. My biggest question now is whether to suspend the protein shake for the summer, kind of like giving him a "medication holiday". Sonmething to think about, since I have about four weeks left of school.

If there is a topic relating to ADHD you want me to discuss, feel free to leave me an email.

Remember, your kids are only young one time-so try and enjoy it as much as possible while being the parent.