Man Of Science Or Faith?

LOST Returns Tonight - Will You Be Watching?

For those of you who are avid followers and fans of the television show LOST, tonight marks the long-anticipated return of one of television's most exciting shows.

While watching Wednesday's repeat of the 3rd Season Finale - I was reminded of two very different approaches to viewing the mysteries of the Island!

Science Versus Faith

Jack Versus Locke

Both men are noted leaders of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 - and yet both could not be more different in how they lead others and inspire those who look up to them.

So what type of man or woman are you?

When it comes to ADHD - Do you follow science / medicine or do you believe in faith?

Are you someone who believes that the answers lie in medicine?

Or do you believe that there are other ways?

Do you follow the research?

Or are you more interested in reality?

More About "The Truth Behind ADHD"

When I started writing this blog - I had a pretty good sense of what I wanted to talk about, and where I wanted to go.

It all started with the idea that there are many truths behind ADHD. It doesn't matter whether you are a parent, spouse, partner, child, or sibling of someone who has ADHD - there is a great deal of misinformation.

The TRUTH Behind ADHD started with the idea that there is more to ADHD than just what is on the surface. Not only do we have to struggle with symptoms, consider treatment with medication, but we also have to consider every other area of life that is impacted by ADHD:

1. Relationships
   
2. Family
   
3. Work
   
4. School
   
5. Groups
   
6. Self-esteem
   
7. Media influence
   
8. Society
   
9. And much, much more...
   

The point is this - ADHD affects so much more than the individual person who is diagnosed with the disorder.

Heck - let's not even call it a disorder. I downright hate that term. ADHD is a grouping of symptoms that can either help you or hurt you.

Help - learn how to manage and use your personal strengths to find success.

Hurt - use ADHD as an excuse and do nothing.

This all leads to the original "truth" I posted about when I started writing. The original truth relates to finding the root cause of our underlying problems.

ADHD is not it folks - there is always something more... Some other stress in our lives... Some other source of discomfort...

And we cannot forget those.

The "new" Truth is that you are surrounded by too much information about ADHD. You are provided with information that leaves you:

Overwhelmed

Confused

Uncertain

And possibly even misguided...

Well, no more.

The Truth Behind ADHD will make sure you get the right information, from the right sources. And even then - we are going to question everything.

Oops - I Skipped Over Chapter 2

I don't know how I did it - but it looks like I skipped right over reviewing Chapter 2 for you all. Oops!

I am so glad I caught this, because Chapter 2 has some great content.

Chapter 2:

"Parenting Doesn't Cause ADHD - Genes Do."

Dr. Monastra reviews and dispels some of the major myths around parenting as a cause of ADHD. Well, as you might be wondering - parenting or parenting style does NOT cause ADHD.
Instead, it is our genetics that we pass down which is said to be responsible for ADHD.

Much of the remainder of Chapter 2 is spent talking about the very scientific, technical aspects of what is believed to cause ADHD. There are some interesting points in there - but when you are looking to help your child, this is NOT the part of the chapter that does it. However, I cannot stress enough the importance of digesting this information so you can understand what we believe causes ADHD.

Perhaps the most useful part of Chapter is towards the end, where Dr. Monastra discusses effective treatment. In his opinion (and I agree), effective treatment includes a combination of techniques.

This can include medication (but NOT always), along with therapy, education, social skills classes, parenting classes (to learn strategies to help your child), and the development of a communication channel with school professionals to better assist your child with his or her learning habits or struggles.

Well - that's it. I must say there were some really GREAT strategies mixed with some very powerful content. Just watch out for the technical part, and focus on getting a general idea of how our bodies work and this relationship with ADHD.

In closing, I want to add that this content is reviewed from Dr. Monastra's book, "Parenting Children With ADHD." Like in previous posts, I have pulled out what I have found to be useful and important. However, there could be incredible information that I overlooked which might pertain to your individual situation.

Disclaimer:

That said, I always want to share that I added the part about medication not always being necessary. Remember folks, medication can and does make a difference with many children struggling with ADHD. And - as always, please do not make any changes without first speaking with your treating physician, psychiatrist, therapist, or other direct care professional.

Parenting Children With ADHD - Chapter 3

The more I get into this book, the more great content and strategies I am exposed to and become aware of. I also have to say that Dr. Monastra does an excellent job really explaining some tough level concepts that often can go overlooked. For example, he talks about specific ways that medications work and how to gauge whether or not they are making a difference for your child.

But that's not all!

Chapter 3 is titled: "Medications Don't Cure ADHD."

This is a pretty important statement to consider. There is NO CURE for ADHD. In fact, there is no agreement among professionals about what the exact cause of ADHD is. That said - medications are only known to help people with ADHD better manage their symptoms the world around them.

Key points and lessons in Chapter 3:

• Medication should NOT just be prescribed. You need to consider the impact of a child's dietary habits, weight, and additional factors.
• Doctors should really account for the child's daily activities (sleep patterns, diet, medical conditions).
• Different types of medications are reviewed - what they do, how they work, and why they are different.
• How to start out on medication and ensure you have the right dosage.
• Why it is so important to track behavior patterns.
• The importance of protein in your child's diet.
• Emphasizes a TEAM approach to treating and managing symptoms of ADHD.
• 15 - 30% of children don't respond to one particular chemical or component of stimulant medications.
• Some medications can take 4-6 weeks to show real improvement.

Wow! What a chapter. The only negative thing I can say (and this is being really particular) is that one part of the chapter becomes very technical - even for me who has training in academia and research. But that said - I still HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book.

Dr. Monastra takes an approach and view towards ADHD that not many psychologists - let alone physicians do - on diagnosing and treating ADHD. I really like this book so far.

Book Review - Parenting Children With ADHD

New Feature:

One of my goals this year is to learn even more about ADHD - and to do so means that I need to read what other people are writing about. I need to know what other information you are hearing from different sources, beyond that of what I think.

So, that said, I am going to read up on any book that I think might be relevant to ADHD and children. No topic is off limits. Given the controversial and varying perspectives on ADHD, I am NOT going to limit myself to just medical themed books on ADHD. I am going to try and cover the whole range.

Book #1

Parenting Children With ADHD:
10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach

By, Vincent J. Monastra, PhD

This is a fairly recent publication from the American Psychological Association. It's a fairly compact softcover book that looks to be an easy read.

It has excellent reviews both online and of course on the cover.

Review So Far...

This format might change as I go on, but for the time being, I will review the book as I read it and update once a week. I will then close out the review with a overall reflection on the book, the material, and it's relevance.

As of this morning, I have read the 'Introduction' and 'Chapter 1.' Without getting into too much detail, I like the tone that is set from the very beginning. The author / psychologist sets the stage for his expertise and why you should listen to him. What I really like the most, so far, is that author acknowledges the multitude of theories and messages that parents are bombarded with everyday.

I also like the fact that Dr. Monastra talks about the importance of a comprehensive medical exam and diagnostic evaluation. Because the symptoms of ADHD are not unique to this disorder alone, a thorough medical exam can reveal or rule out any additional medical causes contributing to your child's behavior.

Audio Interview - ADHD Success Tips

In this almost 60-minute interview, my good friend (who also just happens to be a Licensed Psychologist) reveals his 15 year personal struggle with ADHD.

I have been pleading with him for a few months now to make this happen. Having witnessed his struggles and personal victories firsthand, I knew he would reveal a wealth of information about ADHD.

I want you to know - there is no holding back in this interview. Together, we covered a lot of ground - some of it totally unexpected. For example, Matt is the first person (professional or other) who finally revealed how medication can be helpful, while at the same time sharing his limited use of medication over the lifetime of his diagnosis.

That's just the beginning. In this interview, you will hear:

• How my friend had to look inside himself to find strength.



• How he had to rely on his strengths, and leverage the strengths of others in order to achieve great success.



• 7+ strategies for successfully managing symptoms of ADHD.



• The 1 "critical factor" that likely made the difference in his success.



• The 3 most important "gifts" a parent possesses and can give their child.



• And so much more...

To gain access to this interview, just sign up below:

This interview is just loaded with information. After listening to the call again - I have a 5-page outline of the information contained within this interview.

If you are a parent who struggles with a child who has either been diagnosed with ADHD or who suspects their child might exhibit symptoms of ADHD, then you will want to listen to this interview.

Happy New Year!

It's 2008 - I can hardly believe it!

I didn't anticipate taking the entire holiday vacation off from blog posting, but it just sort of happened. And it felt good!

It felt good to take a break.

But I have to admit - there was a big part of me that missed the interaction. I missed writing and sharing information.

Thank goodness 2008 is upon us!

So, what do you have planned for the New Year?

Resolutions Vs. Goals

This time of year we hear alot about setting "resoltuions," but I like goals better. Goals can work anytime, and truthfully, most of us give up on resolutions rather quickly. We just get busy and throw them aside.

So, what goal(s) do you have for the New Year?

• What would you like to be different about this year?
• What do you want to change in your life?

To get started, choose 1 reasonable goal and work towards it everyday. It's just that simple! There is no failure - only success when you reach your goal, OR when you notice a change.

In the meantime, I will be back to check in with you that goal.

My Goals:

I have a great deal planned for this blog, my ADHD newsletter, and the information I am going to share with you all in the months to come. Part of me wants to give you a teaser, but then again, there is an even greater part of me who wants to show you - rather than tell you!

Keep your eyes peeled. It's gonna be a wild ride.

P.S. - I will return to the regular format later this week to continue where I left off!