#together they manifest very similarly to ADHD

[felowtravler]

Was only recently reminded of this. Convo went something like this between me and my sibling: "I feel really seen by a lot of ppl when it comes to nerodivergence. But i can't claim that label cause I'm not nerodivergent."

"You've got severe depression and severe anxiety and trauma. Your brain is 'Not Normal'. You're very neurodivergent."

Slap-in-the-face realization that my depression is life-stalling and all I need to be nerodivergent. Of course I am, my brain is broken (in many ways). Not that a title needs to be gatekept too much, but yeah. Friendly reminder if you're brain works differently, you're nerodivergent.

"Neurodivergence" does in fact not just refer to "autism, ADHD and maybe dyslexia". Neurodivergent is a term meant for literally everyone who has a diagnosis which affects the way their brain works. That's why it was created. To be inclusive. Go ask the person who invented it because they stated this clearly

[herschelkrustofsky]

@artictea asked me about my krusty hcs and i might’ve… gotten a little carried away LOL. autistic rambling about my perception of a cartoon man under the cut

- he’s 6’0 and weighs 235 lbs… big boy

- he comes from a family of ukranian immigrants and used to live in lower east side manhattan. he and his dad moved to springfield when he was about 12

- his mom, rachel, died when he was 7

- he’s a leo and a closeted bisexual

- he was born in 1955, putting him in his mid 30s to early 40s during the nineties when the show is originally set… he’s around the same age as homer & marge and was a young man when hyman kicked him out of the house

- has been in the spotlight since roughly the early 1970s, working his way to the top (will have to speculate more on the specifics of this Soon)

- he has both autism and adhd but his adhd is a lot more obvious; he and bart have this in common

- i personally disagree with the show’s diagnosis of him as bipolar… i believe he is actually suffering from bpd (may elaborate on this more another time) and major depressive disorder

- for consistency’s sake and a myriad of other reasons, i don’t think he’s illiterate, either. he has dyslexia; hebrew tends to be easier for him to read than english. after the krusty gets busted incident, he started seeking treatment for it.

- he used to do a lot more crazy stunts on his show, but a series of injuries gradually put those on the back burner — particularly due to an incident where he was misfired from a cannonball and shattered his left knee, which started a dependency on painkillers (on that note, i think chronic pain is a real issue for him)

- similarly, his cocaine addiction started off as an attempt to treat stage fright and give himself some extra energy to perform

- he sincerely loves sophie and would do anything for her; matt groening himself confirmed that she is the most important person in his life. unfortunately, hersch is often consumed by his own vices, mental illness, and overall self-absorbed thinking, and therefore doesn’t / can’t spend the amount of time with his daughter that he’d like to. he hates himself for it and is gonna to need to seriously dedicate himself to cleaning his act up if he wants to have more than a week of custody with her every year (if we’re to believe take this tidbit from the show at face value and not as a joke)

- he has tried to make peace with erin, but she’s not interested, and the clearer it becomes that sophie isn’t living her best life with her mom, the more determined he will become to get his shit sorted out

- he and bob have a complicated history. prior to krusty gets busted, they’d slept together numerous times, but never “officially” entered a relationship. herschel was very jealous of bob’s sense of security in himself (especially within his sexuality), which unfortunately manifested in being way too aggressive with him on the show and putting bob in humiliating situations. herschel comes to regret his behaviour eventually and acknowledges that he deserved the punishment bob dished out on him (as seen in day of the jackanapes).

- mel once harboured a crush on him, and while it fizzled out over time, he still spends many years craving krusty’s approval. they once tried to sleep together, but herschel was unable to go through with it and started crying (he was reminded too much of bob and it was too soon after bob went to jail); it didn’t help that neither of them were sober at the time. they never tried again.

- though herschel can be quite flippant and dismissive of others, he genuinely does have issues with his memory due to multiple concussions, addiction, and neurodivergence.

- he and lois did date at one point and were in a pretty serious relationship, but she left when herschel’s many issues (understandably) became too much for her to bear. losing her is one of his biggest regrets.

- sees himself in bart, which is also why he isn’t great to him, unfortunately. self-recognition makes him uncomfortable. this gets better as they both get older and herschel realizes just how much bart is struggling at school and at home; eventually, he goes so far as to let bart stay over at his place when he and homer have serious fights.

- speaking of homer, he definitely approaches him around this time and has a stern word with him about maintaining a good relationship with his children. considering that hyman is long gone at this point, i’m sure you guys can understand why…

- is fond of marge, but would never romantically pursue her. not only because she’s married, but because she’s way too good for him and he knows it. she’s been through enough with that husband of hers as it is.

- he occasionally goes to moe’s tavern for a drink and considers him a pretty solid confidant. should they interact more, i could see them becoming a very chaotic pair of friends (or maybe friends who ground each other, who knows!)

- has drank with edna krabapple, too; they both share a similarly cynical worldview

- krusty would def be willing to play matchmaker for moe and mel in a timeline where he’s friendly with both and mentally well enough to think of other people’s needs

those are the major ones but i’m sure more will come to mind at some point!!

[demandautonomy]

What is PDA not

PDA IS NOT:

ADHD - Trust me, I've tried nearly every ADHD coping method that exists. Lists, alarms, medication, meditation (i liked this one), routines. It all made "the wall" worse. The problem is ADHD and PDA manifest similarly, but are treated inversely. They both manifest as an avoidance and procrastination of things that you otherwise want to do. But ADHD is a scattered eclectic animal that needs strict rules to be tamed. PDA is the exact opposite. The more schedules you make, the more todo lists you write, the more walls you create for yourself. Every task on that list becomes a looming dread that saps your energy and your sense of control, exhausting you faster.

Standard autism. PDA is characterized by some very key differences that make us unique in the world of ASD. We are often more sociable than our ASD cousins. Personally I still consider myself an introvert, but human actions and relationships enchant me, nearly to the point of obsession. I want to know how people work, how their minds function, sometimes it feels like i want to reach in and scoup out their souls just so i can understand them better.

This is a function of the PDA need for control. Some papers have even gone so far as to describe PDA children as "socially manipulative". Naturally these are choices we all make every day, but i tend to find that social situations are all one big manipulation by all parties involved. This doesn't have to be a negative either.

PDA are often more imaginative, and more comfortable with role-play, make pretend (as children adn adults), and less literal then our brothers and sisters on the ASD. We understand the function of social structures and conversational norms, even if we sometimes choose to rebel against them.

Finally PDA is not pride, laziness, FOMO, or any other basic emotional trait that you could ascribe to blame yourself for your perceived failings. It is a disorder. A remnant of some unforeseen twist of evolution or biological trait that can make living in a modern world filled to the brim with demands and expectations a living hell. But what it also is not, is unconquerable. Together, you and I, can work together to fight this thing, and at times to work with it to great effect. I have my strategies and maybe you have yours. We will get through this.

[l8dyvenus]

Astro Observations #1

- Scorpio moons are emotionally manipulative. 🥷🏾

- Virgo moons suffer from IBS/stomach problems. 🥜

- Virgo/Gemini/Scorpio/3rd house moons, Moon square Pluto, Sun square moon, Pluto in the 3rd, Chiron in 3rd, Mercury in 8th house suffers from ADHD, insomnia, nightmares, scattered brain, anxiety, a lot of mental hardship and energy. Sometimes their thoughts could be very dark.✍🏾

-You guys should really invest in writing, communicating with others or anything mercurial. It helps. It doesn’t have to be a journal about your feelings but writing anything helps. Write poetry, short comics, rap songs, a book, etc.

- Capricorn mars men knows how to control their orgasms. They could cum fast if they want or they can hold on as long as forever. 🌶

- Taurus placements/Taurus Lillith love physical comfort. They indulge in that shit. If a Taurus could cuddle up all day everyday, they would. 👄

-They have the Midas touch. Receiving massages and physical affection from them is truly heavenly. They really do put you to sleep.

- Aquarius IC/MC could be heavily into beats/music /or being a producer of some sort. 🎶

-Libra sun/Scorpio moon men are charmers. Again, emotionally manipulative but sweet. Narcissistic, gaslighters, and liars. 🗣

- Water moons = emotionally manipulative

- Air moons = plays both fences/liars

- Lillith in 7th …. Feeling like you are carrying your parents karma because they were definitely not supposed to be together and have you. Your relationships with others since birth are just everyone’s negative projections placed onto you. 👨‍👩‍👦

-Any 8h placements (sun/moon specifically)…always feeling alone but enjoy being alone. Feels like you have nobody and everyone misunderstands you. 🫂

- Cancer placements and the unconscious/conscious energy of being passive aggressive, defensive, and having lowkey anger issues. (I’m more scared of an angered Cancer placement than Aries👀)

- Aquarius mars are experimental freaks. 👅

- Virgo moon/Venus/Mercury placements (men) have high standards but majority of the time the things they require and ask for, it’s hard for them to reciprocate themselves. 🤌🏾

- Earth dominate men/women gives off major BDE.😻

-everything about y’all just screams…fuck me.🤰🏾

- Gemini placements (especially moons) are actually quite secretive. They ask a lot of questions about you. They want to know everything about you but the way they present it you hardly even know. They literally remember and copy your entire mood/personality just to form another personality of their own to match yours. However they act around you is not how they act around someone else. Geminis mirror you. 👥

-Libra moons/Libra placements on the other hand manifest similarly but differently. Either people often project themselves onto them and they reflect it back due to their fair and balance ways of accepting people of who they truly are. Or, they form an entire fake personality to match yours because of their insecurity and people pleasing ways. 👱🏾‍♀️

- Venusians have soft baby like skin. Face and body. Regardless of Blemishes, bumps, scars…their skin is still soft.👩🏽‍🍼

This is my first Astro notes, thank you for reading babes. 😛💋

MASTERLIST

[leninonlyfans]

to elaborate on this point slightly: the vast majority of psychiatric disorders are not diseases like, say, Parkinson's disease, which have a specific aetiology and disease progression and can be analyzed in terms of the biological processes that lead to them. a subset of psychiatric disorders are classical diseases like this (aphasias being the most obvious example), but the majority are a clinical syndrome, which just means "a cluster of symptoms which tend to co-occur together." A non-psychiatric example everyone knows of is PMS, which is different for every individual and may be caused by various different processes but generally manifests as various unpleasant symptoms for a week before a period. Not everyone who gets PMS suffers from the exact same symptoms, but that doesn't mean PMS is fake or that if one person gets headaches from PMS that means the other person who instead gets bloating and fatigue must be lying.

so it is with major depression: you may notice if you ever look at the DSM that in order to be officially diagnosed with depression you need to have some number of a list of possible symptoms, and also, for it and every other disorder, there's a little cop-out clause stating that the symptoms are not better explained by some other disorder. That last bit makes no sense logically--comorbidity is real, after all--but it's there because of the fact that all these diagnoses are syndromes with very fuzzy boundaries. Bipolar disorder and depression and personality disorders and schizophrenia and autism and ADHD are not specific biological truths, they are various clusters that psychiatry has found useful to label and treat similarly (whether it's also been useful for the patients is a different question).

The prevailing model of how mental illnesses form is called the diathesis-stress model. It essentially states that all people contain a diathesis, which is a predisposition, for various different disorders, based on their genetics, family history, etc. For example, schizophrenia tends to develop in people in their early 20s, when people go through various life changes (going to college, living on their own, having to support themselves on their own income, etc.) that can be extremely stressful. Most people don't have the genetic precursors to develop schizophrenia, but for the small number who do, these stressors are often enough to lead to a first psychotic episode even in people who don't have extra stress factors like poverty or being in an abusive relationship.

The thing about capitalism is that it fucking sucks. This has been true for as long as captialism has existed but things have been getting steadily worse particularly since the end of the cold war. if you're drowning in medical and financial debt and the rent is overdue and it's over half your paycheck and you're sick with covid but you still have to go to work and so on and so on.... well, there's so much stress going on there that if you have any disthesis for depression at all, how can you not activate it? if your ability to enjoy life has been completely taken away by the hundred thousand mundane streases of living, then what's the point? depression and suicidality are completely rational, natural responses to that environment, and it's not shocking that it rises. to use a concept from another medical field, the dose makes the poison, and capitalism is just piling on dose after dose after dose of depressive toxin. people who might be resistant to those first 10-15 doses will still succumb by the time you hit the 400th.

I’m not trying to be ignorant but depression is a LETHAL medical condition with a pathology and a number of treatments. You can argue that it’s caused by capitalism but it sounds like youre implying that it’s just a label created to “other” people? Can you clarify? I also don’t agree that it’s entirely caused by capitalism, my depression is because of abuse,,

describing depression as a 'medical condition' is basically meaningless. 'depression' is just a term that's used for a certain set of behaviours--there is no 'depression gene' or 'depression virus', the 'chemical imbalance' theory of depression has been roundly disproven. in the most literal, factual sense, depression is just a label. nobody thinks the actual phenomological experience of someone who 'has depression' will magically change after capitalism or the psychiatric industry or whatever is abolished, but its pathologization, its treatment as a biomedical phenomenon, is in fact what creates the label of 'clinical depression' as cleanly and conveniently severed from people being depressed (colloquial sense) because things in their lives and the world are shit.

[subducting]

The quick and cheap guide to Getting Your Shit Together, from, a functional(ish) adult with ADHD

Hi, I have ADHD, I didn’t know I had it, and over the last year of growth and recovery I’ve learned some invaluable tips for organisation that I wanted to pass on. This is based on my lived experience, what works for me may not work for you, but hopefully this can help at least some people. These tips are not specific to ADHD either- anyone can fall prey to cycles of not doing stuff, and this could help you too, potentially!

Realise that this is not your fault. Please, please stop beating yourself up being disorganised. It isn’t helpful or healthy. I know it’s easy to think- well, if everyone else can, why can’t I? But if you lump guilt and sadness on top of an existing problem it makes you less motivated to fix it. Yes, this applies to people without a diagnosis of ADHD. These kind of things are a spectrum, and organisational difficulties can affect lots of people.

Separate your life into chunks. Not emotionally- I’m not talking about compartmentalising- but try and create things that you can work on separately. ADHD tends to make one thing stop existing in your mind as soon as you focus on another, but by being specific about which goal in particular you’re tackling, you can make sure you’re not neglecting the others. My three main strands are work (I’m a teacher), personal life (moving out of my parents, learning to drive) and my masters degree.

Create goals that are SMART. I’m sure you’ve heard of this one, goals need to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-specific. Be honest with yourself on each of these and start SUPER SMALL. I started off wanting to save a certain portion of my paycheck each month, but I realised that the amount I planned for was way too big to start off with. Giving yourself unrealistic goals will only serve to further the guilt and sadness we’re trying to get away from.

Make a road map to your goals. Figure out what needs to happen in order for you to get there. “I want to start a webcomic” is great (though not especially S.M.A.R.T) - but what needs to happen for that to happen? Spend some time investigating what the puzzle pieces of your larger goal is. It’s okay to ask for help with this! I find plowing through huge amounts of text massively challenging, so I asked my colleagues what the best routes into teaching were and they were very happy to tell me. Brainstorming these things that have to happen will turn into a to-do list to check off in order to get where you wanna go.

Get obsessed with short term planning. Okay, so you have your goals, and the roadmap (which is really just a series of min-goals that you need to hit to add up to your big goal). How do you make sure you hit them on time? Diaries are your best friend now. Start small- I started by writing a small list of SMART goals every day, and now I do a weekly plan at the start of every week, too. I cannot overstate the value of this short term planning.

Ask for help. This one is one of the hardest but you MUST be prepared to do this if you want to effect change. I mentioned above that reading large amounts of text is a lot for me, and filling in online forms similarly so. I ask my mum to sit with me and go through them with me, and sometimes even she’ll fill them in and I’ll tell her what to put. It isn’t lazy. ADHD brains really struggle with some types of cognitive load (it can manifest differently in different people, it could be zoning out in conversations or having to read the same sentence many times) and there is no shame in asking for support in getting those challenging tasks done.

Celebrate the little victories. Treat your brain as you would a child learning to read for the first time. Figuring out how to manage your time properly is hard, especially so if you have ADHD or similar. You have got to be kind to yourself for this to work. This is why I love my short term planning- goals like “remember to mark one set of books today” are doable for me, and then I get to cross them off and just like that, I’m Doing Things. Goals can start off absolutely tiny, trust me the effects will snowball.

Okay, that’s it! Please don’t take this as The Definitive List, as I’ve said it’s just stuff I’ve found helpful. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry, you’ll find something that will. Ultimately, you have to just remember that you are not fixed in one state- you can grow and change, every single person is capable of that. I love you, and I hope the next decade brings lots of success and happiness for you!

[lindelwamamba]

Covid-19 has brought significant changes to our daily living, alterations of which are very uncomfortable for many human beings, especially to this magnitude. Thankfully, you and I are amongst a majority of the population, blessed at the very least with the basic yet integral capacity, to maneuver such challenges, perhaps not with absolute coolness, yet we nonetheless maneuver. Because we are generally fully functional, our ability allows us the possibility to adapt to survive: shopping once a week as opposed to every other day, video calling loved ones instead of informal gatherings, texting and calling beloveds as an expression of utter warmth, in lieu of regular visits trademarked by tickles and hugs. All to make it to the next day, week, and beyond. Adaptability.

 And yet, for all our supposed challenges in this world today, I imagine our realities are incomparable to the permanence of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related special needs such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), whose linear logical capacity is severely compromised, or whose “common sense”, as referred to by the ordinary man, does not resemble that which we can relate to.

 Restricted, repetitive behavioral patterns often manifested as insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, and or ritualized patterns of behavior are among the defining features of Autism Spectrum Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), whilst children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) tend to suffer from difficulties with completion of activities, short attention spans, careless mistakes, and an inability to carry out time consuming tasks.

On a day-day basis this is seen as:

· Eating specific foods only

· Sticking to certain times and wanting to visit the same places repetitively

· Meltdowns (described as ‘an intense response to overwhelming situation’ by National Autistic Society)

· Careless mistakes

· Disruptive bahaviours

· Limited delayed gratification

Given the world’s current and intense battle with the Coronavirus pandemic, families in the world abound have been required to almost entirely adjust to the new actuality that includes extremes like the complete sudden closure of all schools, working from home (or not working at all), physical distancing (a term since preferred by The World Health Organization, as opposed to social distancing, which seems to suggest social disconnection from family and loved ones) and travel limitations, to mention but a few

Our beloved nation has not been spared of the challenges brought about by Covid-19, leading our National Government to enforce the aforementioned restrictions and some, with the objective of protecting every individual as best we can, and in turn, the Nation.  Resultantly, Parents have found themselves compelled to fill multiple roles, interchanging between parent, teacher, therapist, and playmates too, to lighten the weight of our current predicament for ourselves and those we are nurturing.

 Expectedly, given that these roles are normally shared between multiple people on a regular week day, repetitively, commanding these tasks can and likely does push most parents and guardians, to the limit and often beyond, in these times. Additionally, undoubtedly, and most noteworthy, the adjustment to entire responsibility for a child with special needs, is incomparable to life in our largely regular households today, given that it primarily requires thorough commitment, patience, awareness, supplementary to the constant challenges and demands now required from parents

This is proving to be unfortunate (to put it mildly) for children diagnosed with such neurobehavioral disorders. As April, known as ‘Autism Awareness Month’, comes to a close, this article serves to address the needs of parents, how they can try and facilitate transition to the current living conditions, whilst reducing the number of meltdowns in relation to negative responses towards the alterations of routines. Worth noting is that, these difficulties with coping are not always attributed to shifts in patterns. These may be due to unmet sensory needs that parents would have been taught about during the different therapies a child may have attended, namely Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Therapy, Behavior Training etcetera. Rehabilitation services are strongly advocated for, given that the ultimate goal is ensuring that the child acquires skills to live in a community safely and independently amidst disruptions to his/her daily schedule.

A few strategies parents can use include:

 Having open communication and explaining using simple language (like one word/broken down phases), picture/videographic/situation cards of what is currently happening, and also of why they need to stay inside safe spaces. Communication is generally understood to be verbal, but some of our children are able to comprehend better what is being said to them using the alternative videographic and picturesque means as mentioned above. These genres assist enlighten the children to the current gravity of our reality, and simultaneously temper down unrealistic expectations of resuming activities they had been engaged in before, and grown used to. Principles of repetition can be employed on a daily basis, wherein as parents you explain and retrain them to understand that they will be home for the foreseeable future. We recognize the challenges that accompany these severe health defects, and therefore appreciate that communication with each child will vary.

 ·Creating a routine schedule using visual pointers at home for your child, allows them to be aware of what needs to be done, and limits an element of surprise. Routines are also a great strategy to use to teach social demands which society requires from us on a daily basis (a practical example is knowing what time I need to wake up, so I can make it to work on time)

 ·Having sets of activities that will fill in the spare time and being present to do these activities with your child for intensive interaction, with the use of over-exaggerated facial/verbal expressions that will provide learning opportunities (social interaction) for your child through having them mimic your actions. Examples being singing song together, playing cars together, building blocks, and lacing beads.

·Ensuring consistency in the child’s repetitive home activities (like mealtimes, bedtime, and shower times) as would similarly be the followed during school seasons. Furthermore, monitor that they get adequate sleep as lack thereof may contribute to their agitation during the day.

 ·Continuation of learning so children continue to progress with and improve on skills they had attained whilst at school, and therapy sessions. Additionally, reaching out to your school to find out what programs for supporting continuation of learning could be implemented, and also communicating with your therapist about how you can continue with therapy at home, would help. Where possible, it is advised that the use of home programs that are reviewed weekly/fortnightly are used.

 ·Parents working at home experience difficulty in attempting to juggle work and parenting during the day. Therefore when possible, a family approach that incorporates delegation of roles between parents, siblings, and helpers may also assist with limiting the demands of caring for a special needs child, enhancing coping strategies amongst family members.

·Encouraging active participation with roles and tasks around the house to achieve balance between structured activities that have academic goals and unstructured activities that promote independent self-care.

 ·Ensuring that children have periods for relaxation, and breaks in-between activities is important to get great participation.

 ·Play is a big component that is used in therapy to ensure that your child’s sensory needs are met, and this is done through knowing their sensory profile so they get sensory input the whole day. Asking your therapist to assist with a sensory diet (free play/tactile experiences/circle time/feeding) that can be implemented at home, ensures your child is consistently receiving sensory feedback throughout the day, which is very important for energy regulation.

Composure, communication, taking an hour, moment, a day at a time, as well as working as a collective, whilst consistently maintaining and implementing preventative health guidelines as advised by the relevant health authorities, will see us overcome, then thrive.

[martin9395]

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

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a dual diagnostic middle gives treatment for other mental disorders as properly. For instance, such facilities offer detox and rehabilitation for substance abuse sufferers. Similarly, a dual analysis treatment la gives scientific intervention for intellectual disorders, along with depression, consuming disorders, sexual dependancy, and bipolar sickness.

Matters to recognise about twin diagnosis treatment

twin prognosis is a circumstance whilst one suffers from a mental infection in addition to a substance abuse trouble. It's also known as co-occurring disorders (cod). It is a double whammy for mental sufferers who are also drug abuse victims. Consistent with the substance abuse and intellectual health offerings administration (samhsa), 1/2 of the mental infection patients also suffer from substance abuse sickness. Which means a amazing 8. Nine million american adults suffer from the cod. Ironically, only 7. Four percent individuals receive remedy for both the situations. The facts additionally advise that substance abuse and mental circumstance move hand in hand. So, twin analysis remedy is essential. But, the course leading to twin analysis is also strewn with quite a few challenges due to the fact drug abuse itself induces several psychiatric problems in a person. So, it turns into difficult to distinguish among a pre-present intellectual illness and the only brought on with the aid of substance abuse. If any person is dealt with for a drug abuse hassle however the underlying intellectual condition that would have brought about the abuse of medication is left untreated, then a relapse is inevitable. No marvel we see so many relapses in rehab centers that leave humans frustrated or even greater disappointed. The failure to diagnose the hidden intellectual illness resulting in similarly put off of treatment might simplest go to pot the circumstance. However, with this one may be free from the shackles of any intellectual situation and development hastily in the direction of sobriety. The respite might only come from an authentic treatment center much like the dual analysis treatment los angeles, which might be doing a notable paintings in diagnosing and treating dual analysis sufferers. In twin prognosis it's far in simple terms the case of "which got here first, the bird or the egg?" it's miles often tough to examine what got here first, the substance abuse or the intellectual disorder. People inn to alcohol and tablets to beat back depression and intellectual anxiety. However on the contrary they handiest exacerbate the situation and cause the onset of a vicious cycle for the victim dual diagnosis treatment.

In any such state of affairs it's far frequently found that:

alcohol and drug abuse might also growth an underlying hazard of intellectual problems in a person

alcohol and drug abuse can get worse symptoms of a mental health trouble in a patient

for this reason, self-medicating with the help of alcohol and capsules for any mental situation can in no way be the solution for the affected person la.

Treatment

the mental health problems that maximum generally co-occur with substance abuse are despair, anxiety problems, and bipolar ailment. The treatment of this problem is frequently difficult due to the fact there may be denial on a part of the patient. For both - drug abuse hassle and mental contamination - the affected people do no longer take delivery of that they have an issue and try to evade as far as possible. But these troubles do not heal or get better on its own. You need to be proactive and choose remedy over indolence to completely conquer a drug abuse and intellectual ailment l. A.. The twin analysis treatment is quite superior and taken into consideration a number of the best within the u. S. Initiate discussions straight away and check in to a treatment center of your preference. The florida twin prognosis helpline is here to make certain that those seeking remedy for co-happening disorders get the assist they need.

For More Information About California

[milenasanchezmk]

10 Alternative Therapies for ADD & ADHD

A few months back, I put together an article on alternative therapies for depression. Many readers  showed a lot of interest in some of the emerging non-drug treatments in that field, and, more importantly, many began to relay their own stories about how they overcame or successfully managed their depression through various strategies. That’s what I love the most about this community—sharing experience and expertise in the interest of broadening available solutions beyond what conventional thought tells us.

I’ve received frequent requests over the years to do the same for the convoluted world of ADD and ADHD treatment. There’s a lot to this picture and (if there’s interest) probably fodder for a follow-up post. For today I’ll delve into some of the lifestyle strategies and alternative therapies that offer the most promise.

I understand that ADD and ADHD treatment—and even diagnoses—are sensitive topics. Debates continue to rage within the medical, caregiver, and even Primal communities as to what actually constitutes the conditions, whether they’re simply modern constructs, and what the best forms of treatment are. Despite the increasing numbers of diagnoses, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the issue and even less people can agree on.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that between 3 and 10% of children and 1-6% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the stats imply, both ADD and ADHD are more prevalent in children but there’s a very strong possibility that the symptoms will continue into adulthood.

Under the conventional model of diagnosis, those difficulties typically manifest as “an inability to organize complex sequences of behavior, to persist in the face of distracting stimuli, and to respond appropriately to the consequences of past behavior.” Resulting academic impairments, social dysfunction and poor self-esteem can in more serious cases morph into alcohol and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, and antisocial behaviors as a person slides into adulthood (although other family, social and educational factors come into play here).

The difference between ADD and ADHD, in case you’re wondering, is the additional symptom of hyperactivity in the latter condition. In much of the literature, the focus is now almost exclusively geared towards ADHD as the more inclusive of the two disorders, and that’s what I’ll largely be focusing on too.

Clearly, through the black and white lenses of the conventional practitioner, there’s a lot to be said for prescribing a heady dose of Ritalin at the first signs of inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Doing so has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms in around 60% of patients. But there’s often no corresponding improvement in school performance, and the rather alarming fact that 40% of those taking side effect-laden stimulants like Ritalin still aren’t seeing any measurable improvement in their symptoms. What’s more, a daily dose of Ritalin, for example, acts in a similar way to cocaine in the brain, while other common ADHD drugs have in some studies been associated with earlier onset of bipolar disorder and growth suppression.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, Ritalin and associated stimulant prescriptions are rapidly on the rise, but  even in conventional circles many are beginning to question whether the symptoms that comprise the “disorder” might simply be an innate response to living conditions or even foods that we’re not well adapted to. Are we then prescribing potentially harmful drugs to our kids (and ourselves) when all we should be doing is eating better, revising our educational system, and making key lifestyle changes? 

The Possible Ancestral Function of ADD & ADHD

In 2008, a Northwestern University study suggested that ADHD may be an evolutionary adaptation suited to the hunter gather lifestyle that’s comprised most of humanity’s history. Researchers compared two tribal groups in Kenya—one which was still nomadic, and one who had settled into villages. Within both tribes, researchers located individuals exhibiting ADHD traits, finding that those within the nomadic tribe were better suited to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and in fact were thriving compared to their non-ADHD peers.

Those ADHD individuals in the settled tribe showed the inevitable difficulty in the classroom and in the more structured drudgery of everyday life in a village—a common element linking today’s ADHD children.

The results suggest that rather than ADHD being a “disorder,” it may be an adaptation giving the individual an advantage in certain types of learning and activities—namely those centered around nomadic subsistence. This raises the question of whether we should be approaching ADHD as a disorder in the first place, or as a variation of constitution that thrives on a different way of life—one which doesn’t force children to learn by sitting in hard chairs listening to the drone of a teacher’s voice (or even where adults are expected to sit still for 8 hours a day and stare at an artificially lit screen).

That’s a topic for discussion (and maybe further research), but it’s interesting food for thought in the meantime.

10 Alternative Therapies and Lifestyle Strategies for ADD & ADHD

Faced with the dilemma of potential misdiagnosis, conventional drug side effects, and a high rate of conventional treatment failure, I’m going to venture that it’s logical to seek out alternative ADHD therapies and basic lifestyle strategies that can either complement or, in some cases, replace those prescribed by the doctor. Let’s look at a few of the more popular or emerging recommendations. 

Avoid Food Colorings

This is arguably where the notion of dietary influence on ADD/ADHD first emerged. Back in the 70s, San Francisco-based allergist Ben Feingold developed an elimination diet that had thousands of parents claiming their children with ADHD showed marked improvement in their symptoms. The foundation of that diet? Elimination of food colorings and preservatives.

There was plenty of industry pushback at the time, but in recent years there’s been a resurgence of interest in artificial food colorings and other synthetic compounds in foods and the impact they might be have on ADD and ADHD symptoms. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that artificial food colors had significant negative effects on focus and concentration, therein promoting hyperactive behaviors in children and teens.

A spate of research linking artificial food colors and ADHD followed suit, culminating in a 2007 study in which researchers unequivocally placed hyperactive behavior firmly on the doorstep of four synthetic colors and a sodium benzoate preservative…regardless of whether the children eating or drinking them had actually been diagnosed with ADHD. 

While it’s hard to control everything kids eat, cutting food coloring and additives is a good first-line strategy—for anyone with ADD/ADHD or not. 

Ditch Junk Food

Stimulants like Ritalin work by temporarily restoring reward signaling in the brain. Children and adults with ADHD tend to exhibit haywire patterns in certain neurotransmitters, particularly in the case of dopamine—which just so happens to influence a person’s ability to make rational choices or delay gratification.

Reward signaling in the brain of someone with ADHD is often very similar to people prone to binge eating. Let’s be honest and admit that a diet rich in junk food is partly to blame for certain behaviors inherent in ADHD patients. The continual flood of dietary sugar, along with heady combinations of refined sodium and hydrogenated fats, is enough to invoke chaos in anyone’s reward system and general health. (This could be a post in an of itself.) Ditch the junk food, feed the body the micronutrients it requires, and at least some of the ADHD symptoms will improve.

Eliminate Other Potential Food Allergens

Seeing as we’ve got the elimination ball rolling, why not single out a few more likely culprits? In functional medicine circles, elimination diets have been used decades to manage symptoms of ADHD and other forms of neural dysfunction. In particular, these diets have focused on eliminating both gluten and casein to good effect.

A 2011 study published in The Lancet placed 50 ADHD children on a hypoallergenic diet of rice, turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, pears, and other pre-approved whole foods known for the non-allergic palatability. Close to two-thirds of the children experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms on the diet, with most of them regressing to former symptoms shortly after stopping the diet.

A 2013 Danish study involving 72 children with autism spectrum disorder, which can include many symptoms similar to those of ADHD, found that introducing a diet free from both gluten and casein produced significant results. Certainly, research linking celiac disease to ADHD-like symptoms goes a long way towards verifying this hunch.

Up Essential Fatty Acids

As the concept of nutritional ADHD therapy has taken hold, there’s been a particular focus on omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency. As most Primal folks know, omega-3s play a critical role in the structure and function of membranes enclosing brain cells, and are similarly important for regulating transmission of impulses between nerve cells.

If a developing brain isn’t receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary or supplementary sources, the likelihood of developing ADHD and other behavioral issues increases. In particular, a lack of the long-chain fatty acid DHA has repeatedly been linked to a higher risk of ADHD.

But it might not be as simple as eating a more omega 3-rich diet. Studies examining dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children note that kids with ADHD seem to have lower serum fatty acid content, regardless of how many omega-3s they get in their diet. It’s thought that this might be due to increased fatty acid oxidation in these children, suggesting a significant increase in omega-3 fatty acid consumption is needed to offset the jumped-up fatty acid metabolism.

The consensus? While the jury is still officially out on omega-3s and ADHD, high quality omega-3 supplementation from the likes of fermented cod liver oil is probably a good idea for most people with ADHD. Several studies recommend in the range of 300-600 mg/day of supplemental omega-3, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go over 1000 mg in those who really need that boost (just run it by your doctor first).

Increase B-Vitamin Intake

Supplementing with certain vitamins to fill dietary gaps may be a good strategy for some ADHD patients as they play a critical cofactor role in facilitating energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. B-vitamins are at the top of the chart in this respect, playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism along with supporting healthy myelin sheath maintenance.

Vitamin B6 in particular can help to boost low levels of serotonin in hyperactive kids and alleviate aggression, especially when combined with magnesium. And of course, more vitamin D, whether from the sun or supplementary sources, is also likely to improve ADHD symptoms in those who are lacking.

Experiment With Trace Minerals

As investigations continue into the links between diet and behavioral issues in both children and adults, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that ADHD patients are often deficient in zinc, iron and magnesium.

In children with ADHD, low serum zinc levels are associated with decreased concentrations of circulating fatty acids, which can lead to a negative feedback loop. To illustrate this point, researchers showed that supplementing with evening primrose oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, improved the behavior of ADHD kids in school, but that this positive effect was only apparent in those who were deficient in zinc.

Iron, as it happens, also plays a pivotal role in dopamine neurotransmission. In a 2004 study, 84% of children with ADHD tested were deficient in blood ferritin, compared to just 18% in health controls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, low serum ferritin levels were associated with more severe ADHD symptoms across the board. But supplementing with iron can be a fickle beast, and one which should be accompanied by regular blood measures with physician supervision.

Then there’s magnesium. I’ve already linked to a study that showed decent improvements from a combined approach of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and magnesium supplementation alone may provide almost as much efficacy in taking the H out of ADHD.

Consider Choline 

Choline is an essential micronutrient which plays an important role in brain development, liver function, muscular maintenance, nerve function, and plenty more besides. Suffice it to say that a deficiency in choline is not a good thing. In this study, 1H-MRS analysis indicated that children with poor memory had lower concentrations of choline-containing compounds, suggesting that increasing choline consumption may at least target the memory symptoms associated with ADHD.

The average Primal diet should already provide a decent dose of choline, but if in doubt don’t be afraid to offer a few more pastured eggs, and maybe throw in a serving of grass-fed liverwurst while you’re at it.

Invest In Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, thereby boosting energy production via efficient metabolism of fatty acids. In a 2002 study, 13 out of 24 boys with ADHD showed a significant improvement in attention problems and aggressive behavior at both home and school.

More recent research into the effect of ALC on ADD/ADHD has been mixed, with several studies concluding no significant positive effect, while another trial that examined the effect of ALC on 56 fragile X syndrome boys with ADHD found that there were notable improvements in social behavior and significant reductions in hyperactivity from ALC treatment.

Fill In Micronutrient Gaps 

Another approach might simply be to invest in a high quality multivitamin (and fish oil) that ticks off all the likely bases in one fell swoop.

Certain clinical micronutrient formulations have often shown impressive results in small trials, with this study, for example, finding a 30% decrease in ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of micronutrient supplementation in 70% of participants and a marked overall improvement in almost 80% of the participants. A follow-up from the same team with a larger number of subjects found similarly promising results. And these findings are nothing out of the ordinary, suggesting that micronutrients may be a good starting point for both children and adults who are in the process of exploring “alternative” means of treating their ADHD.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise is one are where there’s no shortage of research – the challenge is sorting out the facts from the almost-fiction. A 2013 study showed that a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved reading accuracy and processing in both children with and without ADHD compared to those who didn’t exercise. The researchers concluded that “single bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise may have positive implications for aspects of neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in children with ADHD.” Another trial found that attention deficit symptoms in ADHD children could be minimized through physical activity whether they were taking Ritalin or not.

Yoga, which straddles both the exercise and meditation realms, has been a bit of a mixed bag in the ADHD research arena. While some studies have found no measurable effects on ADHD at all, others have found yoga to provide a good complementary treatment for children with ADHD.

I venture the power of both exercise and meditation have a lot to offer kids and adults with ADHD. It would be great to see larger studies delving into the subject, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting on when both activities are known to enhance well-being anyway.

Other Alternative Therapies to Consider

Given more time today (or another post), we could explore the possibilities contained within other burgeoning alternative ADD and ADHD treatments, like neurofeedback strategies, acupuncture, vestibular stimulation…even massage. There’s a lot going on in the world of alternative therapies, and many of the findings are very promising indeed.

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to see more forays like this one into the world of comprehensive treatments—what finely tuned combinations of nutrition, lifestyle, supplements and, in appropriate situations, medications provide the most benefit for those suffering from ADD or ADHD (or at least the symptoms we’ve come to associate with these disorders).

And, as is so often the case, I think we’re called to examine the environment and expectations of modern living. Where can we simplify, naturalize our lives and the lives of our children? What’s possible, for the sake of our kids’ well-being, to change in our home life or educational choices? Sometimes big issues call for big questions—questions, not to mention answers, for which conventional wisdom isn’t likely to take the lead.

Thanks for reading everyone. I’m interested in your thoughts and questions—and certainly your experiences. What opinions and recommendations would you add? 

[watsonrodriquezie]

10 Alternative Therapies for ADD & ADHD

A few months back, I put together an article on alternative therapies for depression. Many readers  showed a lot of interest in some of the emerging non-drug treatments in that field, and, more importantly, many began to relay their own stories about how they overcame or successfully managed their depression through various strategies. That’s what I love the most about this community—sharing experience and expertise in the interest of broadening available solutions beyond what conventional thought tells us.

I’ve received frequent requests over the years to do the same for the convoluted world of ADD and ADHD treatment. There’s a lot to this picture and (if there’s interest) probably fodder for a follow-up post. For today I’ll delve into some of the lifestyle strategies and alternative therapies that offer the most promise.

I understand that ADD and ADHD treatment—and even diagnoses—are sensitive topics. Debates continue to rage within the medical, caregiver, and even Primal communities as to what actually constitutes the conditions, whether they’re simply modern constructs, and what the best forms of treatment are. Despite the increasing numbers of diagnoses, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the issue and even less people can agree on.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that between 3 and 10% of children and 1-6% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the stats imply, both ADD and ADHD are more prevalent in children but there’s a very strong possibility that the symptoms will continue into adulthood.

Under the conventional model of diagnosis, those difficulties typically manifest as “an inability to organize complex sequences of behavior, to persist in the face of distracting stimuli, and to respond appropriately to the consequences of past behavior.” Resulting academic impairments, social dysfunction and poor self-esteem can in more serious cases morph into alcohol and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, and antisocial behaviors as a person slides into adulthood (although other family, social and educational factors come into play here).

The difference between ADD and ADHD, in case you’re wondering, is the additional symptom of hyperactivity in the latter condition. In much of the literature, the focus is now almost exclusively geared towards ADHD as the more inclusive of the two disorders, and that’s what I’ll largely be focusing on too.

Clearly, through the black and white lenses of the conventional practitioner, there’s a lot to be said for prescribing a heady dose of Ritalin at the first signs of inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Doing so has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms in around 60% of patients. But there’s often no corresponding improvement in school performance, and the rather alarming fact that 40% of those taking side effect-laden stimulants like Ritalin still aren’t seeing any measurable improvement in their symptoms. What’s more, a daily dose of Ritalin, for example, acts in a similar way to cocaine in the brain, while other common ADHD drugs have in some studies been associated with earlier onset of bipolar disorder and growth suppression.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, Ritalin and associated stimulant prescriptions are rapidly on the rise, but  even in conventional circles many are beginning to question whether the symptoms that comprise the “disorder” might simply be an innate response to living conditions or even foods that we’re not well adapted to. Are we then prescribing potentially harmful drugs to our kids (and ourselves) when all we should be doing is eating better, revising our educational system, and making key lifestyle changes? 

The Possible Ancestral Function of ADD & ADHD

In 2008, a Northwestern University study suggested that ADHD may be an evolutionary adaptation suited to the hunter gather lifestyle that’s comprised most of humanity’s history. Researchers compared two tribal groups in Kenya—one which was still nomadic, and one who had settled into villages. Within both tribes, researchers located individuals exhibiting ADHD traits, finding that those within the nomadic tribe were better suited to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and in fact were thriving compared to their non-ADHD peers.

Those ADHD individuals in the settled tribe showed the inevitable difficulty in the classroom and in the more structured drudgery of everyday life in a village—a common element linking today’s ADHD children.

The results suggest that rather than ADHD being a “disorder,” it may be an adaptation giving the individual an advantage in certain types of learning and activities—namely those centered around nomadic subsistence. This raises the question of whether we should be approaching ADHD as a disorder in the first place, or as a variation of constitution that thrives on a different way of life—one which doesn’t force children to learn by sitting in hard chairs listening to the drone of a teacher’s voice (or even where adults are expected to sit still for 8 hours a day and stare at an artificially lit screen).

That’s a topic for discussion (and maybe further research), but it’s interesting food for thought in the meantime.

10 Alternative Therapies and Lifestyle Strategies for ADD & ADHD

Faced with the dilemma of potential misdiagnosis, conventional drug side effects, and a high rate of conventional treatment failure, I’m going to venture that it’s logical to seek out alternative ADHD therapies and basic lifestyle strategies that can either complement or, in some cases, replace those prescribed by the doctor. Let’s look at a few of the more popular or emerging recommendations. 

Avoid Food Colorings

This is arguably where the notion of dietary influence on ADD/ADHD first emerged. Back in the 70s, San Francisco-based allergist Ben Feingold developed an elimination diet that had thousands of parents claiming their children with ADHD showed marked improvement in their symptoms. The foundation of that diet? Elimination of food colorings and preservatives.

There was plenty of industry pushback at the time, but in recent years there’s been a resurgence of interest in artificial food colorings and other synthetic compounds in foods and the impact they might be have on ADD and ADHD symptoms. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that artificial food colors had significant negative effects on focus and concentration, therein promoting hyperactive behaviors in children and teens.

A spate of research linking artificial food colors and ADHD followed suit, culminating in a 2007 study in which researchers unequivocally placed hyperactive behavior firmly on the doorstep of four synthetic colors and a sodium benzoate preservative…regardless of whether the children eating or drinking them had actually been diagnosed with ADHD. 

While it’s hard to control everything kids eat, cutting food coloring and additives is a good first-line strategy—for anyone with ADD/ADHD or not. 

Ditch Junk Food

Stimulants like Ritalin work by temporarily restoring reward signaling in the brain. Children and adults with ADHD tend to exhibit haywire patterns in certain neurotransmitters, particularly in the case of dopamine—which just so happens to influence a person’s ability to make rational choices or delay gratification.

Reward signaling in the brain of someone with ADHD is often very similar to people prone to binge eating. Let’s be honest and admit that a diet rich in junk food is partly to blame for certain behaviors inherent in ADHD patients. The continual flood of dietary sugar, along with heady combinations of refined sodium and hydrogenated fats, is enough to invoke chaos in anyone’s reward system and general health. (This could be a post in an of itself.) Ditch the junk food, feed the body the micronutrients it requires, and at least some of the ADHD symptoms will improve.

Eliminate Other Potential Food Allergens

Seeing as we’ve got the elimination ball rolling, why not single out a few more likely culprits? In functional medicine circles, elimination diets have been used decades to manage symptoms of ADHD and other forms of neural dysfunction. In particular, these diets have focused on eliminating both gluten and casein to good effect.

A 2011 study published in The Lancet placed 50 ADHD children on a hypoallergenic diet of rice, turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, pears, and other pre-approved whole foods known for the non-allergic palatability. Close to two-thirds of the children experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms on the diet, with most of them regressing to former symptoms shortly after stopping the diet.

A 2013 Danish study involving 72 children with autism spectrum disorder, which can include many symptoms similar to those of ADHD, found that introducing a diet free from both gluten and casein produced significant results. Certainly, research linking celiac disease to ADHD-like symptoms goes a long way towards verifying this hunch.

Up Essential Fatty Acids

As the concept of nutritional ADHD therapy has taken hold, there’s been a particular focus on omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency. As most Primal folks know, omega-3s play a critical role in the structure and function of membranes enclosing brain cells, and are similarly important for regulating transmission of impulses between nerve cells.

If a developing brain isn’t receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary or supplementary sources, the likelihood of developing ADHD and other behavioral issues increases. In particular, a lack of the long-chain fatty acid DHA has repeatedly been linked to a higher risk of ADHD.

But it might not be as simple as eating a more omega 3-rich diet. Studies examining dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children note that kids with ADHD seem to have lower serum fatty acid content, regardless of how many omega-3s they get in their diet. It’s thought that this might be due to increased fatty acid oxidation in these children, suggesting a significant increase in omega-3 fatty acid consumption is needed to offset the jumped-up fatty acid metabolism.

The consensus? While the jury is still officially out on omega-3s and ADHD, high quality omega-3 supplementation from the likes of fermented cod liver oil is probably a good idea for most people with ADHD. Several studies recommend in the range of 300-600 mg/day of supplemental omega-3, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go over 1000 mg in those who really need that boost (just run it by your doctor first).

Increase B-Vitamin Intake

Supplementing with certain vitamins to fill dietary gaps may be a good strategy for some ADHD patients as they play a critical cofactor role in facilitating energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. B-vitamins are at the top of the chart in this respect, playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism along with supporting healthy myelin sheath maintenance.

Vitamin B6 in particular can help to boost low levels of serotonin in hyperactive kids and alleviate aggression, especially when combined with magnesium. And of course, more vitamin D, whether from the sun or supplementary sources, is also likely to improve ADHD symptoms in those who are lacking.

Experiment With Trace Minerals

As investigations continue into the links between diet and behavioral issues in both children and adults, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that ADHD patients are often deficient in zinc, iron and magnesium.

In children with ADHD, low serum zinc levels are associated with decreased concentrations of circulating fatty acids, which can lead to a negative feedback loop. To illustrate this point, researchers showed that supplementing with evening primrose oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, improved the behavior of ADHD kids in school, but that this positive effect was only apparent in those who were deficient in zinc.

Iron, as it happens, also plays a pivotal role in dopamine neurotransmission. In a 2004 study, 84% of children with ADHD tested were deficient in blood ferritin, compared to just 18% in health controls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, low serum ferritin levels were associated with more severe ADHD symptoms across the board. But supplementing with iron can be a fickle beast, and one which should be accompanied by regular blood measures with physician supervision.

Then there’s magnesium. I’ve already linked to a study that showed decent improvements from a combined approach of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and magnesium supplementation alone may provide almost as much efficacy in taking the H out of ADHD.

Consider Choline 

Choline is an essential micronutrient which plays an important role in brain development, liver function, muscular maintenance, nerve function, and plenty more besides. Suffice it to say that a deficiency in choline is not a good thing. In this study, 1H-MRS analysis indicated that children with poor memory had lower concentrations of choline-containing compounds, suggesting that increasing choline consumption may at least target the memory symptoms associated with ADHD.

The average Primal diet should already provide a decent dose of choline, but if in doubt don’t be afraid to offer a few more pastured eggs, and maybe throw in a serving of grass-fed liverwurst while you’re at it.

Invest In Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, thereby boosting energy production via efficient metabolism of fatty acids. In a 2002 study, 13 out of 24 boys with ADHD showed a significant improvement in attention problems and aggressive behavior at both home and school.

More recent research into the effect of ALC on ADD/ADHD has been mixed, with several studies concluding no significant positive effect, while another trial that examined the effect of ALC on 56 fragile X syndrome boys with ADHD found that there were notable improvements in social behavior and significant reductions in hyperactivity from ALC treatment.

Fill In Micronutrient Gaps 

Another approach might simply be to invest in a high quality multivitamin (and fish oil) that ticks off all the likely bases in one fell swoop.

Certain clinical micronutrient formulations have often shown impressive results in small trials, with this study, for example, finding a 30% decrease in ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of micronutrient supplementation in 70% of participants and a marked overall improvement in almost 80% of the participants. A follow-up from the same team with a larger number of subjects found similarly promising results. And these findings are nothing out of the ordinary, suggesting that micronutrients may be a good starting point for both children and adults who are in the process of exploring “alternative” means of treating their ADHD.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise is one are where there’s no shortage of research – the challenge is sorting out the facts from the almost-fiction. A 2013 study showed that a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved reading accuracy and processing in both children with and without ADHD compared to those who didn’t exercise. The researchers concluded that “single bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise may have positive implications for aspects of neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in children with ADHD.” Another trial found that attention deficit symptoms in ADHD children could be minimized through physical activity whether they were taking Ritalin or not.

Yoga, which straddles both the exercise and meditation realms, has been a bit of a mixed bag in the ADHD research arena. While some studies have found no measurable effects on ADHD at all, others have found yoga to provide a good complementary treatment for children with ADHD.

I venture the power of both exercise and meditation have a lot to offer kids and adults with ADHD. It would be great to see larger studies delving into the subject, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting on when both activities are known to enhance well-being anyway.

Other Alternative Therapies to Consider

Given more time today (or another post), we could explore the possibilities contained within other burgeoning alternative ADD and ADHD treatments, like neurofeedback strategies, acupuncture, vestibular stimulation…even massage. There’s a lot going on in the world of alternative therapies, and many of the findings are very promising indeed.

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to see more forays like this one into the world of comprehensive treatments—what finely tuned combinations of nutrition, lifestyle, supplements and, in appropriate situations, medications provide the most benefit for those suffering from ADD or ADHD (or at least the symptoms we’ve come to associate with these disorders).

And, as is so often the case, I think we’re called to examine the environment and expectations of modern living. Where can we simplify, naturalize our lives and the lives of our children? What’s possible, for the sake of our kids’ well-being, to change in our home life or educational choices? Sometimes big issues call for big questions—questions, not to mention answers, for which conventional wisdom isn’t likely to take the lead.

Thanks for reading everyone. I’m interested in your thoughts and questions—and certainly your experiences. What opinions and recommendations would you add? 

[fishermariawo]

10 Alternative Therapies for ADD & ADHD

A few months back, I put together an article on alternative therapies for depression. Many readers  showed a lot of interest in some of the emerging non-drug treatments in that field, and, more importantly, many began to relay their own stories about how they overcame or successfully managed their depression through various strategies. That’s what I love the most about this community—sharing experience and expertise in the interest of broadening available solutions beyond what conventional thought tells us.

I’ve received frequent requests over the years to do the same for the convoluted world of ADD and ADHD treatment. There’s a lot to this picture and (if there’s interest) probably fodder for a follow-up post. For today I’ll delve into some of the lifestyle strategies and alternative therapies that offer the most promise.

I understand that ADD and ADHD treatment—and even diagnoses—are sensitive topics. Debates continue to rage within the medical, caregiver, and even Primal communities as to what actually constitutes the conditions, whether they’re simply modern constructs, and what the best forms of treatment are. Despite the increasing numbers of diagnoses, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the issue and even less people can agree on.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that between 3 and 10% of children and 1-6% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the stats imply, both ADD and ADHD are more prevalent in children but there’s a very strong possibility that the symptoms will continue into adulthood.

Under the conventional model of diagnosis, those difficulties typically manifest as “an inability to organize complex sequences of behavior, to persist in the face of distracting stimuli, and to respond appropriately to the consequences of past behavior.” Resulting academic impairments, social dysfunction and poor self-esteem can in more serious cases morph into alcohol and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, and antisocial behaviors as a person slides into adulthood (although other family, social and educational factors come into play here).

The difference between ADD and ADHD, in case you’re wondering, is the additional symptom of hyperactivity in the latter condition. In much of the literature, the focus is now almost exclusively geared towards ADHD as the more inclusive of the two disorders, and that’s what I’ll largely be focusing on too.

Clearly, through the black and white lenses of the conventional practitioner, there’s a lot to be said for prescribing a heady dose of Ritalin at the first signs of inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Doing so has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms in around 60% of patients. But there’s often no corresponding improvement in school performance, and the rather alarming fact that 40% of those taking side effect-laden stimulants like Ritalin still aren’t seeing any measurable improvement in their symptoms. What’s more, a daily dose of Ritalin, for example, acts in a similar way to cocaine in the brain, while other common ADHD drugs have in some studies been associated with earlier onset of bipolar disorder and growth suppression.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, Ritalin and associated stimulant prescriptions are rapidly on the rise, but  even in conventional circles many are beginning to question whether the symptoms that comprise the “disorder” might simply be an innate response to living conditions or even foods that we’re not well adapted to. Are we then prescribing potentially harmful drugs to our kids (and ourselves) when all we should be doing is eating better, revising our educational system, and making key lifestyle changes? 

The Possible Ancestral Function of ADD & ADHD

In 2008, a Northwestern University study suggested that ADHD may be an evolutionary adaptation suited to the hunter gather lifestyle that’s comprised most of humanity’s history. Researchers compared two tribal groups in Kenya—one which was still nomadic, and one who had settled into villages. Within both tribes, researchers located individuals exhibiting ADHD traits, finding that those within the nomadic tribe were better suited to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and in fact were thriving compared to their non-ADHD peers.

Those ADHD individuals in the settled tribe showed the inevitable difficulty in the classroom and in the more structured drudgery of everyday life in a village—a common element linking today’s ADHD children.

The results suggest that rather than ADHD being a “disorder,” it may be an adaptation giving the individual an advantage in certain types of learning and activities—namely those centered around nomadic subsistence. This raises the question of whether we should be approaching ADHD as a disorder in the first place, or as a variation of constitution that thrives on a different way of life—one which doesn’t force children to learn by sitting in hard chairs listening to the drone of a teacher’s voice (or even where adults are expected to sit still for 8 hours a day and stare at an artificially lit screen).

That’s a topic for discussion (and maybe further research), but it’s interesting food for thought in the meantime.

10 Alternative Therapies and Lifestyle Strategies for ADD & ADHD

Faced with the dilemma of potential misdiagnosis, conventional drug side effects, and a high rate of conventional treatment failure, I’m going to venture that it’s logical to seek out alternative ADHD therapies and basic lifestyle strategies that can either complement or, in some cases, replace those prescribed by the doctor. Let’s look at a few of the more popular or emerging recommendations. 

Avoid Food Colorings

This is arguably where the notion of dietary influence on ADD/ADHD first emerged. Back in the 70s, San Francisco-based allergist Ben Feingold developed an elimination diet that had thousands of parents claiming their children with ADHD showed marked improvement in their symptoms. The foundation of that diet? Elimination of food colorings and preservatives.

There was plenty of industry pushback at the time, but in recent years there’s been a resurgence of interest in artificial food colorings and other synthetic compounds in foods and the impact they might be have on ADD and ADHD symptoms. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that artificial food colors had significant negative effects on focus and concentration, therein promoting hyperactive behaviors in children and teens.

A spate of research linking artificial food colors and ADHD followed suit, culminating in a 2007 study in which researchers unequivocally placed hyperactive behavior firmly on the doorstep of four synthetic colors and a sodium benzoate preservative…regardless of whether the children eating or drinking them had actually been diagnosed with ADHD. 

While it’s hard to control everything kids eat, cutting food coloring and additives is a good first-line strategy—for anyone with ADD/ADHD or not. 

Ditch Junk Food

Stimulants like Ritalin work by temporarily restoring reward signaling in the brain. Children and adults with ADHD tend to exhibit haywire patterns in certain neurotransmitters, particularly in the case of dopamine—which just so happens to influence a person’s ability to make rational choices or delay gratification.

Reward signaling in the brain of someone with ADHD is often very similar to people prone to binge eating. Let’s be honest and admit that a diet rich in junk food is partly to blame for certain behaviors inherent in ADHD patients. The continual flood of dietary sugar, along with heady combinations of refined sodium and hydrogenated fats, is enough to invoke chaos in anyone’s reward system and general health. (This could be a post in an of itself.) Ditch the junk food, feed the body the micronutrients it requires, and at least some of the ADHD symptoms will improve.

Eliminate Other Potential Food Allergens

Seeing as we’ve got the elimination ball rolling, why not single out a few more likely culprits? In functional medicine circles, elimination diets have been used decades to manage symptoms of ADHD and other forms of neural dysfunction. In particular, these diets have focused on eliminating both gluten and casein to good effect.

A 2011 study published in The Lancet placed 50 ADHD children on a hypoallergenic diet of rice, turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, pears, and other pre-approved whole foods known for the non-allergic palatability. Close to two-thirds of the children experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms on the diet, with most of them regressing to former symptoms shortly after stopping the diet.

A 2013 Danish study involving 72 children with autism spectrum disorder, which can include many symptoms similar to those of ADHD, found that introducing a diet free from both gluten and casein produced significant results. Certainly, research linking celiac disease to ADHD-like symptoms goes a long way towards verifying this hunch.

Up Essential Fatty Acids

As the concept of nutritional ADHD therapy has taken hold, there’s been a particular focus on omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency. As most Primal folks know, omega-3s play a critical role in the structure and function of membranes enclosing brain cells, and are similarly important for regulating transmission of impulses between nerve cells.

If a developing brain isn’t receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary or supplementary sources, the likelihood of developing ADHD and other behavioral issues increases. In particular, a lack of the long-chain fatty acid DHA has repeatedly been linked to a higher risk of ADHD.

But it might not be as simple as eating a more omega 3-rich diet. Studies examining dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children note that kids with ADHD seem to have lower serum fatty acid content, regardless of how many omega-3s they get in their diet. It’s thought that this might be due to increased fatty acid oxidation in these children, suggesting a significant increase in omega-3 fatty acid consumption is needed to offset the jumped-up fatty acid metabolism.

The consensus? While the jury is still officially out on omega-3s and ADHD, high quality omega-3 supplementation from the likes of fermented cod liver oil is probably a good idea for most people with ADHD. Several studies recommend in the range of 300-600 mg/day of supplemental omega-3, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go over 1000 mg in those who really need that boost (just run it by your doctor first).

Increase B-Vitamin Intake

Supplementing with certain vitamins to fill dietary gaps may be a good strategy for some ADHD patients as they play a critical cofactor role in facilitating energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. B-vitamins are at the top of the chart in this respect, playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism along with supporting healthy myelin sheath maintenance.

Vitamin B6 in particular can help to boost low levels of serotonin in hyperactive kids and alleviate aggression, especially when combined with magnesium. And of course, more vitamin D, whether from the sun or supplementary sources, is also likely to improve ADHD symptoms in those who are lacking.

Experiment With Trace Minerals

As investigations continue into the links between diet and behavioral issues in both children and adults, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that ADHD patients are often deficient in zinc, iron and magnesium.

In children with ADHD, low serum zinc levels are associated with decreased concentrations of circulating fatty acids, which can lead to a negative feedback loop. To illustrate this point, researchers showed that supplementing with evening primrose oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, improved the behavior of ADHD kids in school, but that this positive effect was only apparent in those who were deficient in zinc.

Iron, as it happens, also plays a pivotal role in dopamine neurotransmission. In a 2004 study, 84% of children with ADHD tested were deficient in blood ferritin, compared to just 18% in health controls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, low serum ferritin levels were associated with more severe ADHD symptoms across the board. But supplementing with iron can be a fickle beast, and one which should be accompanied by regular blood measures with physician supervision.

Then there’s magnesium. I’ve already linked to a study that showed decent improvements from a combined approach of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and magnesium supplementation alone may provide almost as much efficacy in taking the H out of ADHD.

Consider Choline 

Choline is an essential micronutrient which plays an important role in brain development, liver function, muscular maintenance, nerve function, and plenty more besides. Suffice it to say that a deficiency in choline is not a good thing. In this study, 1H-MRS analysis indicated that children with poor memory had lower concentrations of choline-containing compounds, suggesting that increasing choline consumption may at least target the memory symptoms associated with ADHD.

The average Primal diet should already provide a decent dose of choline, but if in doubt don’t be afraid to offer a few more pastured eggs, and maybe throw in a serving of grass-fed liverwurst while you’re at it.

Invest In Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, thereby boosting energy production via efficient metabolism of fatty acids. In a 2002 study, 13 out of 24 boys with ADHD showed a significant improvement in attention problems and aggressive behavior at both home and school.

More recent research into the effect of ALC on ADD/ADHD has been mixed, with several studies concluding no significant positive effect, while another trial that examined the effect of ALC on 56 fragile X syndrome boys with ADHD found that there were notable improvements in social behavior and significant reductions in hyperactivity from ALC treatment.

Fill In Micronutrient Gaps 

Another approach might simply be to invest in a high quality multivitamin (and fish oil) that ticks off all the likely bases in one fell swoop.

Certain clinical micronutrient formulations have often shown impressive results in small trials, with this study, for example, finding a 30% decrease in ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of micronutrient supplementation in 70% of participants and a marked overall improvement in almost 80% of the participants. A follow-up from the same team with a larger number of subjects found similarly promising results. And these findings are nothing out of the ordinary, suggesting that micronutrients may be a good starting point for both children and adults who are in the process of exploring “alternative” means of treating their ADHD.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise is one are where there’s no shortage of research – the challenge is sorting out the facts from the almost-fiction. A 2013 study showed that a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved reading accuracy and processing in both children with and without ADHD compared to those who didn’t exercise. The researchers concluded that “single bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise may have positive implications for aspects of neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in children with ADHD.” Another trial found that attention deficit symptoms in ADHD children could be minimized through physical activity whether they were taking Ritalin or not.

Yoga, which straddles both the exercise and meditation realms, has been a bit of a mixed bag in the ADHD research arena. While some studies have found no measurable effects on ADHD at all, others have found yoga to provide a good complementary treatment for children with ADHD.

I venture the power of both exercise and meditation have a lot to offer kids and adults with ADHD. It would be great to see larger studies delving into the subject, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting on when both activities are known to enhance well-being anyway.

Other Alternative Therapies to Consider

Given more time today (or another post), we could explore the possibilities contained within other burgeoning alternative ADD and ADHD treatments, like neurofeedback strategies, acupuncture, vestibular stimulation…even massage. There’s a lot going on in the world of alternative therapies, and many of the findings are very promising indeed.

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to see more forays like this one into the world of comprehensive treatments—what finely tuned combinations of nutrition, lifestyle, supplements and, in appropriate situations, medications provide the most benefit for those suffering from ADD or ADHD (or at least the symptoms we’ve come to associate with these disorders).

And, as is so often the case, I think we’re called to examine the environment and expectations of modern living. Where can we simplify, naturalize our lives and the lives of our children? What’s possible, for the sake of our kids’ well-being, to change in our home life or educational choices? Sometimes big issues call for big questions—questions, not to mention answers, for which conventional wisdom isn’t likely to take the lead.

Thanks for reading everyone. I’m interested in your thoughts and questions—and certainly your experiences. What opinions and recommendations would you add? 

[cristinajourdanqp]

10 Alternative Therapies for ADD & ADHD

A few months back, I put together an article on alternative therapies for depression. Many readers  showed a lot of interest in some of the emerging non-drug treatments in that field, and, more importantly, many began to relay their own stories about how they overcame or successfully managed their depression through various strategies. That’s what I love the most about this community—sharing experience and expertise in the interest of broadening available solutions beyond what conventional thought tells us.

I’ve received frequent requests over the years to do the same for the convoluted world of ADD and ADHD treatment. There’s a lot to this picture and (if there’s interest) probably fodder for a follow-up post. For today I’ll delve into some of the lifestyle strategies and alternative therapies that offer the most promise.

I understand that ADD and ADHD treatment—and even diagnoses—are sensitive topics. Debates continue to rage within the medical, caregiver, and even Primal communities as to what actually constitutes the conditions, whether they’re simply modern constructs, and what the best forms of treatment are. Despite the increasing numbers of diagnoses, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the issue and even less people can agree on.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that between 3 and 10% of children and 1-6% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the stats imply, both ADD and ADHD are more prevalent in children but there’s a very strong possibility that the symptoms will continue into adulthood.

Under the conventional model of diagnosis, those difficulties typically manifest as “an inability to organize complex sequences of behavior, to persist in the face of distracting stimuli, and to respond appropriately to the consequences of past behavior.” Resulting academic impairments, social dysfunction and poor self-esteem can in more serious cases morph into alcohol and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, and antisocial behaviors as a person slides into adulthood (although other family, social and educational factors come into play here).

The difference between ADD and ADHD, in case you’re wondering, is the additional symptom of hyperactivity in the latter condition. In much of the literature, the focus is now almost exclusively geared towards ADHD as the more inclusive of the two disorders, and that’s what I’ll largely be focusing on too.

Clearly, through the black and white lenses of the conventional practitioner, there’s a lot to be said for prescribing a heady dose of Ritalin at the first signs of inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Doing so has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms in around 60% of patients. But there’s often no corresponding improvement in school performance, and the rather alarming fact that 40% of those taking side effect-laden stimulants like Ritalin still aren’t seeing any measurable improvement in their symptoms. What’s more, a daily dose of Ritalin, for example, acts in a similar way to cocaine in the brain, while other common ADHD drugs have in some studies been associated with earlier onset of bipolar disorder and growth suppression.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, Ritalin and associated stimulant prescriptions are rapidly on the rise, but  even in conventional circles many are beginning to question whether the symptoms that comprise the “disorder” might simply be an innate response to living conditions or even foods that we’re not well adapted to. Are we then prescribing potentially harmful drugs to our kids (and ourselves) when all we should be doing is eating better, revising our educational system, and making key lifestyle changes? 

The Possible Ancestral Function of ADD & ADHD

In 2008, a Northwestern University study suggested that ADHD may be an evolutionary adaptation suited to the hunter gather lifestyle that’s comprised most of humanity’s history. Researchers compared two tribal groups in Kenya—one which was still nomadic, and one who had settled into villages. Within both tribes, researchers located individuals exhibiting ADHD traits, finding that those within the nomadic tribe were better suited to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and in fact were thriving compared to their non-ADHD peers.

Those ADHD individuals in the settled tribe showed the inevitable difficulty in the classroom and in the more structured drudgery of everyday life in a village—a common element linking today’s ADHD children.

The results suggest that rather than ADHD being a “disorder,” it may be an adaptation giving the individual an advantage in certain types of learning and activities—namely those centered around nomadic subsistence. This raises the question of whether we should be approaching ADHD as a disorder in the first place, or as a variation of constitution that thrives on a different way of life—one which doesn’t force children to learn by sitting in hard chairs listening to the drone of a teacher’s voice (or even where adults are expected to sit still for 8 hours a day and stare at an artificially lit screen).

That’s a topic for discussion (and maybe further research), but it’s interesting food for thought in the meantime.

10 Alternative Therapies and Lifestyle Strategies for ADD & ADHD

Faced with the dilemma of potential misdiagnosis, conventional drug side effects, and a high rate of conventional treatment failure, I’m going to venture that it’s logical to seek out alternative ADHD therapies and basic lifestyle strategies that can either complement or, in some cases, replace those prescribed by the doctor. Let’s look at a few of the more popular or emerging recommendations. 

Avoid Food Colorings

This is arguably where the notion of dietary influence on ADD/ADHD first emerged. Back in the 70s, San Francisco-based allergist Ben Feingold developed an elimination diet that had thousands of parents claiming their children with ADHD showed marked improvement in their symptoms. The foundation of that diet? Elimination of food colorings and preservatives.

There was plenty of industry pushback at the time, but in recent years there’s been a resurgence of interest in artificial food colorings and other synthetic compounds in foods and the impact they might be have on ADD and ADHD symptoms. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that artificial food colors had significant negative effects on focus and concentration, therein promoting hyperactive behaviors in children and teens.

A spate of research linking artificial food colors and ADHD followed suit, culminating in a 2007 study in which researchers unequivocally placed hyperactive behavior firmly on the doorstep of four synthetic colors and a sodium benzoate preservative…regardless of whether the children eating or drinking them had actually been diagnosed with ADHD. 

While it’s hard to control everything kids eat, cutting food coloring and additives is a good first-line strategy—for anyone with ADD/ADHD or not. 

Ditch Junk Food

Stimulants like Ritalin work by temporarily restoring reward signaling in the brain. Children and adults with ADHD tend to exhibit haywire patterns in certain neurotransmitters, particularly in the case of dopamine—which just so happens to influence a person’s ability to make rational choices or delay gratification.

Reward signaling in the brain of someone with ADHD is often very similar to people prone to binge eating. Let’s be honest and admit that a diet rich in junk food is partly to blame for certain behaviors inherent in ADHD patients. The continual flood of dietary sugar, along with heady combinations of refined sodium and hydrogenated fats, is enough to invoke chaos in anyone’s reward system and general health. (This could be a post in an of itself.) Ditch the junk food, feed the body the micronutrients it requires, and at least some of the ADHD symptoms will improve.

Eliminate Other Potential Food Allergens

Seeing as we’ve got the elimination ball rolling, why not single out a few more likely culprits? In functional medicine circles, elimination diets have been used decades to manage symptoms of ADHD and other forms of neural dysfunction. In particular, these diets have focused on eliminating both gluten and casein to good effect.

A 2011 study published in The Lancet placed 50 ADHD children on a hypoallergenic diet of rice, turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, pears, and other pre-approved whole foods known for the non-allergic palatability. Close to two-thirds of the children experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms on the diet, with most of them regressing to former symptoms shortly after stopping the diet.

A 2013 Danish study involving 72 children with autism spectrum disorder, which can include many symptoms similar to those of ADHD, found that introducing a diet free from both gluten and casein produced significant results. Certainly, research linking celiac disease to ADHD-like symptoms goes a long way towards verifying this hunch.

Up Essential Fatty Acids

As the concept of nutritional ADHD therapy has taken hold, there’s been a particular focus on omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency. As most Primal folks know, omega-3s play a critical role in the structure and function of membranes enclosing brain cells, and are similarly important for regulating transmission of impulses between nerve cells.

If a developing brain isn’t receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary or supplementary sources, the likelihood of developing ADHD and other behavioral issues increases. In particular, a lack of the long-chain fatty acid DHA has repeatedly been linked to a higher risk of ADHD.

But it might not be as simple as eating a more omega 3-rich diet. Studies examining dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children note that kids with ADHD seem to have lower serum fatty acid content, regardless of how many omega-3s they get in their diet. It’s thought that this might be due to increased fatty acid oxidation in these children, suggesting a significant increase in omega-3 fatty acid consumption is needed to offset the jumped-up fatty acid metabolism.

The consensus? While the jury is still officially out on omega-3s and ADHD, high quality omega-3 supplementation from the likes of fermented cod liver oil is probably a good idea for most people with ADHD. Several studies recommend in the range of 300-600 mg/day of supplemental omega-3, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go over 1000 mg in those who really need that boost (just run it by your doctor first).

Increase B-Vitamin Intake

Supplementing with certain vitamins to fill dietary gaps may be a good strategy for some ADHD patients as they play a critical cofactor role in facilitating energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. B-vitamins are at the top of the chart in this respect, playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism along with supporting healthy myelin sheath maintenance.

Vitamin B6 in particular can help to boost low levels of serotonin in hyperactive kids and alleviate aggression, especially when combined with magnesium. And of course, more vitamin D, whether from the sun or supplementary sources, is also likely to improve ADHD symptoms in those who are lacking.

Experiment With Trace Minerals

As investigations continue into the links between diet and behavioral issues in both children and adults, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that ADHD patients are often deficient in zinc, iron and magnesium.

In children with ADHD, low serum zinc levels are associated with decreased concentrations of circulating fatty acids, which can lead to a negative feedback loop. To illustrate this point, researchers showed that supplementing with evening primrose oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, improved the behavior of ADHD kids in school, but that this positive effect was only apparent in those who were deficient in zinc.

Iron, as it happens, also plays a pivotal role in dopamine neurotransmission. In a 2004 study, 84% of children with ADHD tested were deficient in blood ferritin, compared to just 18% in health controls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, low serum ferritin levels were associated with more severe ADHD symptoms across the board. But supplementing with iron can be a fickle beast, and one which should be accompanied by regular blood measures with physician supervision.

Then there’s magnesium. I’ve already linked to a study that showed decent improvements from a combined approach of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and magnesium supplementation alone may provide almost as much efficacy in taking the H out of ADHD.

Consider Choline 

Choline is an essential micronutrient which plays an important role in brain development, liver function, muscular maintenance, nerve function, and plenty more besides. Suffice it to say that a deficiency in choline is not a good thing. In this study, 1H-MRS analysis indicated that children with poor memory had lower concentrations of choline-containing compounds, suggesting that increasing choline consumption may at least target the memory symptoms associated with ADHD.

The average Primal diet should already provide a decent dose of choline, but if in doubt don’t be afraid to offer a few more pastured eggs, and maybe throw in a serving of grass-fed liverwurst while you’re at it.

Invest In Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, thereby boosting energy production via efficient metabolism of fatty acids. In a 2002 study, 13 out of 24 boys with ADHD showed a significant improvement in attention problems and aggressive behavior at both home and school.

More recent research into the effect of ALC on ADD/ADHD has been mixed, with several studies concluding no significant positive effect, while another trial that examined the effect of ALC on 56 fragile X syndrome boys with ADHD found that there were notable improvements in social behavior and significant reductions in hyperactivity from ALC treatment.

Fill In Micronutrient Gaps 

Another approach might simply be to invest in a high quality multivitamin (and fish oil) that ticks off all the likely bases in one fell swoop.

Certain clinical micronutrient formulations have often shown impressive results in small trials, with this study, for example, finding a 30% decrease in ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of micronutrient supplementation in 70% of participants and a marked overall improvement in almost 80% of the participants. A follow-up from the same team with a larger number of subjects found similarly promising results. And these findings are nothing out of the ordinary, suggesting that micronutrients may be a good starting point for both children and adults who are in the process of exploring “alternative” means of treating their ADHD.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise is one are where there’s no shortage of research – the challenge is sorting out the facts from the almost-fiction. A 2013 study showed that a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved reading accuracy and processing in both children with and without ADHD compared to those who didn’t exercise. The researchers concluded that “single bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise may have positive implications for aspects of neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in children with ADHD.” Another trial found that attention deficit symptoms in ADHD children could be minimized through physical activity whether they were taking Ritalin or not.

Yoga, which straddles both the exercise and meditation realms, has been a bit of a mixed bag in the ADHD research arena. While some studies have found no measurable effects on ADHD at all, others have found yoga to provide a good complementary treatment for children with ADHD.

I venture the power of both exercise and meditation have a lot to offer kids and adults with ADHD. It would be great to see larger studies delving into the subject, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting on when both activities are known to enhance well-being anyway.

Other Alternative Therapies to Consider

Given more time today (or another post), we could explore the possibilities contained within other burgeoning alternative ADD and ADHD treatments, like neurofeedback strategies, acupuncture, vestibular stimulation…even massage. There’s a lot going on in the world of alternative therapies, and many of the findings are very promising indeed.

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to see more forays like this one into the world of comprehensive treatments—what finely tuned combinations of nutrition, lifestyle, supplements and, in appropriate situations, medications provide the most benefit for those suffering from ADD or ADHD (or at least the symptoms we’ve come to associate with these disorders).

And, as is so often the case, I think we’re called to examine the environment and expectations of modern living. Where can we simplify, naturalize our lives and the lives of our children? What’s possible, for the sake of our kids’ well-being, to change in our home life or educational choices? Sometimes big issues call for big questions—questions, not to mention answers, for which conventional wisdom isn’t likely to take the lead.

Thanks for reading everyone. I’m interested in your thoughts and questions—and certainly your experiences. What opinions and recommendations would you add? 

[cynthiamwashington]

10 Alternative Therapies for ADD & ADHD

A few months back, I put together an article on alternative therapies for depression. Many readers  showed a lot of interest in some of the emerging non-drug treatments in that field, and, more importantly, many began to relay their own stories about how they overcame or successfully managed their depression through various strategies. That’s what I love the most about this community—sharing experience and expertise in the interest of broadening available solutions beyond what conventional thought tells us.

I’ve received frequent requests over the years to do the same for the convoluted world of ADD and ADHD treatment. There’s a lot to this picture and (if there’s interest) probably fodder for a follow-up post. For today I’ll delve into some of the lifestyle strategies and alternative therapies that offer the most promise.

I understand that ADD and ADHD treatment—and even diagnoses—are sensitive topics. Debates continue to rage within the medical, caregiver, and even Primal communities as to what actually constitutes the conditions, whether they’re simply modern constructs, and what the best forms of treatment are. Despite the increasing numbers of diagnoses, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the issue and even less people can agree on.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that between 3 and 10% of children and 1-6% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the stats imply, both ADD and ADHD are more prevalent in children but there’s a very strong possibility that the symptoms will continue into adulthood.

Under the conventional model of diagnosis, those difficulties typically manifest as “an inability to organize complex sequences of behavior, to persist in the face of distracting stimuli, and to respond appropriately to the consequences of past behavior.” Resulting academic impairments, social dysfunction and poor self-esteem can in more serious cases morph into alcohol and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, and antisocial behaviors as a person slides into adulthood (although other family, social and educational factors come into play here).

The difference between ADD and ADHD, in case you’re wondering, is the additional symptom of hyperactivity in the latter condition. In much of the literature, the focus is now almost exclusively geared towards ADHD as the more inclusive of the two disorders, and that’s what I’ll largely be focusing on too.

Clearly, through the black and white lenses of the conventional practitioner, there’s a lot to be said for prescribing a heady dose of Ritalin at the first signs of inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Doing so has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms in around 60% of patients. But there’s often no corresponding improvement in school performance, and the rather alarming fact that 40% of those taking side effect-laden stimulants like Ritalin still aren’t seeing any measurable improvement in their symptoms. What’s more, a daily dose of Ritalin, for example, acts in a similar way to cocaine in the brain, while other common ADHD drugs have in some studies been associated with earlier onset of bipolar disorder and growth suppression.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, Ritalin and associated stimulant prescriptions are rapidly on the rise, but  even in conventional circles many are beginning to question whether the symptoms that comprise the “disorder” might simply be an innate response to living conditions or even foods that we’re not well adapted to. Are we then prescribing potentially harmful drugs to our kids (and ourselves) when all we should be doing is eating better, revising our educational system, and making key lifestyle changes? 

The Possible Ancestral Function of ADD & ADHD

In 2008, a Northwestern University study suggested that ADHD may be an evolutionary adaptation suited to the hunter gather lifestyle that’s comprised most of humanity’s history. Researchers compared two tribal groups in Kenya—one which was still nomadic, and one who had settled into villages. Within both tribes, researchers located individuals exhibiting ADHD traits, finding that those within the nomadic tribe were better suited to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and in fact were thriving compared to their non-ADHD peers.

Those ADHD individuals in the settled tribe showed the inevitable difficulty in the classroom and in the more structured drudgery of everyday life in a village—a common element linking today’s ADHD children.

The results suggest that rather than ADHD being a “disorder,” it may be an adaptation giving the individual an advantage in certain types of learning and activities—namely those centered around nomadic subsistence. This raises the question of whether we should be approaching ADHD as a disorder in the first place, or as a variation of constitution that thrives on a different way of life—one which doesn’t force children to learn by sitting in hard chairs listening to the drone of a teacher’s voice (or even where adults are expected to sit still for 8 hours a day and stare at an artificially lit screen).

That’s a topic for discussion (and maybe further research), but it’s interesting food for thought in the meantime.

10 Alternative Therapies and Lifestyle Strategies for ADD & ADHD

Faced with the dilemma of potential misdiagnosis, conventional drug side effects, and a high rate of conventional treatment failure, I’m going to venture that it’s logical to seek out alternative ADHD therapies and basic lifestyle strategies that can either complement or, in some cases, replace those prescribed by the doctor. Let’s look at a few of the more popular or emerging recommendations. 

Avoid Food Colorings

This is arguably where the notion of dietary influence on ADD/ADHD first emerged. Back in the 70s, San Francisco-based allergist Ben Feingold developed an elimination diet that had thousands of parents claiming their children with ADHD showed marked improvement in their symptoms. The foundation of that diet? Elimination of food colorings and preservatives.

There was plenty of industry pushback at the time, but in recent years there’s been a resurgence of interest in artificial food colorings and other synthetic compounds in foods and the impact they might be have on ADD and ADHD symptoms. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that artificial food colors had significant negative effects on focus and concentration, therein promoting hyperactive behaviors in children and teens.

A spate of research linking artificial food colors and ADHD followed suit, culminating in a 2007 study in which researchers unequivocally placed hyperactive behavior firmly on the doorstep of four synthetic colors and a sodium benzoate preservative…regardless of whether the children eating or drinking them had actually been diagnosed with ADHD. 

While it’s hard to control everything kids eat, cutting food coloring and additives is a good first-line strategy—for anyone with ADD/ADHD or not. 

Ditch Junk Food

Stimulants like Ritalin work by temporarily restoring reward signaling in the brain. Children and adults with ADHD tend to exhibit haywire patterns in certain neurotransmitters, particularly in the case of dopamine—which just so happens to influence a person’s ability to make rational choices or delay gratification.

Reward signaling in the brain of someone with ADHD is often very similar to people prone to binge eating. Let’s be honest and admit that a diet rich in junk food is partly to blame for certain behaviors inherent in ADHD patients. The continual flood of dietary sugar, along with heady combinations of refined sodium and hydrogenated fats, is enough to invoke chaos in anyone’s reward system and general health. (This could be a post in an of itself.) Ditch the junk food, feed the body the micronutrients it requires, and at least some of the ADHD symptoms will improve.

Eliminate Other Potential Food Allergens

Seeing as we’ve got the elimination ball rolling, why not single out a few more likely culprits? In functional medicine circles, elimination diets have been used decades to manage symptoms of ADHD and other forms of neural dysfunction. In particular, these diets have focused on eliminating both gluten and casein to good effect.

A 2011 study published in The Lancet placed 50 ADHD children on a hypoallergenic diet of rice, turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, pears, and other pre-approved whole foods known for the non-allergic palatability. Close to two-thirds of the children experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms on the diet, with most of them regressing to former symptoms shortly after stopping the diet.

A 2013 Danish study involving 72 children with autism spectrum disorder, which can include many symptoms similar to those of ADHD, found that introducing a diet free from both gluten and casein produced significant results. Certainly, research linking celiac disease to ADHD-like symptoms goes a long way towards verifying this hunch.

Up Essential Fatty Acids

As the concept of nutritional ADHD therapy has taken hold, there’s been a particular focus on omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency. As most Primal folks know, omega-3s play a critical role in the structure and function of membranes enclosing brain cells, and are similarly important for regulating transmission of impulses between nerve cells.

If a developing brain isn’t receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary or supplementary sources, the likelihood of developing ADHD and other behavioral issues increases. In particular, a lack of the long-chain fatty acid DHA has repeatedly been linked to a higher risk of ADHD.

But it might not be as simple as eating a more omega 3-rich diet. Studies examining dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children note that kids with ADHD seem to have lower serum fatty acid content, regardless of how many omega-3s they get in their diet. It’s thought that this might be due to increased fatty acid oxidation in these children, suggesting a significant increase in omega-3 fatty acid consumption is needed to offset the jumped-up fatty acid metabolism.

The consensus? While the jury is still officially out on omega-3s and ADHD, high quality omega-3 supplementation from the likes of fermented cod liver oil is probably a good idea for most people with ADHD. Several studies recommend in the range of 300-600 mg/day of supplemental omega-3, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go over 1000 mg in those who really need that boost (just run it by your doctor first).

Increase B-Vitamin Intake

Supplementing with certain vitamins to fill dietary gaps may be a good strategy for some ADHD patients as they play a critical cofactor role in facilitating energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. B-vitamins are at the top of the chart in this respect, playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism along with supporting healthy myelin sheath maintenance.

Vitamin B6 in particular can help to boost low levels of serotonin in hyperactive kids and alleviate aggression, especially when combined with magnesium. And of course, more vitamin D, whether from the sun or supplementary sources, is also likely to improve ADHD symptoms in those who are lacking.

Experiment With Trace Minerals

As investigations continue into the links between diet and behavioral issues in both children and adults, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that ADHD patients are often deficient in zinc, iron and magnesium.

In children with ADHD, low serum zinc levels are associated with decreased concentrations of circulating fatty acids, which can lead to a negative feedback loop. To illustrate this point, researchers showed that supplementing with evening primrose oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, improved the behavior of ADHD kids in school, but that this positive effect was only apparent in those who were deficient in zinc.

Iron, as it happens, also plays a pivotal role in dopamine neurotransmission. In a 2004 study, 84% of children with ADHD tested were deficient in blood ferritin, compared to just 18% in health controls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, low serum ferritin levels were associated with more severe ADHD symptoms across the board. But supplementing with iron can be a fickle beast, and one which should be accompanied by regular blood measures with physician supervision.

Then there’s magnesium. I’ve already linked to a study that showed decent improvements from a combined approach of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and magnesium supplementation alone may provide almost as much efficacy in taking the H out of ADHD.

Consider Choline 

Choline is an essential micronutrient which plays an important role in brain development, liver function, muscular maintenance, nerve function, and plenty more besides. Suffice it to say that a deficiency in choline is not a good thing. In this study, 1H-MRS analysis indicated that children with poor memory had lower concentrations of choline-containing compounds, suggesting that increasing choline consumption may at least target the memory symptoms associated with ADHD.

The average Primal diet should already provide a decent dose of choline, but if in doubt don’t be afraid to offer a few more pastured eggs, and maybe throw in a serving of grass-fed liverwurst while you’re at it.

Invest In Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, thereby boosting energy production via efficient metabolism of fatty acids. In a 2002 study, 13 out of 24 boys with ADHD showed a significant improvement in attention problems and aggressive behavior at both home and school.

More recent research into the effect of ALC on ADD/ADHD has been mixed, with several studies concluding no significant positive effect, while another trial that examined the effect of ALC on 56 fragile X syndrome boys with ADHD found that there were notable improvements in social behavior and significant reductions in hyperactivity from ALC treatment.

Fill In Micronutrient Gaps 

Another approach might simply be to invest in a high quality multivitamin (and fish oil) that ticks off all the likely bases in one fell swoop.

Certain clinical micronutrient formulations have often shown impressive results in small trials, with this study, for example, finding a 30% decrease in ADHD symptoms after 8 weeks of micronutrient supplementation in 70% of participants and a marked overall improvement in almost 80% of the participants. A follow-up from the same team with a larger number of subjects found similarly promising results. And these findings are nothing out of the ordinary, suggesting that micronutrients may be a good starting point for both children and adults who are in the process of exploring “alternative” means of treating their ADHD.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise is one are where there’s no shortage of research – the challenge is sorting out the facts from the almost-fiction. A 2013 study showed that a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved reading accuracy and processing in both children with and without ADHD compared to those who didn’t exercise. The researchers concluded that “single bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise may have positive implications for aspects of neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in children with ADHD.” Another trial found that attention deficit symptoms in ADHD children could be minimized through physical activity whether they were taking Ritalin or not.

Yoga, which straddles both the exercise and meditation realms, has been a bit of a mixed bag in the ADHD research arena. While some studies have found no measurable effects on ADHD at all, others have found yoga to provide a good complementary treatment for children with ADHD.

I venture the power of both exercise and meditation have a lot to offer kids and adults with ADHD. It would be great to see larger studies delving into the subject, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting on when both activities are known to enhance well-being anyway.

Other Alternative Therapies to Consider

Given more time today (or another post), we could explore the possibilities contained within other burgeoning alternative ADD and ADHD treatments, like neurofeedback strategies, acupuncture, vestibular stimulation…even massage. There’s a lot going on in the world of alternative therapies, and many of the findings are very promising indeed.

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to see more forays like this one into the world of comprehensive treatments—what finely tuned combinations of nutrition, lifestyle, supplements and, in appropriate situations, medications provide the most benefit for those suffering from ADD or ADHD (or at least the symptoms we’ve come to associate with these disorders).

And, as is so often the case, I think we’re called to examine the environment and expectations of modern living. Where can we simplify, naturalize our lives and the lives of our children? What’s possible, for the sake of our kids’ well-being, to change in our home life or educational choices? Sometimes big issues call for big questions—questions, not to mention answers, for which conventional wisdom isn’t likely to take the lead.

Thanks for reading everyone. I’m interested in your thoughts and questions—and certainly your experiences. What opinions and recommendations would you add? 

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