My Son has ADHD and I dont want to put him on meds..?

Question

I'm looking for something better than the Dr.Meds I want something more natural does any one know of anything that helps calm the body of a 12 yr old boy that has never been in control..

Answer 1

I never liked the traditional medications either, until two years ago when they came out with a new one called strattera. I started taking it and am absolutely in awe of what it has done for me. The best thing about it is that it is not speed based, it treats the disorder in different ways. This could be an alternative. But, please, look into it. I often wonder how my life could have been improved if I had recieved the correct treatment, and my parents had not seen fit to try other options instead. Maybe I would have done better in school. Maybe I would be a more sociable person. Maybe life would be better. Who knows. All I am saying is, before swearing to not use medication, explore all the options.

Answer 2

Do the meds control his ADHD? I was a teacher. I can tell you that if you let his condition go uncontrolled you are hurting him for the entire rest of his life.

I am not a fan of meds, but I have lupus and without meds would have died. Without meds I would be in constant pain. All meds have side effects. The issue is seeing what the tradeoffs are.

Additionally, get any one of the books on diet and ADHD. Red dye in foods has been known to worsen the problem, as have overly refined foods and sugar. A healthy diet that is low in additives and high in foods as close as possible to their natural state should be very helpful.

At 12 years old you have the issue of his behavior also being ingrained over all these years. You will probably need to take a very holisitic approach: modifying the diet, using meds as necessary, and working with a behavioral specialist to break the patterns that have become established. You will also need to learn new ways of relationg to your son especially when he is having difficulty.

Answer 3

if you can find something let me know In my experience 4 kids who had it -some not diagnosed til adulthood, I tried natural methods but it wasn't enough.Precious time was lost. School performance went down and one child sufferred severe lifelong problems due to not getting the diagnosis and treatment in time. Impulsive behaviour can lead to lifethreatening decsions by the time the child is a teen so get it managed before that! Meds can be PART of the treatment, not the whole thing. You need to have the holistic approach saying no to all medications may be like telling a diabetic"just change your diet and exercise" OK that may be part of the treatment, but denying the insulin will be harmful. Perhaps after it is under control at some point the meds can be stopped, but at first you may need them.It may take time to find the right one,right dose so dont tarry.You will need persistence.
Untreated ADD orADHD can lead to more problems like drug abuse and depression and failure in school. READ some books like "driven to distraction" Dont get an extreme view to decide, get a variety of views and doctors. Dont go to a website, ask the doctor to get an referral to a specialist in the field of ADHD.
I agree that TV shos can be a real detriment and violent video games aswell. That said, I had NO TV working in the house for several years and the behaviour problems persisted until medical treatment started. Consistent discpline is needed but there is a limit to what that can do as well.

Answer 4

My son has ADHD and I get the same reactions you do, and the one thing I can tell you is, if the medicine is helping your son focuse in school. Then your doing hte right thing, just tell everyone that you are his mother and you know what is best. You want to see him do well in school. My son knows he needs his medicine and when other kids are uncontrollable my sone will make the comment he needs some of my medicine. They are good kids they just need some medicine to keep them on the right track in school. My son is 7 and has been on the meds for 1 1/2. He does great in school now A honor roll.

Answer 5

My son has adhd and for a long time I fought against the meds. Then the day came when I could no longer control him. I gave in...put him on the meds and he turned into a different person. He could concentrate on school work, get along with his brothers and classmates and went on to grow into a productive member of society. He's 23 now and he tells me all the time "Thanks Mom, for giving me the chance to have a normal life."

Answer 6

You may want to find out if he has any food allergies. You may also want to find a good liquid mineral AND high quality fish oils to give him. You may also want to make sure that he does not have sleep apnea. If a child is not getting enough rest it can make them hyper, forgetful (all of the ADHD symptoms). Also make sure that you talk to him. Kids that are stressed can act out. Kids that are depressed can act out. Kids that spend 4 hours per day killing the undead and aliens can act out. Kids that watch TV and or play video games right before bed may not sleep well and be tired the next day and then have ADHD symptoms.
Good luck. I hope the best for both of you.

Answer 7

My partner has ADHD and he has never been on medication. His IQ is tested at 175 but he has never been interested in school. I'm not sure what he did but his mom took him to a specialist is the seventies who taught him methods of coping with ADHD symptoms. Unfortunately he was little and doesn't remember what the techniques were but he does state they really helped. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.....good luck!

My point with mentioning my partners IQ is that many children with ADHD are very intelligent but seem to lack to ability to focus.

Answer 8

i don't always take my meds either,sometimes i try to "deal" without them,but i don't know how long i can do without! i take vitamins from the healthfood store alot of B's&wellness stuff,it does'nt help as well as the meds. but if i took them like i'm supposed to i'd stay a walking zombie! i think at some point you'll have to give him his medicine or he'll "lose it". ask a homeopathic doctor for other options.just make sure they have the right credentials.


GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU!

from an ADHD,BI-POLAR&SEVERE VERTIGO SUFFERER!

Answer 9

warm milk? i always though that ADHD was a catch all term when a doctor was too lazy to sit with a kid and ask the real questions. Kids that act out may be just pushing to see how far they can push you. Stick to your policies. For example; no television if you son gets a D in school. BE CONSISTENT. no tv means no tv. It is the inconsistencies that cause a child to act out. The child wants boundaries.

Answer 10

You're a very smart lady, although some kids do need it, it is way over prescribed. Talk to your doctor or better yet other parents who are going through it, they can help you better. Good luck