ADHD In Teens and Focus Factor

Unfortunately, there aren't any alternative treatments that work for ADHD. I think every parent of a child with ADHD wishes there was a magic vitamin or diet that would solve it all, but research has proven that's just not the case with this medical condition. You'll end up wasting time and money. The only thing that has shown some promise is omega-3s and even then, people use those with medication and it takes a long time to see any results. A lot of companies are out there banking on parental fears and misinformation about the regulated medications and are profiting on "alternatives" that just don't work.

I urge you to read ADDitude magazine and join CHADD to learn more about ADHD. This is a genetic brain disorder and the reason the government-regulated medications work is that they target the area of the brain that isn't communicating correctly. Please talk over your concerns about medication with the psychiatrist who made the diagnosis. We mentioned every one of our concerns to our son's psychiatrist and got the reassurances we needed to give medication a try. We are so thrilled we did because it transformed his life completely. It connected the dots in his brain and allowed him to function like a regular child. One hundred percent positive. I can't speak highly enough about what medication has done for our son. And we had to make the leap of faith trying meds when he was four, so we were extra scared.

Go to the reliable sources of information about ADHD and be extremely cautious about being scammed with alternatives.

I also was VERY concerned at putting my 12yr old daughter on meds. After talking with many experts I decided to give it a try. She started before school and the difference is huge. She had very poor grades, a low self esteem and was constantly frusterated last year. Now she has straight A's and she seems so much more calm and feels better about herself. Before she thought she was stupid and thats why she couldn't do anything right. (her words not mine) and now she knows that the ADHD was what was making school hard and is able to show how smart we all knew she was all along. I want her to succeed and this seems to be helping her.
My thought is that ADHD is a disorder just like diabetes, and I wouldn't deprive her of the insulin she needs to help her.
My daughter is on a small dose and has no side effects. I do know that sometimes you have to try a few before you find the right fix for your child.

The UC Berkeley Wellness Letter doesn't recommend Focus Factor:

http://www.wellnessletter.com/html/ds/dsFocusFactor.php

Some people don't like CHADD becasue its funded by the drug companies. Read their info with that in mind.

Parents Helping Parents in San Jose www.php.com has a ADHD support group -- next meeting is TONIGHT!

Tue, Oct 12, 2010: 6:10 pm to 7:15 pm

Our monthly Learning Disabilities/Attention Deficit Disorder Parent Support Group meets from 6:10 - 7:15 pm. September through May, just preceding our LD/ADD Lecture Series that begins at 7:30. It provides an open forum for parents to share their concerns, insights and experiences. Volunteer facilitators lead the group sessions and try to give everyone an opportunity to speak briefly about their most pressing issue as well as to learn of available resources they may wish to explore.

Please be on time since it is disruptive to the group when people are late.

Date: Tue, Oct 12, 2010: 6:10 pm to 7:15 pm
Location: Location(s)
Parents Helping Parents
1400 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, CA, 95126
United States
Fee: There is no fee for the Parent Support Group that meets at 6:10 pm
Contact Name: Melissa King x136
Contact Phone: ###-###-####
Contact Email: ____@____.com

Good Luck!

Have you considered a gluten free diet? My daughter has Aspbergers syndrome (high functioning autism) and her charictaristics are very similar to add/adhd. I do not medicate her but follow a gluten free/casin free diet - resulting in a completely different kid - unbelievable. I have a friend who is adhd and stopped taking her meds while trying to get pregnant and couldn't believe the difference the diet made for her! If you are interested in more information, please let me know.

You can address this challenge naturally. I work with children's wellness and see dramatic changes in these children when they get their bodies balanced.

I am putting together a bone health and wellness seminar on Oct 30 in Alameda at the Aroma restaurant from 12-2 if you want to come look me up and I will introduce you to one of the doctors that works with children and get some information to show you studies on children that had a huge improvement on their behavior through a wellness home approach.

If you want more info let me know and I will get some to you.

Good luck.

N. Marie

S., when our son was dealing with this as a oung man we were taught to make many adjustments as a family and I am hee to saythat it has all paid off. We learned that he needed a solid protein at the start of the day and only light meal at night -- so I learned to cook from scratch meals like mac and cheese never used a box but made it wholesome and served it at breakfast, same with pot roast and lasagana-- then oatmeal or such at night. After almost a year of this it made all the differance. His body was cleaned out, his bodywas in balance and we learned to all be healthier. He was also blessed with teachers that I hand picked that had reputations for being creative and thinking outside the box as well as having firm boundries and that made all the differance all the way through school. Pleae note we never ever used medications just proper whole foods, stimulation so no boardom and patience with out end.

Updated

S., when our son was dealing with this as a oung man we were taught to make many adjustments as a family and I am hee to saythat it has all paid off. We learned that he needed a solid protein at the start of the day and only light meal at night -- so I learned to cook from scratch meals like mac and cheese never used a box but made it wholesome and served it at breakfast, same with pot roast and lasagana-- then oatmeal or such at night. After almost a year of this it made all the differance. His body was cleaned out, his bodywas in balance and we learned to all be healthier. He was also blessed with teachers that I hand picked that had reputations for being creative and thinking outside the box as well as having firm boundries and that made all the differance all the way through school. Pleae note we never ever used medications just proper whole foods, stimulation so no boardom and patience with out end.