Start Therapy
Therapy is often recommended for ADHD regardless of whether the patient decides to use medication as a form of treatment. The preferred type of therapy varies by age.
Behavioral therapy can be one of the best ways to help a child with ADHD. It focuses on actions and not emotions. In fact, it’s highly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as the first line treatment for children ages 4 to 6 before prescribing medication.
This type of therapy is focused on helping children with ADHD improve their behavior, self-control, and self-esteem. A therapist provides the parents with training in certain strategies and skills and provides instructions on how they can use them to help manage their child’s behavior. By prioritizing positive reinforcement and consistent discipline, the parents create structure and set clear expectations that teach the child helpful behaviors. The goal is to instill these behaviors over time to give the child the tools they need to succeed not only in school but also in at home and in their relationships with others.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the type of therapy most commonly recommended for adults with ADHD. This type of therapy primarily focuses on addressing and overcoming the negative thought patterns that people with ADHD often struggle with. This is especially important since many adults with ADHD have a coexisting disorder affecting their mental health. In fact, one study found that around 51% of adults with ADHD suffer from anxiety and 32% suffer from depression.
CBT can also involve teaching strategies to manage certain ADHD symptoms. Patients in CBT may learn skills for managing their time efficiently, staying organized, dealing with stress, and regulating their emotions and impulses.
Practice Mindfulness
Being mindful can help people with ADHD feel calmer when things get overwhelming. It can also be an effective form of stress relief for people who are dealing with ADHD symptoms.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness on a day-to-day basis, such as meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and journaling. The more you practice them, the more effective they are likely to be.
Take Supplements
Some types of supplements are taken as a type of natural medicine for ADHD. These supplements may help with improving brain function, focus, memory, emotional stability, and sleep quality.
Wondering what drug helps with ADHD? Some of the supplements for ADHD which may help manage symptoms include:
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin B6
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- L-theanine
- L-tyrosine
Always talk to your doctor before you start a new supplement if you’re also taking prescription medication for ADHD or any other health conditions.
Make Dietary Changes
Many people avoid food coloring and preservatives in their diets in order to help manage ADHD symptoms naturally. Some studies indicate that these types of additives could potentially exacerbate ADHD symptoms. More research is needed to confirm these conclusions, but this can be an easy management technique for people to try if they’re looking for natural ADHD remedies.
Another change that may help is getting enough protein in your diet. Blood sugar spikes can contribute to hyperactivity, but protein can help prevent those surges from happening. The recommended daily amount of protein for children ranges from about 24 to 30 grams per day, while adults should consume about 45 to 70 grams.
Eating plenty of whole grain, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other high-fiber foods can also be helpful. That’s because healthy amounts of fiber can help to stabilize energy levels.
Effectiveness of Natural ADHD Remedies
If you decide to try any of these natural remedies instead of getting ADHD medication, it’s important to assess how effective they are. While some people find that these remedies can help them control their symptoms of ADHD to an extent, the effects often pale in comparison to those which can be achieved with pharmaceutical medications.
Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help if ADHD symptoms continue to interfere with your life or cause your child to struggle academically and socially despite the natural remedies you’ve tried. Medications are widely accepted as a safe and healthy treatment option for ADHD in both adults and children.
If you’d like to know more about how to get ADHD meds online, get in touch with us at Done. Our licensed ADHD clinicians can walk you through your options and give you more detail about what kinds of effects you can expect. And if you decide that meds aren’t right for you or your child, you can always taper off of them and go back to relying solely on your preferred natural ADHD remedies. Get started by taking our quick online assessment today.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/guidelines.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/behavior-therapy.html
https://www.additudemag.com/behavior-therapy-it-works/
https://chadd.org/for-adults/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
https://psychcentral.com/adhd/home-remedies-for-adhd#types-of-home-remedies
https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/treating-adhd-without-medication/
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-medications-for-children/