ADHD: Alternative Treatments Main Menu ADHD: The Fact and the Fiction This project is intended to make connections between media portrayals of ADHD and their impacts on alternative treatments such as neurofeedback, behavioral therapy, parent training, and diet-alteration therapy. ADHD Medications Today, the use of ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall is still the most popular treatment method for ADHD. Let's explore the adverse side effects of the medications, which are a reason alternative treatments have been gaining more attention recently. Common Misconceptions How YOU Can Avoid Parent Shaming This page is designed to promote an active learning style for parents to avoid feeling shamed by media surrounding ADHD. The media often uses fear and anxiety to shame parents into trying treatments they are not comfortable with or spreading false information. I will teach you how to spot these things and avoid them! Neurofeedback Behavior Therapy Behavior therapy is the most common alternative treatment for ADHD. It is currently recommended as a supplement to drugs but some parents believe that this treatment alone may be just as effective as a supplementation. Parent Training Diet Restriction Diet restrictions are gaining popularity as an alternative treatment for ADHD. The Feingold Diet has stood out as a diet that improves behavioral issues with manipulation of diet.

About Me

16394

Who am I?

In addition to being a full time college student I am also a daughter, a sister, a friend, a dog lover, an aspiring dentist, a sweets lover, a summer child, and a person with a passion to help others. 

As a child I was goofy and awkward but it was always worth it to make someone else laugh or smile. I cannot thank my parents, especially my mom, for letting me be an individual and not forcing me to be like "all the other girls." By allowing me to be different so early on in life I was able to develop an understanding for others because I was able to see life from many different perspectives. I mentioned that my mom was especially important in letting me be who I am and here's an example of a time she let me do just that: 

Why ADHD? 

ADHD is a complex condition and should be treated as such because what works for one child may not work for another. In my life I have had the opportunity to be just a little different and I think that has been important to my upbringing. Throughout my studies as a physiology major in college I have gained a respect for the many differences each person can experience within their own bodies. I personally was never diagnosed with ADHD, but I did have friends growing up who were. One of my friends was quickly put on medication in second grade because she became a handful for teachers to deal with and her parents didn't know what to do otherwise. Later on in life I talked with her about her medications and she admitted to feeling calm, but not in control of her life. She also expressed her difficulty with coming on and off the medications because during the summer or on the weekends her parents didn't want her to take it. She said she would feel confused about why she had to take it in some social situations and not others. In high school she began to wean herself off her medications and focus her energy on other things such as sports and art and found that these in combination with a healthy diet and overall lifestyle helped her to manage her ADHD. After seeing this I had a different outlook on what it meant to be ADHD and what it meant to live with it. 

Another reason I was interested in this topic was its prevalence in our society. Whether ADHD is over-diagnosed or not, I know there are many children and adults who struggle with attentiveness and that I will have patients who are like this. Dentistry is a profession that involves a deep understanding for others and understanding how psychology relates to core science topics such as chemistry and biology. It is extremely important to me that I am prepared to treat a variety of patients ranging from those with  different socioeconomic backgrounds, varying ages and diseases, and those who may just need extra attention to get through an appointment that to most is dreaded from the second they walk through the door.

I hope from this website you have gained a deeper understanding for how ADHD has been mediatized as well as an appreciation for the idea of alternative treatments. I also hope you have learned how to identify media sources that are targeting you as a parent and how you can find credible sources for your own personal research. 

Thank you!! 

 

 

 

This page has paths:

  1. Let's Practice-ADHD in the News Katy McCarthy

Contents of this path:

  1. ADHD Literacy