ADHD and children

ADHD

Children full of ideas and Energy with a lack of concentration, constant activity and often impulsive behavior are nowadays often diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). As inventive as these children, are the attempts to explain and define this subject. There are thousands of books and articles about this. The varieties of explanations goes from „a genetically based defect and disfunction of the metabolism of the brain over Theories based on Developmental psychology including the thesis that these are qualities that were essential for the survival of hunters and warriors of the Old Age or that these are children (Indigo Children) of the New Age. Fortunately Research and the Awareness of interrelations has widened our understanding. There are more and more attempts to understand the problems individually and treat them with a variety of adequate measures in different spheres.

Old and new Ideas about ADHD

The most common theory is that a dysfunction of neurotransmitters (substances transmitting information in the brain) is the cause of ADHD. As a result stimulating medicines like Ritalin are being prescribed. It‘s not yet clear how they work, but they do have an effect on the children, they get calmer and can often concentrate better, but only a long as they take the medication. There is a controversy about the side effects and possible long time effects of the medication. Newer Approaches understand chemical process in the brain as a consequence of the development of the brain, not as the cause. Our brain is in a constant change according to the way we use it. ADHD is being looked at as a special way to use ones brain. If we understand that ADHD is a specialized way to use our brain then there are ways to lead this development in a better direction.

Emotional Fast Food

There are daily habits that lead to an overstimulation. For some children sugar is most stimulating. Sugar is the fastest way to give us energy and gives a short feeling of happiness. After the quick satisfaction through sugar follows a decrease of the sugar level in the blood and happiness is gone so the child soon wants more sweets and other stimulants.

When we have succeeded in something we get a high, the reward after the work done. Sugar creates a similar feeling. Eating sugar is like getting the wages without having done the work. Normally our body would first have to digest the food, work on it to break it down in sugar (energy). Sugar is the shortcut to energy and happiness without having deserved it. The sugar high doesn‘t last long and theres nothing left to enjoy. We didn‘t make the experience of achieving the happiness so we didn‘t find pleasure in the process of achieving it. TV is similar. We are right in the middle full of excitement and emotions without doing something for it. Children are being flooded with constant new, emotionally exciting impressions. They don‘t get answers to their questions, nobody hears their suggestions they cannot interfere. They easily become consumers that only „want to have“ and only now to „take“. Because they could not bring in themselves they lack the experience of „giving“, „doing it themselves“ or „exchanging“. Children eating a lot of sugar or watching too much TV miss the experience of achieving something by working on it, by discovering end experiencing it on their own. That‘s why they often lack motivation and are bored if they don‘t get emotional fast food like sugar, TV or computer games.

Motivation - Learning - School

The brain of a child is being formed by it‘s use. Therefore it‘s important to motivate the child to think and act independently. There are many toys or rather materials that leave space for creativity, others are perfectly done and leave only one way to use them. It‘s important to leave space to the ideas and performance of children and to respect them. Little achievements of a child may appear minute to us or we know better. But for the child these are first steps to find a solution himself. A depreciative comment or even showing how it could be done better belittles the performance of the child. Many children diagnosed with ADHD have Problems at school. They can‘t concentrate, get distracted from everything or disturb the lessons. Often the classes are boring for them. In another surrounding more suitable for them they often can do much better. If their creativity is challenged and if they have to find solutions themselves they suddenly can concentrate and are motivated. There are other children who can concentrate better if they are allowed to get up and walk about inbetween. Here some private schools may offer alternatives, because they can take more care of individual needs and apply alternative methods of learning.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathic treatment can support and strengthen a child in his development. Concentration and Motivation should get better, eventual aggressiveness should come down to a more healthy level. The child should become more balanced and content. To treat a child with homeopathy I have to get to know the child in his individuality, his cares, fears and passions. There are children who are able to tell a lot from themselves, others remain quiet or reserved. In any way it‘s important for me to experience the child and depending on the age and the situation to get additional information from parents or carers.

Literature:

Thomas Armstrong: ADD/ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom
Thomas Armstrong: The Myth of the A.D.D. Child
Judith Reichenberg-Ullmann, Robert Ullmann: Ritalin-Free Kids



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Stefan Sterchi
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