Adult Bother with ADHD

I know that a modified diet has helped many kids with ADHD - I would assume it would do the same for adults. I read the book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemic: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies" by Dr. Kenneth Bock. Dr. Bock has personally treated MANY kids using dietary changes and has take many long-term meds kids off of meds (these medications have proven dangerous for some kids when taken for years and years). Some people have been able to simply remove dairy and/or gluten (wheat) from their diets with much success. I think it's worth looking into...

K.,

Are you and your brother close? If you are, and he will listen, one of the things I have done with my almost adult son is take him to the coffee shop, or a restaurant and discuss what I think the problem is and find out if he is interested in working towards solutions. If he is, there are many things that will help. Diet and exercise are excellent for a baseline treatment. Beyond that having daily routines, posting goal reminders, using a timer to stay on task and keeping a daily check off sheet that will keep the important things in front of him will all help a lot. He can use the daily sheet to keep weekly and monthly goals, account spending, to do's, appointments, and his morning, afternoon, and evening daily routines written down. The daily routines are one of the most important things, I think, to help someone with ADHD stay on top of all the little things that tend to slip away. These routines can include simple things like: take meds, eat good breakfast, make bed, shave, 2 minute pick-up, get lunch, back breifcase, etc...

Beyond the things I have mentioned, professional help, like a Life Coach, or a pyschologist can really help. If medication is in order, and for many it really is, a good psychiatrist. Sometimes a General Practitioner will be willing to prescribe the medication, but they are very limited in their understanding of ADHD, the medications, and the comorbid problems that can accompany ADHD like depression, or OCD.

One of the biggest problems that I have faced is the preconceived notion that (especially adults) should be able to control their situation without medication, that ADHD is a behavior issue. It is not. It is a deficiency of chemicals and that can be altered by diet, sunshine, exercise, but it is not a behavior problem. ADHD can have created in your brother some "bad habits" that he will need to re-learn, but if he needs meds, there is no difference between his need for medication and my younger son's need for insulin; they both have a chemical malfunction.

Also, there is a website called Flylady.net. It is actually a woman who helps folks (mostly woman) to keep their homes under control. However, her phylosophy is EXCELLENT for folks with ADHD. You may want to check it out. Her systems can be incorporated to whatever your brother may need to keep it all together.

Good luck to you! Life can be good for him and the family if he is willing to work at it.

M.

He can see a doctor for medication. Some of the newer ones are great!

K.,

I responded to the last mom who wrote in with the website: www.flylady.net

Marla teaches people how to build a routine to fit their lifestyle and daily schedule. She teaches people who are easily distracted how to handle big projects in small pieces (baby steps).

Here is a link to her control journal: http://www.flylady.net/pages/cjmain.asp
It is set up over a 30-day period by the person who will be using the journal. They work on just a small piece each day and it really helps to focus on each page and each routine rather than completing a huge project in one day. A lot of her members have ADHD and have found success with her system.

She also has other control journals for people to use at the office, during the holidays, at school (for students and one for teachers), for when families move, etc. http://www.flylady.net/pages/control_journals.asp

I love my control journal and find I don't accomplish as much throughout the day when I don't use it.

Good luck with your brother, I hope he is open to the idea and that he finds something that works for him.

C..

Check out hope139.com. It really has helped a lot of people with out meds. It is a computer program that retrains the brain to work at its optimal abillities.

L.

My husband is 33 and has ADHD. He's been on meds lately to treat it (wasn't before) and he is a totally different person, although still has some issues. Our doctor is playing with different drugs to determine what is the right pill and dosage for him, given his side effects. If your brother isn't on meds for it, suggest they talk to a doctor. If he is on meds for it, suggest that they talk to the doctor about the problems and talk about a med switch. There are many different kinds of meds out there (including a patch kind) that could help. Good luck!!

Check out your local library or books store. I have seen some "success" books for adults with these issues like ADHD. There may even be a counselor of professional organizer or coach in your area with experience helping people with ADHD.

Hi K., I am a Family Success Coach. My specialty, ADHD and other "labeled" disorders. ADHD is adults is real, but it is also a blessing. I know, I was diagnosed when I was in my 20's - funny how for so many years i let it define me, now I use it knowing that I am in control.

My ADHD is managed with food. I eat very clean and I make sure I get the supplements that my body needs.

My daily routine is this:
breakfast and 3 PM snack I eat this:
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isaleanshake_new...
(in the afternoon I put http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isafruits.dhtml and http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/greens.dhtml

lunch and dinner I take these: http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/antioxidants.dhtml
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isaomega.dhtml

I have done this for 4 years and i can totally 100% say, I am in control. AND I am confident enough in that to help others do the same.

Want to chat?

B.
Family Success Coach
____@____.com

There are a lot of organizations, online info, magazines etc. available for adults with add. Have them check out ADDitude (I get online ideas, helpful hints, etc free all the time) and CHADD organization holds monthly meetings, although there is a cost to join. If she needs help, there is plenty available if she is willing to seek it.

You mention that he knows its his responsibility... so he has some awareness of his 'issue'... is he against going and seeking professional help? I know my dad was diagnosed in his 50's - about the same time my youngest brother was - and he started taking medication for it. It made a world of difference for him. We, his adult children, could tell a difference between when he took his meds and when he forgot. It was a huge help to him.

I know there are good support groups around, you might try looking one up (I believe my mom went to the monthly CHADD meetings in her area when learning more about ADHD and how to best deal with it). They might give you some good information/resources to help. If you can get your brother and his wife to go with you, even better!

One of the key ingredients in OPC-3 is Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol has been shown in studies at University of California Berkley to have a positive impact on ADHD and ADD. If you would like to learn more about this natural dietary supplement, let me know. It has been shown to impact health in over 200 areas! Yes, I am a distributor.

S.
____@____.com