ADHD Without Medication

Every person has their own preference when it comes to taking medication. Some individuals will only use medicinal treatments or medications that have been tested scientifically and are prescribed by physicians. Other individuals believe these medicinal treatments or medications are too potent or dangerous and therefore these individuals resort to natural, organic, and conventional treatments. The same goes for the treatment of ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Some parents of ADHD children are opposed to their children being treated with prescription drugs and would rather treat them with more natural products.

A parent who chooses to not treat their child with prescription medications should be greatly involved in the child’s life, which may incur a large sacrifice of time and energy for the parent. This will require a large amount of patience and understanding. Good parenting skills are a necessity if the parent is wishing to treat the symptoms without prescription medication. Also understanding the available alternative therapies is important.

Cognitive therapy is one type of alternative therapy that significantly involves the ADHD child’s teacher. It is important that the teacher of the child is actively involved. The child’s teacher should be aware that the child has the disorder and the teacher should understand how to treat the child. Teachers also need to understand their limits with an ADHD child and must respect the rights of the child as an individual without crossing boundaries. The teacher may need to develop new teaching methods or alter the teaching methods so that they are appropriate for a child with ADHD. Tasks that focus on developing or increasing the child’s focus are important. The teacher should also assign tasks that improve the ADHD child’s listening skills and other skills that are not as efficiently or correctly performed by the child. Behavioral therapy may also be necessary in collaboration with cognitive therapy. In both therapies it is important that the parents and the teachers work together closely and keep communication open.

Behavioral therapy is another type of therapy that can be used instead of or alongside ADHD drug treatment. Behavioral therapy has many sub-types. ADHD children undergoing this type of therapy eventually learn how to control their attitude, actions, and behavior. Specific tasks will be given to aid the child with coping with the symptoms of ADHD. Whenever the child does something correctly, the child will be rewarded. Incorporating the reward system helps the ADHD child learn that behaving well results in rewards. On the other hand, if the ADHD child is exhibiting bad behavior, then the child will be punished so that the child learns that there are equal consequences, which will discourage this behavior in the future.

Parenting skills training is strictly for the parent of the ADHD child. This training is to help the parents realize that how they act or react to their child affects their child significantly. Raising an ADHD child can be very difficult at times and this type of training improves the parent’s confidence in their parenting abilities. It is the parent’s responsibility to know and learn about the available treatment and approaches that can help in controlling their ADHD child and improve the child’s negative attitude or behavior. Being as supportive as possible is necessary for the ADHD child and parenting skills training can help improve the parent’s support system.

In conclusion, if you are a parent that does not want to treat your ADHD child with prescription drugs and are looking for Ritalin and Concerta alternatives, then you must be very involved in your child’s life. Successfully treating your ADHD child using the therapies stated above depends on you and your level of commitment to your child.