Overcoming ADD without medication

[Foggy]

I've been thinking about this for a while, and I may be completely off track because I've not done much research on the matter but it came up because I am dealing with having a difficult time focusing on my school work. I went and got tested for ADHD and tested positive and now I'm trying various medications to try and increase my focus. But what I'm wondering is... is there any legitimate reason why I should role over and take drugs that mess with my brain chemistry. The logical answer, I feel, is to train myself focus like I would train any other part of my body or mind. The prevailing thought seems to be that if you have ADHD you may be able to find way to cope with it or work around it without taking medication, but that medication is the only way to achieve the same level of mental clarity that one who does not have ADD would experience. I don't want to just cope with having ADD, I want to train my mind to overcome it and develop a sharp focus without using medication. Has anyone else had experience with this?

[Dreamline]

I would do anything I could to not have to take those meds.

My first inclination would be to examine my diet and strictly avoid anything unnatural, processed, diet/low cal, dyed, sugared, pesticided, caffinated. Anything at all with MSG or a derivative, which is just about anything processed.

I would build a suitable exercise program and a complimentary meditation/relaxation program.

I would visit with a naturopath specializing in environmental sensitivities and possibly an acupuncturist for meridian balancing. Be certain that any vaccinations I got were not preserved with aluminum salts or mercury.

I would also use EFT (EFT Home - World Center for EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)) and hypnosis.

I would do this all for about six months to a year and then decide if it's working. Some environmental toxins take a long time to clear from your body.

Good luck...

Jennifer

[chipdouglas]

What Jennifer said makes perfect sense, plus I'd also look into Brain Wave Entrainment.

Transparent Corporation

iMusic by Volition Thought House: The Ultimate Brain Enhancer | Volition Thought House

I have ADHD and have been using both systems. I've only recently started using neuroprogrammer 2 (np2), but have used iMusic for months now and it's helped noticeably cognitively speaking.


If you wish to try Imusic for free and yet own the whole collection (although it's the former collection, but it does the VERY same thing as the new collection) go to : imusic | isoHunt - the BitTorrent and P2P search engine and get the link with 5.62 G

[WordKeeper]

This is the best discussion of ADHD I have encourntered in 10 years.

May I also recommend magnsium taurate or magnesium glycinate along with fish oil. Both aid the brain function tremendously.

I live in an ADHD world. I have it and my 8 year old son has a pronounced case. For me - the absolute worst part, crippling in fact, is the issue of pre-frontal cortex. My brain works well but I cannot get things done - cannot get off my bottom. When I do, has to do with being accountable to others. But try as I might I cannot get this to work for myself - thus I live in an upside down trashcan of a home. It is horrible.

This summer I took my son off of drugs and substituted magnesium glycinate and coromega. The jury is still out.

Chip Douglas - can you write more about your experience with the Transparent Corporation product? I went to the site but see nothing about hyperactivity nor about the ability to get things done.

This info from the website strikes me as odd

To correct this problem, researchers endeavored to recreate the brainwave patterns of overachieving, successful individuals - the most intelligent 1% of the population. What they found is truly remarkable. By helping to optimize brainwave patterns, people can both temporarily increase cognitive abilities and train the brain to produce this activity on its own.

I have no issues with cognitive abilities but I do have a terrible time actually acting on my thoughts and plans. How have you used these products and what improvements have you experienced?

[chipdouglas]

Wordkeeper :

Regarding my experience with transparent corporation, here's what I can do to help you to an extent. First, I've only recently got the Neuroprogrammer 2 Brain Entrainment software, which you can download for a 15 day trial.

Btw, I too have had ADHD, and have the exact same problems you listed about getting things done for myself. I have to consistently kick myself in the bottom.

When you have the NP2 software installed, you'll see where the ADHD help is in it. It's a nifty software. It seems to be working, but then I've only been using it for a week, so I do not want to jump to any hasty conclusions yet.

Get the iMusic torrent I pointed to, it's good stuff. The tracks which I've personnally found to help me the most in ADHD is Ivyfocus.

[chipdouglas]

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)


Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Online References For Health Concerns

[FreelanceWanderer]

I'm currently reading the new book Rapt, about the science of attention, and the author shows that regular mindfulness meditation (just focusing on the breath) can help people improve their ability to focus.

FW

[One Life No Fear]

Hi

I recently had the privalege of interacting with Danielle Herb and her mother Marianne. The story of this remarkable teenager overcoming ADD without medicine and then having the courage and personal power to help others, is inspiring and may help you with this topic.

One Teenager Teaches Us All A Lesson | The Blog For Entrepreneurs

[Tim Brownson]

Check out 'The Brain That Changes Itself' I think you're taking a very wise approach fwiw.

[sr2008]

I had ADHD without knowing it for many years. During high school it went untreated because I had no choice but to sit in class for back to back sessions of one hour. Then in college, I started to find that I easily got distracted and couldn't focus for any extended period of time. When I studied for the GMAT before business school, I went to see a doctor and I was diagnosed with ADHD. I realized why earlier parts of my career had been challenging. I used medication through most of business school, but I've stopped it now and I think I've been able to figure out a few things that help:

1. Cut Down Caffeine: Since it is a stimulant it causes everything in your body to speed up, even your thinking. Part of ADHD I think is slowing down your thought process so you can focus.

2. Do what you're interested in: This is a no brainer. But, if you have ADHD, and you chose to do something you are interested in you can accomplish out of this world results. For me, those two things were playing a musical instrument, and the other has been my blog. In school I noticed my course in consumer behavior was the one where I never watched the clock. No surprise considering my personal development interests.

3. Uni-Task: My old roommate figured out where my anxiety was coming from after watching me in action for a few weeks. He noticed that my morning routine was a firedrill. It involved 20 different things at once. Now, I do one at a time. If I'm writing a blog post, I turn off everything else (no IM's, no email, no social networks).

Hope that helps.

-Srini

[kwicherbichen]

I SO AGREE!

Let me first tell you that having ADD sucks when you don't know you have ADD. But don't you feel A MILLION TIMES BETTER now that you know???

Don't take meds! I mean, I take meds, but I just take them for those special occasions. The doctor wanted to try different stuff with me and I was like "no, just give me concerta and I'll take it when I feel like it". I'm not gonna sit through a month of crap to maybe be "cured". Wtf?

Okay, what worked super well for me is STRESS REDUCTION. I got a lot of massages and drinking a lot of juice or whatever healthy foods make me feel all nice and happy inside. Every night, I did my face care regime which includes the massaging of shea butter and coconut oil. And I'm a girl, so I also have yam creams. Acidophilus, multivitamins, and garlic. Then I went to bed.

Oh my god, I felt FANTASTIC the next day! And so, this is the routine I aim to have as often as I can. A nightly routine and stress reduction. Don't forget excercise. I think this is really important if you have ADHD, especially!

And I agree with the "uni-task" thing. That will help reduce stress. I know, you have such an urge to just DO EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD at one singular moment in time, but you cannot do that and it is only making you stressed, believe me. Do everything one thing at a time...

I think pampering yourself and taking it slow and being gentle with yourself is good. Its working well for me so far.

Oh, and we can't forget the planner. The only thing is I forget to look at it. I'm looking into getting a G1 or something that I would always have around so I can see my priority to-do list. And I also have come to the understanding that I must just GET UP whenever I want to do something. Just get up. Don't think, just "get up".

edit: I also agree to follow your interests or know WHAT you want so whatever stupid thing you have to do to get it will be interesting to you. CRUCIAL. This is uber crucial. AD/HD makes it so you can't BS with yourself in life. I think some people can go years with not doing what they love, but we simply can't!

[haitianheromg]

same issue here with attention and focus... i have done some of the testing and discovered that i have tendencies towards ADHD-inattentiveness... brain entertainment makes me feel more distracted... something that i started experimenting with to quiet my mind is walking meditations in the park Walking Meditation . There is also this magazine that has a wealth of advice on this tendency... Attention Deficit Disorder | ADHD Symptoms, Medication, Treatment, Diagnosis, Parenting ADD Children and More: Information from ADDitude

One thing that i have found that helps is not DIAGNOSING myself with a design. I have a tendency towards certain things on a continuum. I think my ADHD helps me be a seeker, and knowledgeable on an array of topics...

on the site mentioned earlier, they said that adhd/add individuals had a tougher time in relationships... have other people found that to be true?