Today I've got an excerpt you'll go crazy over. If you don't already know about this guy, Matt Walsh, soon you'll either love him or hate him. He's fairly new on my radar but maybe he's been around a while…? Let me know what you think:
Help, doc, I’m bored by boring things. I think I’ve got the ADHD!
“What if we stopped trying to make our kids “normal,” and instead encouraged them to be exceptional?
People tell me they know ADHD is real, because they were put on ADHD medication and it suddenly made school much easier for them. But that makes about as much sense as Lance Armstrong trying to justify his steroid usage by insisting that it made it easier to win the Tour de France. Of course it made it easier. That’s why people take them. You might find it easier to socialize at a party after you drain a few shots of Jack, but that isn’t exactly proof that Jack Daniels should start marketing itself as “medication” for “social anxieties.” In fact, Armstrong is looked down upon for resorting to drugs to get a leg up on his competition, and I’d be called an alcoholic if I relied on booze to be sociable around people, yet we see no problem encouraging our kids to use drugs to get ahead in an academic environment.”
More:
“Surely there must be some truth to this ADHD thing; after all, look at just how distracted our young people are these days. Look how many of them struggle to concentrate in school. It's an epidemic. How else can this be explained?
Right, there must be a mysterious mental disorder going around. Or, you know, the culprit could be:
-TV
-iPods
-iPads
-Smart phones
-Laptops
-Fast food (hidden chemicals)
-Energy drinks
-Lack of physical exercise
-Constant barrages of advertising
-Boring curriculum
-Lack of discipline
-Broken homes
-Lack of sleep
-Poor diet
-Disinterest in academics
-A government school system that only suits a particular personality type and leaves everyone else at a disadvantage
-Over emphasis on memorization and regurgitation
-Differing skill sets
Could it be that our kids are distracted because they're surrounded by distractions? Could they be overstimulated because they're surrounded by stimulation? Could they have trouble paying attention in school because school is tedious and boring?
Could it be? Maybe?
Shouldn't we at least consider these possibilities?”
Read more from Matt Walsh on this topic here.
Be sure to catch his other recent stuff. As I said, you'll either love him or hate him, but I think the guy is a breath of fresh air in the politically correct mess of a world we're in. Too bad he's not a real foodie, at least not as far as I can tell, but who knows?
Other posts on ADHD:
- Can Diet Changes Really Improve ADHD? (A Mother's Story)
- Autism, ADD, ADHD, constipation, candida, asthma, learning / behavioral problems & depression – Natasha Campbell-McBride: Gut and Psychology Syndrome
Photo credit, Creative Commons 2.0
John Russell says
Well, here are my thoughts on this: fast food should not be eaten regularly, but eaten on special occasions; or not at all. Even though children will have to tough out a few boring classes, it wouldn’t hurt to try and make the subject a little more interesting. I wouldn’t show much interest in class unless I knew how the topic in question would applied to me. Why would people care about something that had no practical value?
Here is an example: I learned about the true history on Cristopher Colomubus’ voyage to America(called the New World at the time). Cracked.com, for all of its crude language, still took something that was boring and made it interesting. This is an example you may not want to follow, but I think it says much of how you can make learning less tedious. Here’s a hint: it doesn’t involve talking on-end for more than five minutes without breaks(a common trend).
Lack of discipline is also a factor in class problems, because children are not being properly trained. It would also help if children were taught to approach learning with a better attitude. That is something I had to work on in the past. Lack of sleep is also apparent because children and teenagers need a lot of sleep. And they are forced to wake up before they are supposed to. Such a breach of their circadian rythms doubtlessly has a role to play in all this.
It is also noteworthy that each person in general has specific needs in every aspect of life, so obviously in terms of teaching styles, one size does not fit all. TV does not do a very good job either. I’ve never use smart phones or the like, but I used to watch TV. I don’t know of kids’ shows because I don’t watch them. They don’t very good raps either, maybe because they undermine the intelligence of the audience.
Commenter via Facebook says
My son was diagnosed at age 4 before we had electronics or anything. Sometimes he did well, sometimes he didn’t. Now, at 18, he is flourishing but still struggles with focus. All the healthy eating in the world didn’t help. Neither did meds really. Do I believe it is real? Yes, but I also believe it is caused, from years of genetic damage before he was even conceived, possibly from the vaccinations I gave him, definitely from system overload which I could not or was not knowledgeable enough as a young mother to reverse.
Commenter via Facebook says
Truth. Smart, creative kids take more time and energy to raise, understand, guide, and teach. But it’s worth it.
Commenter via Facebook says
Artificial food additives are a huge ADHD trigger, if that counts as a medical disorder. Using pharmaceutical grade amphetamines instead of real food as treatment is simply medical malpractice, possibly piled on top of ineffective schooling.
KitchenKop says
@Peggy @Diane & @Jo – consider commenting on Matt’s blog as well, although he wasn’t denying (I don’t believe so anyway) that there are true cases, but instead just making a statement about how over-diagnosed it is.
Kelly
Peggy says
All the things mentioned such as technology, learning styles, etc. can affect focus and behavior but true ADHD is a biological brain disorder with psychiatric as well as learning issues such as poor recall memory. I was diagnosed this year at age 48 with ADHD after having testing redone for learning disabilities since my records were lost. I had been misdiagnosed with anxiety disorder all my life and nothing- counseling, mind –body work, gaps diet, or prescriptions had helped the anxiety all the way. My son is ADD and I recently found out it runs on my father’s side(I didn’t know them growing up). Now that I have a correct diagnosis and an understanding of my hyperarousal it is helping my life and my self esteem so much. I just started taking a supplement and it is helping. From what I have experienced and researched,(I’m a graduate student in social work) ADD/ADHD is usually genetic, biological and many feel that it is from toxins and poor diet disrupting our genetic material and it is on the rise along with autism, allergies and asthma- called the four A’s. It can also be from severe trauma in childhood but this is a much smaller percentage of the population who have it. I have suffered so much in my life and hurt my son as well because of my irritability/hyperarousal issues. I just graduated cum laude 2 months before getting the ADHD diagnosis and I really had to work for my grades- it was rough at times. So nice to finally get resolution and answers to many things in my life. And to why I am feisty, have a personality that is creative and different- there are good things about this-found that out due to a wonderful book by a doc who has ADD and has worked with it most of his life. And by the way everyone if you don’t have true ADD/ADHD medication will is taking a hit of speed- it will rev you up, give you more focus, and keep you awake. Someone who has the genuine biological brain disorder can actually get calmed down from the mediation. My son’s behavior calmed down when on stimulant medication- I eventually switched him to a supplement as I was worried about long term effects. ADD is a brain disorder and in addition to learning issues it also has psychiatric symptoms. PLEASE PUT THIS ARTICLE ON KELLY THE KITCHEN KOP to look at actual science about this issue!!!!! We need to look at our toxic enviroment instead of denying this is something real.
The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI) released the first-ever biomonitoring report identifying toxic chemical pollution in people from the learning and developmental disability community. Mind, Disrupted: How toxic chemicals may affect how we think and who we are examines 61 toxic chemicals present in project participants in the context of rising rates of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other learning and developmental disabilities. The report release was prior to a Senate Hearing on Feb 4, with the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health examines current science on public exposures to toxic chemicals.
https://newideas.net/adhd/environmental-toxins-adhd-learning-problems
Karas says
I learned about Matt Walsh through your mentioning him on your blog. It’s been a couple of months ago and I have been reading his blog daily ever since. I love his articles and feel refreshed and confirmed after reading them. Thanks for sharing!
Jill says
Totally agree with this (and I love Matt Walsh!). ADHD is big business, as is “the flu”, “high” cholesterol, and so many other “disorders” and “diseases” that are frighteningly over-treated. This is part of the reason that medical errors/drug adverse events/interactions are currently the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Less is more when it comes to medical treatment.
Jo Schoeneck says
On the ADHD issue–please allow room for true ADHD which can be caused by a number of different factors, diet included. When there is true neurological damage and/or a documented genetic factor, ADHD is a devastating life condition and medication is an answer to prayer. I know. I have a wonderful, remarkable daughter whose journey is inspiring and who would not be where she is without the help she has received through doctors, medication, counseling. Do I want to see her on the medications? No. I wish her life were smoother and she did not need them. ADHD is both under and over diagnosed and medication is very much misunderstood and improperly applied many times. For one of the best sources for ADHD help and information see http://www.thebeingwellcenter.com, Dr. Craig Liden. It breaks my heart when I see ADHD so often tossed around now, caught in the emotional politically correct environment where scapegoats are sought, found and idolized. Let’s have a true, fact based discussion of a very real condition which must be addressed correctly if we are to help both those who truly suffer from it and the other victims, those diagnosed with it who are not truly suffering from the disorder.
Diane says
Here here, Jo!! I too have a daughter who truly DOES have ADHD (as does her father and his mother, who is 72 years old; it definitely can run in families!) I don’t doubt that the condition is being over diagnosed, and that’s a shame. But as with so much in life, I hate seeing people apply a “one size fits all” mentality to what can be a very difficult disease to manage! There are those who really do benefit from the use of medication.
Kira says
Yup. I’m so tired of hearing “It’s their diet!” “It’s the parenting!” “It’s T.V.!”
Sometimes? It’s a complex brain issue, and medication is a true gift from God. I have four children. One of them has ADHD, and I knew something was different from the moment they handed him to me in the hospital. I tried everything to help him, I homeschooled, changed his diet, arranged his environment, made sure he exercised, gave him supplements. I have not failed him by giving him medication. I would be failing him if I refused to find the right answers for him. And one of those answers is medication. I’m done feeling guilty about that.
Nancy says
Kira,
Thank you so much for your post. I am glad to hear that you found help for your child. Although I do agree that children are often prescribed medication when the issue can be addressed by other means, this is not so for every child. It is so improtant for people to hear from the parents of homeschooled children. If a child is having difficulties, it does not always mean they are bored or over stimulated. On the other hand, if a child is truly bored, it is often because they are expected to do something other than play a video game. Each case is unique. And, yes, I agree some activities can be tedious and boring. Many of my first grade students do not enjoy sentence writing. Would any parent, though, not want their child to learn to write? Teachers and parents are all too often made scapegoats for issues that are often misunderstood.
Carol in MT says
been saying it for years, I am glad some in the younger crowd are finally getting it.
I have read a little of his Matt’s stuff before and I normally agree fully with him.
ValerieH says
I happened to just get this article in email today, which is on the same topic
https://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v09n22.shtml
Orthomolecular medicine has an allopathic mindset. It cures conditions using megadoses of vitamins. That being said, it is a less toxic approach and still very effective, according to their studies.
The best quote in the article – “Saying no to drugs” also requires saying “yes” to something else. That something else is nutrition, properly employed.
Linda says
I think he hit the nail on the head. I hate what school is & I feel bad for the kids who don’t fit in.
Yolanda says
This is brilliant. Thank you!
Tessa@TessaTheDomesticDiva says
Hear Hear!