Skyler Reese English 101 Dr.

Greer

How to live with ADHD medication free Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects millions of children and adults every day. (cdc.gov) Experts believe an imbalance of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that transmit nerve impulses may be a factor in the development of ADHD symptoms.(wedmd.com) There is no specific cause or definitive reason behind the development of ADHD. According to (cdc.gov) there are risk factors for ADHD such as genetic predisposition, brain injury, environmental exposures (such as lead and other toxins), alcohol, tobacco and drug use during pregnancy, premature delivery and low birth weight, but these do not guarantee that a child will develop ADHD. Research says ADHD is not caused by poor diet, watching television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos, but all of these things can exacerbate the symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD vary widely and not every person will exhibit every symptom, and some symptoms may be more severe than others. Symptoms can include but are not limited to the inability to focus on tasks, excessive energy or hyperactivity, difficulty getting along with others or working in groups, impulse control issues, talking too much, making noises or interrupting others, difficulty following directions, not completing tasks or forgetting what to do. Since there is not a definitive test for ADHD, doctors must rule out other causes first. These symptoms can also mimic other disorders such as anxiety, depression, and some learning disorders. A thorough medical exam can rule out other causes and narrow down the possible problem. There are many people who disagree with the diagnoses of ADHD and believe that every child exhibits these

symptoms as a normal part of development. ADHD has been said to be an excuse for children to misbehave, for parents to not discipline their children and for educators who cannot deal with high strung, active children. Children are active, forgetful and impulsive, but when these behaviors become excessive and disruptive in all aspects of life, it is no longer normal and must be treated. Millions of people choose to medicate this disorder and depend on that medication as a solution. They do not change their lifestyle or seek other alternative methods to cope with the disorder. I will explain what living with ADHD is like, how it can be done medication free and why it is essential to utilize lifestyle changes, behavior modification, and therapy instead of prescription drug therapy. A child with ADHD often times needs a little extra attention and guidance. Children with ADHD are highly intelligent even though their grades may not show it. Their inability to focus is seen as disobedience. Parents, Teachers, other adults or children who interact with this child get frustrated very fast because the child does not seem to listen or follow direction. The reality is that an ADHD child does not function the same as a non ADHD child so they require more attention. Something that tends to be overlooked is how the child with ADHD feels. She/he does not realize their brain functions different from anyone else. Most of the time, the child does not intend to misbehave but they are incapable of controlling all of their behavior both because of normal child development and ADHD exacerbates impulsive behavior. Abuse occurs more in homes with special needs children because caregivers are not taught how to guide and support ADHD behavior. Adolescents and teens with ADHD are generally seen as rebellious delinquents, and uncontrollable. While teens have the capability to reason and know right from wrong, they still do not have the impulse control. ADHD teens still have trouble focusing and finishing tasks such

as chores and homework which make them appear to be defiant and irresponsible. ADHD in teens is usually overlooked because of the generalization of normal adolescent behaviors such as defiance, disobedience, being argumentative, lying, cheating and so forth. While these behaviors are common amongst adolescents, it is exacerbated in those with ADHD by ways of drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration, violence, and other extreme risky behaviors. If treated early and appropriately these teens can learn to control their behavior with proper involvement from caregivers and professionals. Most adults with ADHD do not know they have it. ADHD is believed to be a condition that is outgrown as a person matures which is untrue. Most adults with ADHD have learned to cope with the disorder and thus become normal functioning members of society. Adults with ADHD who were not properly guided as children and teens have a higher risk of drug and alcohol addiction, trouble with law enforcement resulting in periods of incarceration, and domestic abuse. These adults usually did not graduate high school, possibly received a GED, and will most likely not continue on to get a college education. Biederman et al.'s (1993) retrospective study found that adults with ADHD were more likely to be divorced or separated and were of a lower socioeconomic status than adults without ADHD. Adults with ADHD had higher rates of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety disorders, and major depression. Educating parents about ADHD and effective management strategies is essential to success of living with ADHD without medication (AACAP, 1997). Caregivers need training in how to manage the difficult behaviors of children with ADHD to reduce the negative interactions between caregiver and child (Brown, spring 2000). Seeking family and individual therapy is an important tool for successful management. Therapists can help families recognize a childs

strengths and weaknesses to better guide and redirect negative behaviors as well as promoting positive behavior. How a family interacts socially impacts an ADHD childs ability to express themselves emotionally. If a child does not feel comfortable expressing their emotion, they may act out and create further disruption in the family dynamics. Providing information to children who have ADHD is also an important part of the intervention process (AACAP, 1997). Levine (1990, 1993a, 1993b) has developed novel materials to help children with all types of learning disorders better understand their disorder and how they can take charge of improving their lives. Counselors can use these materials to help children with ADHD recognize that all persons have strengths and limitations. Children can develop an understanding of how attention, memory, and learning processes work and learn effective ways to enhance their learning and academic performance. Children are encouraged to identify their strengths and use them to compensate for those areas in which they have difficulty. Researchers agree early intervention is crucial to prevent academic underachievement and negative effects on the lives of children, adolescents, and adults affected by ADHD (Brown, spring 2000). Younger children can identify with strategies such as time limits for chores and homework as well as charts for behavior and schedules. They need specific short instructions to keep them focused and productive. ADHD people are easily overwhelmed by large projects or detailed direction. By keeping lists and short goals, they can manage deadlines more effectively. People with ADHD need routine and structure in their environment to help them maintain positive normal lives. Parents need to be heavily involved with their ADHD child to continue their progress into adulthood. Furthermore using and adapting these strategies, children have more control over their life, parents can interact in a positive encouraging manner and other caregivers can encourage the childs continued progress.

Medicating for ADHD has been widely accepted as a treatment for this condition. Over the years, the US Food and Drug Administration or FDA has allowed the use of drug therapy on children with ADHD by utilizing previously approved medications that were created for other conditions and thought to be useful for ADHD. These medications were approved for adult use and doctors could prescribe these medications for children by notifying the parent that they could be useful in treating ADHD. Since there was no one specific test for diagnosing ADHD, the medications used could not guarantee good results and could have negative side effects. Stimulant treatment for children with ADHD has not been without controversy. The use of stimulants has steadily increased from 1960 until the present time (Safer, 1997), leading some to question whether stimulants are being overprescribed. The decision to prescribe stimulant medication is often made unsystematically, which can lead to an inaccurate diagnosis of ADHD and an erroneous decision to medicate the child (Hoza & Pelham, 1993). Not all children with ADHD need to take medication and the decision to use it depends on the severity of symptoms; the coping abilities of the child, the parent involvement, and the schools ability to provide services to the child; and the availability and success of other interventions such as therapy and lifestyle changes (Rappoport & Castellanos, 1996) (Brown, spring 2000). Side effects of ADHD medication can vary widely from mild to severe including but not limited to loss of appetite, insomnia or sleep disorders, weight loss, anxiety, mood swings, psychotic episodes, facial or body ticks, abdominal pain, headache, dry mouth, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, irritability, suicidal thoughts or tendencies, heart problems, live damage, allergic reaction, Worsening Symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome, High Blood Pressure, Heart Attack, Abnormal Heart Rhythm, Stroke, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Hallucinations, Seizures, Hair loss, Numbness and Tingling and hyperhidrosis. Chronic use of

some medications may lead to dependency or abuse. Severe depression may occur upon discontinuation with some medications (psychcentral.com, rxlist.com, straterra.com, webmd.com). While some of these side effects range from common to rare, it is impossible to know which ones will affect which person and to what degree. Many times if side effects are bothersome, but common a doctor will prescribe another medication to help with the side effect which can result in a person being on several medications with multiple side effects. Discontinuation of a medication will typically end the side effect but some side effects are long term even after the medication is stopped. This seems unnecessary if other alternatives are available that do not pose health risks. Having a child with ADHD or being an adult with ADHD can be very challenging but manageable. As parents and caregivers, we should be promoting individuality and encouraging whatever it takes for children to be successful members of society. Making the decision to live with ADHD medication free is a lifestyle change. It requires time, patience, creativity and outside resources. Taking medication is not a cure and can be damaging but turning your weaknesses into strengths is very rewarding and lasts a lifetime.

Citations
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/ http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd http://www.psychcentral.com/lib/side-effects-of-adhd-medications/ http://www.rxlist.com/concerta-side-effects-drug-center.htm http://www.straterra.com/pages/side-effects-child-adhd-medicine http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug/-63163-adderall Journal of Counseling and development (winter 2002): 3-10 Strategies for counselors working with high school students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Journal of Counseling and development (spring 2000): 195-203 Diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Journal of Employment Counseling (june 1998): 79-95 Employment counseling for adults with ADHD: Issues without answers