ADHD Tip - ADHD As A Medical Diagnosis And ADHD As A Mental Health Diagnosis

ADHD in it's most traditional existence is thought to be genetic and biologically based. Most research and common beliefs suggest that ADHD results from difficulties in specific chemical processes in the brain.

And yet despite the research, and major theories in psychology and medicine, there seems to be no cure for ADHD. In fact, the most common method of treatment, medication does not even alleviate all symptoms or behaviors observed in children with ADHD.

No medical cure...

At the same time, it is widely held in popular belief that ADHD is heavily a behavioral disorder that falls under the category of mental health and mental illness or disorder.

In the mental health community, ADHD is largely treated also by medication, but is typically treated or suggested to be treated by some sort of psychotherapy, or one-on-one individual treatment with a psychologist, therapist, social worker, or counselor.

Medical versus mental health

In the simplest form, a medical illness is typically treated systematically by a "proven" treatment course that has been tested, researched, and perfected over many years.

Consider a broken leg:

You can feel the pain.


You might see a deformity.


Doctors can view the break on an x-ray.

While I am no medical doctor, I believe we can all agree that a broken leg is typically treated by being placed in a cast. The cast provides protection to the leg, and allows the body to heal.

In most cases, once the break has healed, the cast comes off, and the medical condition has been successfully treated.

Now take ADHD:

Biological or behavioral, ADHD is both a medical condition and mental health illness. Deeply rooted in the brain, symptoms of ADHD can manifest behaviorally through difficulties in chemical processes. As such, children can display restlessness, inattention, hyperactivity, "acting out," and many other types of behaviors.

The only problem:

ADHD does not have a simple cure like the broken leg discussed above.

We cannot see ADHD symptoms as clearly as we can view a broken leg. Although cat scans can show different areas of the brain, there are still questions to be raised about the many different diagnostic criteria, as well as the many different presentations of ADHD.

Medically, we treat ADHD with medication, and in many cases, medication is not enough. Symptoms persist, and we hope that the medication will eventually stabilize the child's behavior and remove the major symptoms.

Unfortunately, with any condition or illness that is largely rooted in our brains, or in mental health, there is no one cure to follow.

First off, research has shown that there is no one particular type of talk therapy that works better than the other.

This is a fact.

Not to mention, ADHD and the related symptoms that follow, typically appear differently and to varying degrees child by child. The issue is further complicated as we know that children develop differently than their peers.

Age, maturity, sibling order, and many other factors influence how a child develops.

Should it then surprise that ADHD exists somewhere on the spectrum between medical diagnosis and mental health diagnosis?

Even if we can confidently diagnose ADHD, treating it with medication is not a guaranteed win. Successful treatment of ADHD typically involves some combination of medication and talk therapy.

But, I am going to tell you that ADHD, true or not, will most always be clouded by ongoing, underlying problems that exist in the child's life, family, and immediate environment.

For that reason alone, we can not medically treat, or pretend that we can treat, symptoms of ADHD.

To learn more about ADHD and what might really be impacting your child, I invite you to visit and sign up for your 7 part mini-course on the dirty little secrets behind ADHD.

I would also like to invite you to ask your most pressing question about ADHD and how it could be affecting your family and your child.

Medications For ADHD Symptoms and the Long and Short Term Effects on Your Child's Health

The frequency of ADHD has been reported to be from four to twenty percent of school age children. A more conservative estimate would be from three to five percent, which is probably more accurate, due to improved diagnostic criteria. Clinical observation and population based surveys report a much greater occurrence in boys that in girls (10:1). Over 2 million American school aged boys take the drug methylphenidate (Ritalin). Onset is often comes about by the age of three, although diagnosis is not generally made until later when the child is in school.

Prescription Medications for ADHD

 

Have you ever given stopped to consider how many prescription medications for ADHD are currently on the market to treat the various symptoms of ADHD including hyperactivity and lack of attentiveness/focus? In addition to the most well known drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall, you may well be surprised to learn that there are numerous other prescription medications for ADHD that are effective in easing the symptoms of ADHD. The most often prescribed drug types used in ADHD treatment are long acting stimulants, short/intermediate acting stimulants, and non-stimulants. While these drugs do deal with the symptoms they also carry the risk of potential side effects, ranging from mild to serious.

 

Prescription medications for ADHD of the long acting stimulant variety consist of Adderal XR, Vyvanse, Daytrana, Concerta, Focalin XR, Metadate CD, and Ritalin LA. The effects of these long-acting stimulants have a time span of from 8 to 12 hours and this gives them the added benefit of having to be taken once a day. They are practical for children who don't wish to face the reticule and additional challenges of taking medications while attending school. Adderall XR and Ritalin LA capsules can be given orally by simply breaking open the capsules and smattering the contents onto food. This is a particularly effective method if your child struggles with swallowing capsules. Other forms of prescription medications for ADHD include Daytrana which is available in the form of a patch that children can wear for a few hours.

 

There are a number of prescription medications for ADHD that fall into the short/intermediate acting category including Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Dextrostat, and Methylin ER. Short/intermediate acting stimulants are ADHD treatment options that have been around for a number of years and have become less desirable than the long acting variety. These medicines must be taken multiple times each day because their effects are short-term in nature. The benefit of short acting Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall is cost (due to patent expiration). They are now widely available in generic form and have become the default low cost option.

 

The most broadly accepted choice among the non-stimulant prescription medications for ADHD is Strattera. Strattera and other non-stimulants are not as often prescribed as stimulant drugs. Children who struggle with anxiety in addition to ADHD may be helped by Strattera. Additionally doctors may prescribe Strattera if a child has a difficult time tolerating stimulant medications due to their side effects, or if stimulants simply have failed to give ADHD symptoms relief.

 

In general the side effects linked to prescription medications for ADHD are the main reason why parents and even some medical professionals have considered giving alternative herbal treatments a try. With side effects such as headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, eating disorders, social withdrawal, nausea, and vomiting, that many are considering the natural health option. When parents start to notice their child feeling lethargic, overly restricted, and losing their unique personalities it comes as no surprise to this natural health advocate that so many parents are adopting a different strategy for treating ADHD symptoms.

 

Prescription medications for ADHD which are encompassed in non-stimulant category such as Strattera have their share of side effects as well. Strattera is linked to a number of side effects including reduced desire for food, uneasy stomach, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, mood swings, and allergic reactions. If you are serious about seeking a way to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD in your child without exposing them to the challenging side effects that can accompany prescription medications for ADHD, considering a natural, alternative remedy may be the answer.

 

Recent research studies suggest that the use of prescription medications for ADHD puts your child at a greater risk of depression as adults.  There also is evidence which suggests that prescription medications for ADHD increase the probability of substance abuse and prescription drug addiction. The short-term side effects of taking these types of prescription drugs are distressing at best, but when you take into consideration the harmful effects over a longer period of time, the thought of giving your child prescription drugs may just be too great of a risk to ignore. Luckily, there is a safe and effective alternative. High quality natural remedies have been shown to be effective, not leading to any side effects what so ever.

Thank you for taking the journey with me and reading this article. If you are interesting in alleviating the symptoms associated with prescription medications for ADHD and giving your child a head start on living a satisfying, productive life, now is a good time to start investigating alternative ADHD remedies such as homeopathy. The negative short-term and long-term side effects of ADHD prescription drugs should be reason enough to motivate you to seek out information concerning alternative treatment options. It is no secret that all parents want what is best for their child and no parent wants to put their child's health at risk. Alternatives to prescription medications for ADHD like homeopathy can give you the confidence in knowing that the approach you have chosen for the treatment of your child's ADHD is safe, effective and presents no worries about long term side effects.

R.D. Hawkins has been and continues to be an advocate for the use of natural and alternative health for the last 10 years. To learn more about homeopathic natural health please visit Purchase Remedies.com