What can you do with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

So the first and obvious way to approach ADHD diagnosis may well be to look at some of the approaches behind dietary sensitivity or exercise and lifestyle perhaps? This is the preferred path taken by 80% of patients who have received a diagnosis of ADHD. 80% of people whose preferred approach to dealing with this condition is via natural means and yet only 10% of these people actually mention the fact to their medical practitioner that they are doing so. What could be the reasons that would prevent someone working with their professional in this way? It doesn?t just relate to adults with the condition either. 50% of parents with children having an ADHD diagnosis are also not mentioning that they are taking natural products as their preferred approach, according to a recent article in psychiatric times online.

A lot of good ideas about ADHD are shouted down by hysterical outpourings. For example, the recent outpouring of righteous indignation at the point of view expressed by leading professionals like Australia's psychologist, Prof Spillane, who is on record as stating ADHD is a myth. What Professor Spillane was saying , sadly got lost in a volcanic eruption from parents , struggling to cope with their child?s behavioural challenges. Challenges that impact greatly on family life and the inability to function effectively in a job whilst constantly facing the issues around school exclusions. With families in behavioural crisis at one end of the scale at the other end we have the multi billion pound pharmaceutical industry in servicing the 20 million diagnoses of this condition worldwide.

When we actually open Pandora's box to LISTEN to what is being said here some of the contentious issues become more obvious . The definition of the word MYTH takes on paramount importance. Why? Because it relates to the whole concept of ADHD diagnosis. There is no medical test which diagnoses ADHD. It is in this respect that the definition of an Illness is very important. No scientific medically objective test can be administered, to prove ADHD.

So really ADHD is not an illness as such. Illnesses and conditions are defined as such by medical tests and the results of these tests are found in all the patients who are exhibiting these symptoms. Like low insulin levels in diabetic patients, for example. This is not the case with ADHD as it is different for everyone that has it and it is defined by subjective observations of certain behaviours over a period of time, irrespective of what factors may be contributing to these behaviours.

A lot of adults claiming to have the condition will swear they were tested medically to prove they have ADHD. Some of whom may be so desperate as to clutch hold of a label vindicating their own socially unacceptable behaviours often masquerading as ADHD. In fact these symptoms usually relate to other mental health disorders.

There are so many other conditions that mimic ADHD symptoms that good medical practitioners will often undertake a barrage of medical tests which can eliminate these other conditions. Where the 1 in 3 children who have a misdiagnosis of ADHD manage to slip through the net, is because these tests only focus on the physical and not other holistic issues that may be playing out in the child's life. Issues which relate to their emotional and mental state, life experiences and interpersonal relationships. So often these are picked up in the holistic practice which underpins alternative and natural approaches to ADHD or Attention deficit Hyperactive disorder.

It may be the case that parents are discouraged from mentioning their primary alternative / complementary treatment to the professionals working with their child due to the level of pressure and criticism that can be exerted on them. For instance I have known cases where children have been refused into certain schools unless they are medicated. ADHD certainly causes controversy. How is this affecting our kids?