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Since the 1970s, rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis have increased sharply in the United States and other developed countries. By 2016, more than 6 million American children had been diagnosed with ADHD—that’s around 9.4% of all children in the country. Of those, the vast majority had been prescribed some sort of ADHD medication.
Given this rise in widespread diagnosis, it’s no wonder that individuals diagnosed with ADHD and parents of children diagnosed with the disorder have had to employ evolving attitudes toward treatment. Certainly, medication is an option, but it’s important to understand the possible implications of that medication and to know that other options exist, too.
Trends in ADHD Medication Use
Considering that the classification of ADHD was still changing in the medical community just over 25 years ago, it’s no wonder that treatment habits have been similarly unstable. In the early 2000s (when ADHD was beginning its 41% rise in diagnosis rates that lasted from 2003 to 2011), statistics concerning ADHD medication usage were striking.
From 2000 to 2005, the use of ADHD medication rose an average of 11.8% every year, and it’s not hard to understand why. Up to 80% of ADHD sufferers report a nearly instant reduction in their symptoms when taking a stimulant ADHD medication like Adderall or Ritalin.
The problem is, these stimulants are often amphetamines or a similar substance. Most people are aware that amphetamines are both addictive and can potentially lead to health complications. In fact, the medical community had already begun to recognize the risks of widespread stimulant use to treat ADHD as early as 2006.
Considering that the classification of ADHD was still changing in the medical community just over 25 years ago, it’s no wonder that treatment habits have been similarly unstable. In the early 2000s (when ADHD was beginning its 41% rise in diagnosis rates that lasted from 2003 to 2011), statistics concerning ADHD medication usage were striking.
From 2000 to 2005, the use of ADHD medication rose an average of 11.8% every year, and it’s not hard to understand why. Up to 80% of ADHD sufferers report a nearly instant reduction in their symptoms when taking a stimulant ADHD medication like Adderall or Ritalin.
The problem is, these stimulants are often amphetamines or a similar substance. Most people are aware that amphetamines are both addictive and can potentially lead to health complications. In fact, the medical community had already begun to recognize the risks of widespread stimulant use to treat ADHD as early as 2006.
By that time, data was already showing that high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk could show up in users with a predisposition for such issues. More concerning, though, was the fact that abuse of ADHD medication had already started to spread.
Stimulant pills prescribed for ADHD had become a popular recreational drug among teens due to the fact that they could be crushed and snorted, producing an immediate euphoric high. In that same time period, the CDC investigated 188 hospital visits related to ADHD stimulants across 64 different emergency departments and found that the visits were generally related to abuse or overuse, and that overuse was almost always intentional.
It’s clear that ADHD medication addiction is nothing new. Today, the world is more conditioned to look out for signs of abuse, but that doesn’t change the fact that these medications hold many potential dangers, particularly for children.
Fortunately, there’s more than one way to curb the most troubling symptoms of ADHD.
Alternative Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
While there’s no question that medication is the most immediately and strikingly effective way to mitigate ADHD symptoms, many different lifestyle choices may also show an improvement when adopted consistently.
Every person who has ADHD is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all holistic treatment. Some of the most substantiated methods for improving ADHD symptoms without medication include changes in diet, yoga, and meditation, spending more time outside, and engaging in therapy.
Diet Changes
If a person with ADHD has an especially hyperactive subset of the disorder, then the Mayo Clinic suggests that it might be a good idea to cut back on food preservatives and artificial coloring.
Studies are split on whether or not various preservatives and food dyes actually cause hyperactivity, but the European Union requires that foods containing certain additives be labeled with a warning about potential adverse behavioral effects (which the U.S. does not). For those actively seeking a holistic way to curb ADHD, a clean diet that relies heavily on produce and fresh protein could be part of the answer.
Meditation and Yoga
Sometimes, the simplest answers are the most effective ones. Studies have found that engaging in a meditative, calming practice like yoga is highly effective at cutting down ADHD symptoms in both children and adults.
This solution feels almost obvious since meditation simply requires a person to slow down and monitor their thoughts without reacting to them. This is often something that those with ADHD have trouble doing. Also, there’s a reason that these pursuits are called practices—they take time and effort to perfect, so they won’t be an immediate cure.
Getting Outside
Sometimes monotony just compounds symptoms of ADHD, and a little fresh air can do wonders. This assertion is supported by evidence, which states that just 20 minutes outside in nature can vastly improve the concentration of those with ADHD.
Obviously walking around a parking lot isn’t going to have the same effect as spending time in a park, or on a hiking trail, so in this case, the term “outside” is used to reference a wholly natural setting out of doors.
Therapy
Given the fact that ADHD is a mental disorder, it stands to reason that therapy can prove instrumental in a holistic treatment plan. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics actually suggests that behavioral therapy should be the first line of defense against ADHD for children. This is because it helps children identify their problematic behavior, and gives them concrete steps for modifying that behavior.
Additionally, family therapy where the parents and the children both engage with a practitioner can be helpful as it provides parents with the tools they may be lacking to mitigate their children’s ADHD behavior.
It’s important to understand that every case of ADHD is unique. Sometimes medication is necessary to fully wipe out symptoms of ADHD, but oftentimes with enough determination and patience, a person can effectively manage their symptoms through holistic means.
For help guiding the holistic ADHD treatment journey, contact Mission Harbor Behavioral Health. An ADHD diagnosis isn’t a recipe for failure, it’s simply a challenge to be overcome.
The facilities at Mission Harbor are staffed with trained experts to best assist patients with their mental health issues. We are capable of dealing with any and all cases with a licensed staff, equipment, and approved techniques. Our mission is to help those who want to help themselves, and we support your decision in seeking help.
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