ADHD and dopamine. Any natural solutions?
Discussion
My 12 year old has recently completely and utterly changed.
The early diagnosis seems to be a low conscientiousness form of ADHD - something I would have normally sugegsted was rubbish and could be sorted by a swift kick uop the backside and removal of tv privileges for a week or two.
However, it seems really significant. He has become increasingly disinterested in everything, from school work to various foods. He literally has no interest in anything.
As a result, punishment form not doing homework or getting detention for not handing in stuff doesn;t work - he literally doesn't care if he can't watch tv, or can't have his mobile phone.
I assume this is related in some way to hormones as he enters his teenage years.
After copious amounts of reading around the subject, Dopamine reception seems to be an issue - but I am very very very reluctant to allow him to take one of the various ritalin-type things (though I have no objections to modern medicine at all, I am averse to 'personality altering' regimes based on easy solution culture).
So, anything we can do to try to increase his dopamine levels with resorting to ritalin-esque tablets?
The early diagnosis seems to be a low conscientiousness form of ADHD - something I would have normally sugegsted was rubbish and could be sorted by a swift kick uop the backside and removal of tv privileges for a week or two.
However, it seems really significant. He has become increasingly disinterested in everything, from school work to various foods. He literally has no interest in anything.
As a result, punishment form not doing homework or getting detention for not handing in stuff doesn;t work - he literally doesn't care if he can't watch tv, or can't have his mobile phone.
I assume this is related in some way to hormones as he enters his teenage years.
After copious amounts of reading around the subject, Dopamine reception seems to be an issue - but I am very very very reluctant to allow him to take one of the various ritalin-type things (though I have no objections to modern medicine at all, I am averse to 'personality altering' regimes based on easy solution culture).
So, anything we can do to try to increase his dopamine levels with resorting to ritalin-esque tablets?
I don't know anything about these conditions, but they appear to me as a modern excuse for bad behaviour.
How come we seem to be developing a raft of these diseases over the last 5 years?
Not accusing you of bad parenting or anything, but wouldn't a little slap be preferable to filling him with drugs?
ETA: Sounds just like our 12 year old. Waste of skin.
How come we seem to be developing a raft of these diseases over the last 5 years?
Not accusing you of bad parenting or anything, but wouldn't a little slap be preferable to filling him with drugs?
ETA: Sounds just like our 12 year old. Waste of skin.
Edited by Cara van Man on Tuesday 8th June 14:10
Cara van man
I too was of this view. But the change in him is nothing short of 'night and day'. We know many teenagers and not many exhibit this total lack of interest where previously there was. It is not the attitude that bothers me as much as the sudden change. When teachers start noticing ( bearing in mind how many they have seen pass through their classrooms) it would be daft not to explore positive solutions.
I too was of this view. But the change in him is nothing short of 'night and day'. We know many teenagers and not many exhibit this total lack of interest where previously there was. It is not the attitude that bothers me as much as the sudden change. When teachers start noticing ( bearing in mind how many they have seen pass through their classrooms) it would be daft not to explore positive solutions.
johnfm said:
Cara van man
I too was of this view. But the change in him is nothing short of 'night and day'. We know many teenagers and not many exhibit this total lack of interest where previously there was. It is not the attitude that bothers me as much as the sudden change. When teachers start noticing ( bearing in mind how many they have seen pass through their classrooms) it would be daft not to explore positive solutions.
Maybe give it a little time.....as you suggested, it could be hormones.I too was of this view. But the change in him is nothing short of 'night and day'. We know many teenagers and not many exhibit this total lack of interest where previously there was. It is not the attitude that bothers me as much as the sudden change. When teachers start noticing ( bearing in mind how many they have seen pass through their classrooms) it would be daft not to explore positive solutions.
Our 12 year old has become a greasy long haired, lazy, d
head who bounces between his PSP/the TV/the PC constantly and has no interest in anything, overnight. Mrs CVM says it's 'a phase'.I just think he's a lazy turd who needs a kick up the jacksy.
We'll see.
I'll be marching him to the careers office to join up in 3 1/2 years time
Edited by Cara van Man on Tuesday 8th June 14:26
I was on ritalin as a youngster and it was a disaster as it made me depressed meaning i stopped eating etc.
Sadly my adhd was of the very hyper sort meaning the solution was special small classes at scholl stopping me having access to certain sweets etc and extra activity in the afternoons to wear me out.
I am really unsure how to help with your sons situation but maybe you could try electric shock therapy. I know its old school and not seen as very pc but who knows. Desperate times desperate measures.
Sadly my adhd was of the very hyper sort meaning the solution was special small classes at scholl stopping me having access to certain sweets etc and extra activity in the afternoons to wear me out.
I am really unsure how to help with your sons situation but maybe you could try electric shock therapy. I know its old school and not seen as very pc but who knows. Desperate times desperate measures.
Cara van Man said:
Maybe give it a little time.....as you suggested, it could be hormones.
Our 12 year old has become a greasy long haired, lazy, dhead who bounces between his PSP/the TV/the PC constantly and has no interest in anything, overnight. Mrs CVM says it's 'a phase'.
I just think he's a lazy turd who needs a kick up the jacksy.
We'll see.
I'll be marching him to the careers office to join up in 3 1/2 years time
^^^ This I think.Our 12 year old has become a greasy long haired, lazy, d
head who bounces between his PSP/the TV/the PC constantly and has no interest in anything, overnight. Mrs CVM says it's 'a phase'.I just think he's a lazy turd who needs a kick up the jacksy.
We'll see.
I'll be marching him to the careers office to join up in 3 1/2 years time
I'll freely admit that I was a complete idiot as a teenager (and maybe still am
) however my parents were free-thinking and gave me the latitude I needed. (With timely reminders where the boundaries lay.)
Justayellowbadge said:
The important thing to remember about ADHD is that ooh, my pen is shiny.
That sums it up quite well.My brother was diagnosed with ADHD when he was about 5-6 and prescribed Ritalin. He wasn't on them for long though, my father stopped giving him them after deciding he'd rather deal with a child who constantly misbehaved rather than one who dismantled EVERYTHING he laid his hands on.
A friend of mine who is now a qualified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) thingamy person told me during a conversation that it could help children/people with that type of problem. We were talking about parents whose children have been prescribed Ritalin.
I know nothing about it really except it helps me regulate my chocolate eating!! Have a google and see what you can find. Good luck.
I know nothing about it really except it helps me regulate my chocolate eating!! Have a google and see what you can find. Good luck.
5MUG said:
A friend of mine who is now a qualified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) thingamy person told me during a conversation that it could help children/people with that type of problem. We were talking about parents whose children have been prescribed Ritalin.
I know nothing about it really except [b]it helps me regulate my chocolate eating!!/b] Have a google and see what you can find. Good luck.
That's probably cos it's like doing speedI know nothing about it really except [b]it helps me regulate my chocolate eating!!/b] Have a google and see what you can find. Good luck.
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