ADD Student

Posts Tagged ‘new insights’

Have you heard of The Brain Balance Achievement Centers? I hadn’t until today.

The Brain Balance Achievement Centers claim to be able to treat and sometimes cure Attention Deficit Disorder as well as a number of other things like learning disabilities and Autism.

Now right away, my first reaction was negative. I don’t like it when anyone claims to be able to cure ADHD because I don’t think it’s possible. You either have ADHD or you don’t and that will never change.

After taking a look at their website, I have changed my opinion somewhat.

They take a holistic view of all that’s going on with your child – their body, their mind, their environment. They look at things like diet, allergies, motor skills, social skills and so much more.

I can begin to see how, if they find deficiencies in some of these areas, that it might be possible that together they present symptoms very similar to ADHD. In that case, taking care of the underlying problems could result in little to no ADD like symptoms. But to me, that’s not curing ADHD, because the person never had it.

I myself believe that diet and allergies can have an effect on ADHD, and I’m not alone in that belief. It seems that in some respects, The Brain Balance Achievement Center takes an approach much like my Med Free with ADD program, although of course, theirs is far more comprehensive.

There are only 13 Brain Balance Achievement Centers in the country, but you might be interested in checking out their website and see what you think of it.

As I said, I’m still not convinced but I believe that many of their ideas are valid and worth a closer look. Maybe you can find something of use that you can try for your child.

It seems that most of the talk, from me or anyone else, about Attention Deficit Disorder is negative. This year, I’ve decided to change my point of view to one that’s more positive. I’ve got something in the works that I think you’ll like.

In the meantime, here are 5 reasons why it’s great to have an ADHD kid:

1. They make you laugh. Almost every ADHD person I know has a unique sense of humor. It can actually be a defense mechanism to divert attention away from ADHD symptoms, but we’re going to see it as a positve thing nonetheless.

2. They are very intelligent people with ways of looking at things you would never imagine. You can learn a lot from your ADHD kid.

3. They are creative, and express that creativity in so many ways. Maybe they express it in art, or a new recipe, or even in the way they do something. Once again, there is an opportunity for you to learn there.

4. They are resilient. Sure, they have their tough times – we all do – but they keep going, keep trying, and try not to let ADHD get them down or get in their way.

5. They have enormous potential, despite what their report card or guidance counselor says. Don’t let them doubt it or forget it. When you consider their intelligence, their creativity, their different way of thinking and looking at things – all the things that make them who they are – how can help but go far?

Share this list with everybody you know – especially your ADHD kid.

What can you add to it?

Here it is the start of a new year, and I’m looking back. Not back to last year, but way back. Back to when my children were small – babies and toddlers.

Do you remember when your ADD child was little? A toddler, maybe, or even younger? What did you think about them then?

Of course, you loved them. Did you think they were smart? Maybe even smarter than some of your friends kids? Did they learn to walk, or talk, or do something earlier than their peers? (My son learned to ride a 2 wheeled bike when he was 3 years old.)

Were you proud of them then?

What about now? How do you feel about them now? You can be honest – you’re only talking to yourself.

The love is still there. But what about the pride? The feeling that they are smarter than other kids? Do you still think and feel those things?

And if you don’t (it’s OK) – what has changed? Them? Or you?

You might be surprised to find out that the biggest thing that has changed is your perceptions about them. They really haven’t changed that much, at least not fundamentally.

Sure, they give you more trouble now, and headaches. They might be less adorable and more frustrating.

But all the potential and intelligence and wonderfulness you saw back then is still there. The problem is that it’s being covered up.

It’s being covered up by labels, and people who don’t know better and some who do. It’s being covered up by bad feelings and frustration and knowing who you are but not being able to express it. It’s being covered up by one more failed attempt, one more forgotten thing, and one more mentally foggy day.

You can uncover it, if you try. If you do, and you succeed, it will be the greatest thing you’ve ever done. To try means to go against the grain, to swim against the current along with your ADD child.

To try means that you still see them as they are, for all that they can be.