Posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 4, 2006, at 15:32:05
In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 12:10:08
This is my personal experience, but I find that when I'm even the slightest bit depressed, the first thing that goes is my concentration. Or even if I'm stressed.
And I really really find giving up all sweet stuff (and white bread etc) and coffee really really improves my concentration no end. When I used to eat Danish pastries and drink coffee/cola, I'd read up about the sweet/caffine thing, and think 'yeah sure, coffee and sweet stuff doesn't make *that* much difference' but you'd be really surprised.
I dunno. When I was in the equivalent of high school in the UK, I could never concentrate much anyway and I had zero motivation. I'm a late deveoloper!
Do you get what I'm trying to say? Sorry if its garbled - its late at night here! I mean, there are lots of ways to address a lack of concentration. But I don't know how you tell the difference between plain old lack of concentration and clincal ADD. I'm not a pdoc! And I sometimes wonder what the involvement with Big Pharma is too, even with pdocs. There are alot of unscruplous practices going on out there - I just recently posted a news article about it.
Also, I have at various times filled out alot of those online ADD tests - including the Utah-Webber scale or whatever it was called. I was off the scale. I was totally ADD. But, even through I scored highly and I'm sure if I went to an (American) pdoc, they would really say I have ADD, I'm pretty sure that I don't. Its just like I said before, as soon as I get the first hint of depression my concentration goes as does my ability to organise myself. I dunno. Sorry if I'm not making much sense.
I really wonder what the rates of ADD/ADHD between say, Finland and the USA are. For instance, (get this!) in primary schools (age 7-12) they can only drink water or milk during the school day. Nothing else! Its amazing. I wonder if some children just get more 'hyper' because of lots of soda, sweets etc. I profess I don't know much! I'm just wondering if ADD is overdiagnosed.
I guess I'd explore all other avenues (nutrition, exercise therapy etc) before you the drugs. Its not an easy solution, I mean its easier just to take a pill, but 'alternatives' things could be just as useful and more safe perhaps.
Anyway, let us know how it goes.Kind regards
Meri
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:691739
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061003/msgs/691823.html