Alternative Therapies for ADHD
Many people who have ADHD take medications to manage their symptoms. Other people prefer to avoid the use of pharmaceuticals for a range of different reasons, including side effects, personal preference, and ineffectiveness. A successful treatment plan for ADHD requires the use of multiple therapies regardless of whether or not medications are used.
Alternative and complementary therapies may be used as the primary interventions for ADHD symptom management or as adjuncts to conventional treatment. A wide array of complementary and alternative therapies effectively reduce distractibility, impulsiveness, and other challenges that ADHD presents.
Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation about which therapies are effective and which ones are not. Let’s take a look at complementary and alternative treatments that have been proven to be safe and helpful for adults and children who have a diagnosis of ADHD.
1. Alternative Schools
Alternative schools emphasize hands on learning experiences are an outstanding option for many children and adults who are challenged by ADHD.
These schools teach students learn how to cooperate and use real life problem solving skills. Students have opportunities to socialize with others and are less likely to feel like “the kid with ADHD.” It is important to ensure that alternative school programs provide opportunities for the students to regularly interact with other who do not have ADHD in order for them to gain a well-rounded life experience and education. An alternative school setting need not be just for children who have ADHD in order to be valuable.
Many alternative school programs stress multiple ways of learning and recognition of the value of each individual. Class sizes are frequently small.
Alternative colleges enable students to successfully obtain a college degree while gaining real life work experiences. Students have opportunities to develop marketable skills and job placement assistance is often offered.
Unfortunately, these schools can be expensive and are not available in all locales.
It seems that the winter blues are a justifiable fear and ADHD’s presence is constant. What can be done about this compounding combination?
