Treating ADHD with Omega 3

Common treatments for ADHD include both stimulant medications and behavioral therapy. While this is common, many people choose to forgo the stimulants in light of more natural therapies. There are children who really benefit from stimulants in the school setting. But as a parent, remember, treatment is a choice, and you have plenty of options. Using Omega 3 for ADHD is one natural way to benefit the brain functions in a healthy and safe manner.

ADHD Overview

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a condition where sufferers often lose focus on tasks, cannot stop moving, and possibly even have learning disabilities. Those close to ADHD sufferers often have a hard time understanding and tolerating the behaviors. It can cause a great amount of dysfunction in households, schools, and in the workplace.

Symptoms Of ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD can actually overlap with a number of other conditions. These may not even be noticeable, and needs must be evaluated on behavior scales by a few different observers. Usually teachers, parents, and other caregivers fill out the scale forms and turn them into a Licensed Physician. The symptoms of ADHD can include:

• Inability to finish even simple tasks

• Lack of attention to detail

• Easy distraction

• Poor memory skills

• Mistakes

• Alternating between several different tasks and
  leaving them incomplete

• Cannot maintain attention to movies, TV, teacher talking, or personal conversation with others

• Fidgets, moves a lot, paces the floor, excessive climbing,
  and running

• Unorganized

• Failure to complete household tasks, homework, or projects

If left untreated, ADHD can lead to complications such as: depression, withdrawal from social situations, feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, and being unable to keep a job or learn in school. Regardless of treatment choice, approaching ADHD with an open mind is the first step to dealing with the disorder.

Treatments For ADHD

Treatment for ADHD is a personal choice, and you have every right to decide what is best. Most medical treatments involve stimulant medications that actually help the ADHD gain focus on tasks. It is often used in combination with behavioral therapy to teach sufferers how to function on a day to day basis.

Treatment, whatever type used, is important to reduce the discomfort of sufferers and those around them. It needs to focus on helping them learn to control increased energy levels, reduce movement, and hold conversations with others.

While prescription medications can actually help with calming the brain activity and increasing focus, there is a high failure rate due to non-compliance. This is mostly because of the side-effects of the stimulant, which is the opposite of what you might think.

The stimulants used in ADHD can actually make a person too calm or even overly sleepy. Many parents notice the huge changes in their children and take them off the medication. ADHD must be treated for life and there is no cure. The key is finding the right treatment for your child. One that works best for your child and lifestyle.

Here are the options:

• Prescription ADHD medications – ADHD medications are actually stimulant medications that have a calming effect on people with ADHD. When given, the person is actually able to focus and slow down. Parents notice their children tend to be quieter and even sleepy on them and this can sometimes make them feel something is not right with their child.
• Behavioral Therapy – Behavioral therapists can teach parents and kids how to manage routines, organization, and reinforcement of positive behavior. Sometimes this is very effective even without medication. Parents can learn techniques to make environments more suitable for children with ADHD like: rotating toys, keeping the house low key, and telling kids what to expect.
• Dietary Modifications – Certain foods have been found to trigger ADHD symptoms. Things like: red dye, sugar, chocolate, MSG , and other food substances can each trigger a different symptom. An elimination type diet can help you find the offending foods and keep them away from your table and out of your kitchen. Try taking away all the “forbidden foods” and add them back into the diet one at a time to see which one causes the symptoms.It is also a good idea to add in foods to the diet that reduce blood sugar spikes and dips like: protein, fruit, plenty of fiber, and whole grains. Blood sugar spikes can cause sudden energy bursts, while dips can cause negative behaviors. Balance in the diet can help balance the behavior patterns.
• Omega 3 – Research has shown that almost half of kids in studies given Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation show reduced symptoms. It is thought that some cases of ADHD are due to a lack of EPA and DHA, which help the neurons in the brain function properly.In kids that have this deficiency, Omega 3 shows the same calming effects as stimulant medications. If you would like to try this option, check with your pediatrician before supplementing Omega 3 in your child.

Conclusion

Living with a child or family member with ADHD can be a challenge for both the loved ones and the sufferer. The dysfunction and lack of focus is exhausting, and some choose to pass on the current medical regimen of stimulant medications. This leaves the options of behavioral therapy and alternative treatments such as, diet changes and Omega 3 supplementation. Using Omega 3 for ADHD may be the breakthrough some sufferers need to have a more normal life.