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January 7, 2014   

Attention Talk News 

 

In This Issue . . . 

 

The New York Times continues to print articles sensationalizing anything they can to stir up emotions around ADHD for their own interests around profit. In this edition, we share Dr. J. Russell Ramsay's letter to the editor as a result of their last printed article.

 

What are the top five alternative treatments for ADHD that ADD CrusherTM Alan Brown uses? How can you be sure you're getting the best information and research concerning alternative remedies? Get the answers in our Featured Article section, titled "Top 5 Alternative ADD Treatments that Don't Come in a Bottle," and learn how Alan uses alternative treatments, remedies, and solutions to manage his own ADHD.           

 

In our Attention Talk Radio news, get the details of our recent shows and be sure to listen. In our interview with Dr. Sanford Newmark, titled "Dietary Interventions for ADHD," we ask the questions whether the dinner menu is appropriate for an ADHD breakfast and what role omega 3 plays in an ADHD brain.  On Christmas day, Jeff Copper and Dr. Kirsten Milliken discussed "Highlights: A Year in Review Interviewing ADHD Experts," recalling their favorite shows over the past year. And In the show titled, "The Impact of Food Additives on ADHD," Jane Hersey, who is the national director of the Feingold Association, discusses what to be aware of on food labels.   

 

Of course, you don't want to miss our upcoming shows on Attention Talk Radio. You'll find the details in this issue about "ADHD: How to Learn How You Learn" with Ann Dolin of Educational Connections, Inc., on January 8, and "ADHD: Ugly Organizational Systems" with Kacy Paide of The Inspired Office on January 15. Each show will give you something of interest that you can apply right away.

Does smoking marijuana make ADHD symptoms worse?  Get the answer from Dr. David Teplin in our interview with him on Attention Talk Video as he discusses the potential for those with ADHD to have a higher propensity to smoke marijuana, to become addicted, and to have more difficulty giving up the habit. Listen to our video interview with him, titled "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Marijuana."
Dr. Ramsay's Letter to the Editor    

Brought to you by
the Edge Foundation  

   

 

Dear New York Times Editor,  

 

An underlying theme in Alan Schwarz's article, "The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder," and one that comes up often in stories about ADHD, is that of diagnostic accuracy, but rarely is the issue properly explained. Mr. Schwarz writes extensively about over prescribing, but the central problem is that of misdiagnosis, both over diagnosis and under diagnosis of ADHD. An error in either direction risks a delay in designing a treatment plan that can be fit to the unique needs and circumstances of an individual. Anyone suspected of having difficulties associated with ADHD deserves a gold standard evaluation by a specialist, which includes actively assessing for other potential psychosocial or medical causes. Sadly, ADHD remains a condition for which most mental health and other healthcare professionals have not received formalized training. Hence, an issue that will be trampled asunder by the stale is-ADHD-real-or-not squabbles is that there are many people of all ages legitimately and desperately in need of help but for whom expert care is otherwise unavailable to them.   

 

J. Russell Ramsay, Ph.D.

 

 

Disclosure: 

In the past 12 months, Dr. Ramsay has been paid as a research consultant with Shire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J. Russell Ramsay, Ph.D., is associate professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Adult ADHD Treatment & Research Program.

 

Featured Article    

Brought to you by Time Timer 

   

Top 5 Alternative ADD Treatments that DON'T come in a Bottle

 by Alan Brown, ADD CrusherTM

 

In last week's blog, I shared some interesting bits on meds that I theretofore just plain didn't know. Hope some of the facts flipped on a light bulb of insight for some readers, too. Now, I enter into an area where I DO know a good deal, cuz it's been a driving force behind my own mess-to-success story since the day of my adult ADHD diagnosis: alternative ADHD treatments.

 

First a statement: Medication is a potentially powerful part of an ADD-crushing plan. Crusher doesn't take sides in the meds-are-good vs. meds-are-evil debate. I believe every ADHD adult should deploy every tool at their disposal - so long as it works and doesn't somehow screw with your wellbeing or your health. And those tools should DEFINITELY extend BEYOND medication. As they say, "Pills don't teach skills!"  

 

Top 5 Alternative ADHD Treatments and Solutions I Use

So with that, here's a list of the non-medication alternative ADHD treatments that help me most on a day-to-day basis. And importantly, most of this stuff is FREEEEEEEE. It's not an exhaustive list, but it's a good overview, with some links to additional info:

 

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): For those not familiar with the term, 'cognitive' refers to how we think about things...'behavioral' is how that thinking translates into our actions...and 'therapy' is the addressing of those thoughts and related behaviors. Now, CBT needn't involve an actual therapist, though it can - and sometimes should. But I've made tremendous productivity, well being and happiness advances by "treating" myself. One big way I did this was to change the way I view my 'failures' and successes. Negative self-talk is deadly when it comes to undercutting our potential success - and worse, depression and anxiety are greatly influenced by our negative perceptions. (I teach steps to a new mindset in Video II, Way 9: Score Your Successes.)

 

2. Mindfulness: Related to CBT is simply being mindful. This is a broad area of alternative ADHD solutions, but the primary focus of mindfulness for me is knowing what stuff is whirling around in your noggin, recognizing your thoughts' meaning and relevance, and ultimately, being able to prioritize those thoughts (also, see the quote below). I've blogged on this at Jennifer Koretsky's ADDManagement.com. And if you've any doubts about the power of simply being more mindful of your thoughts and related emotions, ask Google about neuroplasticity. This is the ability of the brain to change based on what you're paying attention to - how the brain actually PHYSICALLY changes and adapts to alter certain brain deficits.

 

3. Meditation: Don't be put off by this woo-woo word. (Is woo-woo a word? It is now, folks.) Anyway, I meditate throughout the day - not by sitting on a bed of nails and murmuring, but by simply quieting my mind - which is EASY once you are MINDFUL of what's inside it (see above!). I call it "Shut-up-a-you-mind." And it can power up your mind in just a few minutes. More about that on the Crusher YouTube channel and in Video I, Way 2.

 

4. Coaching: I've had a few sessions with ADHD coaches as well as executive coaches and business coaches. Each and every time, I got more than my money's worth. And now, group coaching is sprouting up more and more, making coaching more accessible and affordable. Give it a try. Here's a link to my faves. Is there a better way to stay on top of alternative ADHD treatments than having a coach and support staff remind you of them on a weekly basis?

 

5. Proper Diet, Exercise and Sleep: OK, I know - "Booooorrriiiiing." But I gotta beat a dead horse here, cuz you've probably heard my mantra that "If you're eating a donut for breakfast, your kicking your own ass down the street!" These three things are the most POWERFUL and FUNDAMENTAL of all, in my view. The YouTube channel and Video I, Way 1: Feed Your Brain have the basics on this topic, as does this link on ADD diet tips.

 

A Note on Supplements as Natural ADHD Remedy

This is where things get tricky. I won't go into any detail here other than to say two things. First, the only supplements I use are four that are research-based no-BS brain helpers, easily remembered as ZIMB6. Zinc, iron, magnesium and B6. Get some quality supplements and take 'em every day in keeping with the recommended daily allowances. Second thing on supplements is: Beware any claims that sound too good to be true. Research the crap out of supplements, herbals, etc., that 9 times out of 10 are... crap.

 

There are many other alternative ADHD treatments, remedies and solutions, but these are my mainstays. I'll write some more down the road about others, some of which I've yet to try, like neurofeedback.

 

'Til then, Attention Talk Radio's archive has a great interview with Russell Ramsay on this very topic. In fact, there's probably an interview on each one of these individual alternative remedies! Check it out - it will round out and fill in the above for sure.

 

-Crusher

 

Originally published in ADD Crusher Blog. Republished with permission.    

  

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 Recent Shows to Listen to in Our Archives

 


Dietary Interventions for ADHD
In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, we interview Dr. Sandy Newmark about things you can focus on in the realm of diet to ease ADHD symptoms and talk about some of the things you can do to help improve the symptoms. There's so much that is confusing when it comes to diet. If you have been struggling with researching the matter, you won't want to miss this show. Listen in and get CliffsNotes on how to focus on things.

Highlights: A Year in Review, Interviewing ADHD Experts
In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, host Jeff Copper and co-host Dr. Kirsten Milliken share insight from countless interviews from 2013. This will be a great show as we recount noteworthy guests, memorable moments, and insights learned in 2013.

The Impact of Food Additives on ADHD
All kinds of things are added to our food. Some are good and healthy; some are not so good for many individuals. In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, we will interview Jane Hersey, the national director of the Feingold Association of the United States. We will talk about food additives, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We will also talk about the potential impact on behavioral issues and discuss how to be mindful, where to get good information, and how many can manage food additives. If you have ADHD and are interested in helping the symptoms by diet, you won't want to miss this insightful show.

REMINDER TO CALENDAR THESE UPCOMING SHOWS

Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 8:00 pm 
Processing, learning, and remembering information... it can be hard for those with ADHD. Isn't hard overrated? Why not take the path of least resistance? In this episode of ATR, host and ADHD coach interviews Ann Dolin (http://www.ectutoring.com) around how to figure out how you naturally learn. After all, if you are in school or are trying to learn something at work, why make learning harder than it needs to be? If you want to learn in the easiest, most efficient way, you won't want to miss this show.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014, 8:00 pm 
Is organization about beauty or about putting things at home in a place where you can find them? In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, we interview Kacy Paide, professional office organizer of The Inspired Office (www.theinspiredoffice.com), on the topic of ugly organizational systems that work. If you struggle to get organized or find yourself paying attention to pretty systems as opposed to ugly systems, this is a show you won't want to miss as we will clearly delineate the difference between the two and help you understand which is more effective for you to pay attention to... ugly organization styles or pretty ones. This show promises to be very insightful. @theinspiredoffice

Be sure to visit the Attention Talk News website  

 

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Video News

 

 

Are those with ADHD more likely to smoke marijuana? How does smoking marijuana impact ADHD? Does it make symptoms worse? Get the scoop from our interview with Dr. David Teplin (www.drdavidteplin.com).

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Marijuana

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Attention Talk News is a part of the Attention Talk Network, which includes sister channels Attention Talk Radio and Attention Talk Video. To learn more, go to www.attentiontalkradio.com and www.attentiontalkvideo.com

 

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Copyright 2013 Attention Talk News, Tampa, FL, USA.  All rights reserved. 

Editor's Note

Jeff Copper, Editor



Our intention is to share audio, video, and printed content to capture your interest and perhaps inspire you to pay attention to something differently. Enjoy.


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