I woke up this morning knowing that I really needed to post something on my blog. I haven't had the opportunity or felt well enough to do so until today, as I've been recovering from out patient surgery. Recovering may not actually be the right word. It's so difficult to recover when you have a teenager, and eight year old pulling you in different directions. It is amazing how different their activities and needs are!
Speaking of their needs, we recently came to the conclusion that my teenager has ADD and my 8 year old has ADHD. This conclusion opened a whole new realm of possibilities, responsibilities and changes. First, being the "researcher", I started reading every book I could get my hands on. I started at the library and then decided which books I wanted to buy on Amazon. Two books I would like to recommend are: ADD & ADHD Answer Book by Susan Ashley, Ph D and The Autism & ADHD Diet by Barrie Silberg. I have also checked out (but haven't read yet) ADD/ADHD Drug Free Natural Alternatives and Practical Exercises to Help Your Child Focus by Frank Jacobelli and L.A. Watson. After spending countless hours reading, I called the doctors and started with the appointments - the physician and the psychiatrist for proper diagnosis. Then we started making diet and activity modifications. Almost immediately we started seeing results.
Modifying my boy's diets has not been easy, but the reward is in the progress. We eliminated all foods with red and yellow dyes. That's a lot of food!!! We started buying things like "Simply Yogurt", fruit cups with little to no preservatives, organic sausage and beef and cut out sugar almost completely. I made a menu and listed snack foods and breakfast foods as well as lunches and dinners. We cut back the tv our children are allowed to watch and the video games they are allowed to play and added more time for sports and outside activities.
Before you ask, "Yes, it was more expensive and a lot of work!" However, so far, the effort has paid off. My youngest stays on task at school better than he has in the past. He is actually getting his assignments done and turned in. He only throws 1 fit a day as opposed to 6 or more. My husband and I no longer fight over how much discipline he needs. Our home is much more peaceful. We still have room for improvement and are looking into other alternatives to incorporate in our treatment plans. But, this is definitely a good start.
- Patricia
Wow, 6 fits a day! That's a lot. That would cause problems in any household.
ReplyDeleteSame good thing happens with Jeremy (my 14 yr old - for the readers). He is high functioning autism and the diet is everything. Cut back on the sugars, no milk products, no glutton. He can think better and do his school work. And the emotions are less off the wall, however he is a happy guy without a personality change. He cracks up at his own jokes, he hugs the dogs, etc. We just have less fits, as you say. - and yes, it makes me wonder how I feel when I eat certain foods too. Are there grouchy foods?
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