Adhd

[28tay]

wondering if anyone knows if theres a adhd supporte group in saint john or group for adhd kids ?

[dolphins#1]

i don't know if there is but i have an 11 year old that is adhd and i may know what your going through if you want to pm me you can my son has been diagnosed since he was 4

[Atchbe]

I don't know of any support groups for ADHD, but, I would highly recommend going to a nutritionist to get guidelines on foods to eat for ADHD. For example many children with ADHD have been lacking in omega 3 fatty acids a vital nutrient for brain health. Omega 3's are found in many wild fish including herring, salmon, sardines and flax seeds. If your child doesn't like fish then try giving a fish body oil supplement daily. Make sure the fish oil states it's free of toxins and has been moleculelary distilled.

Here is an article on ADHD and fish oil
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400011

You could grind flax seeds or purchase pre ground in the natural food section of the super store and add to yogurt mixed with berries as a treat daily.

For example food allergies have been linked to ADHD and intolerance to certain foods. I would limit refined carbohydrates (products made with flour, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup) to keep blood sugar levels more stable, eliminat artificial food colors and preservatives, testing for food sensitivities and avoid caffeine. So basically a basic real foods diet is in order, avoid pre packaged foods and quick easy frozen meals. Steer clear of Pop, candy etc.

Here is a link for natural approaches to ADHD. There are a 4 pages so you will need to click "next" to see the next page.

http://www.drweilselfhealing.com/show_document.asp?iDocumentID=387&iBDC=4644&iPageNumber=1

Here is another good link for you, it contains links for many articles on different topics. But, ADHD is there as well :)

http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/common/document.html?catid=382

Good luck, and keep in mind you are what you eat and to provide your child with a good healthy diet free of additives and preservatives, chemicals, coloring agents is the best base for a healthy child. Make the food preparation fun and your child will not associate healthy foods with oh oh I have to eat this stuff. Avoid fast food restaurants and learn how to read ingredient labels to choose the healthiest foods.

I have many of Dr Weils books in my library, I find his books a valuable resource. :)

[sanstu]

Excellent advice Atchbe! There is a definate link between foods and ADD/ADHD. By removing some of the food types/additives from your child's diet(as suggested by Atchbe) you should see some results. There are also learning types which if extreme, can be misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD. Some foods, such as eggs can cause behavioural problems in some children, if given on a regular basis.

As to support groups for ADHD, I'm not sure, however Health and Community Services should be able to point you in the right direction. I believe there are groups for children/teens that deal with peer preasure ect. Might be worthwhile looking into.Hope this helps and good luck.

[28tay]

Thank you everyone

[sanstu]

Hope some of the info was helpful!

[monicaw]

Hey there, My 8 year old son has ADHD..he was diagnosed with it almost 4 years ago. I had workers come in my home and work with him and also workers for ADHD but there is no support groups here in SJ. I think it would be a great idea to have them..it would be nice to be able to meet and talk to others who are going through the same thing:)

[rhiley_08j]

This topic really erks me. For years the school had tried to pressure my mother into putting me on perscription drugs, namely Ritalin, because I had "behavioural issues" and they tried to diagnose me as ADHD. Not everyone fits into the cookie cutter, each and everyone of us are different, and just because a person is outspoken or more verbal about things that upset them, or hyper, or whatever, does not mean that they need to be labeled. I never took one ounce of perscription drugs to "control" me, and you know what low and behold I became a fully functioning adult who is able to maintain relationships, hold a job, and raise a family. Imagine that. As for the "attention" part of the disorder, we don't all learn the same way, what works for some may not work for others. A person that has a hard time keeping their attention on something needs to find the stimulus that works for them. I am certainly not a stupid person, infact all through school I would get in trouble in class, with the teachers saying I wasn't paying attention, yet I would get straight A's and was on the honour roll all through high school. So as far as I am concerned, the so-called specialists can take their labels and stick them on their own foreheads, cause that's all they're good for.

[watty]

Rhiley,

It is excellent that you were able to obtain straight A's all through school with your "behavioural issues". However, alot of children, including my son, are not able to focus and ADD/ADHD is the root cause of this. How does this sound - my son has now fallen behind in school as we tried everything else but putting him on meds. Believe me, that is the last thing I want for my son!!! He is now on a med and his focus is much better, however he is now so far behind that he may not be able to catch up. His work has improved and he is proud when he comes home after a good day. He was not able to get A's (or AD's as it is in elementary now) previously and my wife and I are hoping that he will be able to catch up with his class mates. We have accepted the fact that he may repeat, which is not the end of the world as many of us have.

This topic should not "erk" you as it is a medically and scientifically proven condition. Unless you have conducted studies that can contradict this condition, by all means, I'll wait for it in the medical journals. The topic should not erk you, it should be the people that wanted to diagnose you that you should be erk'd at.

Instead of being erk'd, maybe try to be supportive and offer suggestions as to how to help other people as asked for in the first post.

[sanstu]

watty, I think where rhiley 08j was coming from is the amount of children that have the potential of being misdiagnosed by teachers. This has in the past been a huge issue. There are also learning styles that bear a stricking resemblance to ADHD; some allergies and food sensitivities can also cause behavioural issues in some children. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill, however in working together with your child's primary health care provider, and teachers, you are well on your way to providing your son with the tools he needs to achieve success. Good luck with your son.

[rhiley_08j]

Thank you Sanstu, you understand where I am coming from. Every person is different, and what works for some doesn't work for others. If medication works for you than great. My cousin on the other hand was on Ritalin for years, and now his is basically a zombie.

Now it seems that ADD or ADHD is considered old news and if a child doesn't fit into the mold now they label them autistic. I also have an uncle who is severely autistic, and yes I know there are different degrees of it, but all I am saying is the people today seem to be too quick to put a label on someone.

[sanstu]

Children should not be "labeled". By doing this a child is at risk of being pre judged, instead of being viewed and valued as an individual. For some children meds in combination with behaviour modification works well.

[28tay]

sanstu

I email the health and community service and they told me to give them a call .I will let you know how that works out. I just want to let everyone know that I already tried omega3 and did not see any difference,as for the diet we tried some but he will not eat anything lol.

[sanstu]

sanstu

I email the health and community service and they told me to give them a call .I will let you know how that works out. I just want to let everyone know that I already tried omega3 and did not see any difference,as for the diet we tried some but he will not eat anything lol.


Glad you are inquiring about programs for your son. You could also look into a martial arts class for him. He would greatly benefit from learning self control (which is a problem ADD kids have) and it would also be wonderful for his self esteem.(it's also great exercise:D )

Also, don't approach changes in what your son eats as a "diet". Small changes in what your son eats can make a huge difference. Fresh snacks such as fruit or veg; sending bottled water to school with him instead of a juice box and most importantly eliminate all foods and drinks with added food coloring and dyes will make a huge difference in him. If possible cut back on sugary treats as these have no nutritional value to him. It's not an easy process however if everyone in your home is doing this it will make the transition very easy for your son. Please keep us posted as to your son's progress.