Non-Medical Alternatives for A.D.D.

It often appears as if there is some kind of competition between the medical community and alternative practitioners. It is as if the success or failure of one somehow diminishes or validates the other. Many people who encounter my work think that I am completely against medicine. I am not. Although I have been called "Anti-pill Emery," it is not a true statement. I do feel, however, that medicine in many cases and especially in the area of A.D.D. should always be THE LAST CHOICE when every other option has been EXHAUSTED. Medication does nothing but medicate the SYMPTOMS and has no relationship with the cause of any of the problems associated with A.D.D. In addition, I do not talk to people about medication because I am not a medical doctor. I am the first one to criticize a teacher for saying that a child should be medicated, and I would expect the same criticism if I began recommending drugs as a non-medical doctor.

I do talk to people about having a better understanding of what is going on within the mind, body, heart and soul of the A.D.D. gifted person. With this understanding of both the person who is gifted and the people in the gifted person's community, comes an awareness of how to support and utilize those gifts.

I talk and write about how often the A.D.D. body is literally more sensitive to certain foods, environmental factors and energies than the non-impacted body. Changes in their diet can often help. The increased abilities inherent within the gifted person may require an increase of specific types of nutrients and supplements, because the body either does not create a sufficient amount naturally or does not get enough through the diet. Nutrients from nutritious foods, vitamin supplements, amino acids or brain chemicals might be suggested.

I also talk and write about how to create value within the A.D.D. gifted person's brain, which makes learning and memory both more efficient and easier - ways to structure and present information that are more easily processed and more accessible.

So here is the checklist of some, but not all, of the non-medical ways in which I help people who are A.D.D. gifted:

• Changes in diet
• Supplements
• Emotional Coffee Breaks
• Breaking The Code
• Organizational tools for both the gifted person and their support systems
• Alternative therapeutic recommendations
• Helping all people involved in the person's life understand the impact of the gift
• Methods to deal with anger, isolation, depression, low self-worth and anxiety
• Working with other professionals who work with the individual
• Learning, studying, and perception techniques
• Energy Work
• Meditation
• Breath Work
• ECT

Now you may ask what are all these techniques, recommendations, supplements, etc? To go over even some of them would be like writing a book. One of the things that is often overlooked in the medical field is matching the individual to the treatment, which includes how all of his/her levels are impacted by the treatment. People in the trational medical fields do not consider each person as an individual, nor do they consider a holistic view of the individual. Rather, they often prescribe a "cookie cutter" solution; something that cannot work for everyone. Often changes or alterations in medicine have little to do with what will best help the person involved be who they are and manage the gift of their A.D.D. Rather, the drugs are designed to make the individual most manageable - even if his/her individuality is lost in the process. Therefore, the best method of managing A.D.D. must be tailored to the individual. However, do not look to any one alternative technique or recommendation as the "be all and end all." If one method does not work alone, the solution might include a larger protocol. I also caution you to be wary of anything that is going to "cure" A.D.D. Curing an evolutionary process would be stopping it - not a good option. Just because a "symptom" seems better with a "fix it pill" (medical or natural) be sure it is not just masking A.D.D. and causing problems that will surface later.

As you are working with yourself or your child, look at the different methods as though you are putting together a special recipe for managing the gift of A.D.D. In any recipe that can be used with more than one main ingredient (like fish, chicken, or beef), you would vary the combination and amount of spices and techniques based on this main ingredient. As things change, so will you. A non-medical protocol is just that: a recipe for successfully managing the gift of A.D.D. without losing the integrity of the main ingredient. Whatever you do, whether you are creating a protocol for yourself or your child, make sure that the main ingredient does not get lost.

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Kevin Ross Emery, D.D. is the author of the book "Managing The Gift: Alternative Approaches for Attention Deficit Disorder." His book is available through Amazon.com as well as his own website. He travels around the country offering lectures and workshops, and setting up non-medical based protocols for children and adults with A.D.D. He also provides in-services for educators and parent groups. His primary practice is in Portsmouth, NH and you can send him e-mail to: TheADDGift@aol.com.