The prolific use of drugs to treat ADHD stirs heated debate in therapy
and parenting circles today. Is this medication really going to improve
my son's symptoms? How best can I help my patient and her parents manage
this difficult disorder? Will the side effects of this drug outweigh the
benefits? What are my other options?
Because ADHD affects every facet of life, from psychosocial development
and peer relationships to family dynamics and academic and job
performance, the need for better--that is, safer and more
effective--treatments is urgent. Here, seasoned clinicians Pat Gerbarg
and Richard Brown, known for providing the latest breakthroughs in
integrative mental health treatments, draw on over 30 years' clinical
experience to offer a range of scientifically-grounded complementary and
alternative treatments for parents and professionals alike.
Studies show that children with untreated ADHD are at greater risk for
substance abuse, unemployment, accidents, and criminal behavior, in
addition to learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, social phobia,
depression, and bipolar disorder. And yet, individuals with ADHD often
bring a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to the tasks
they undertake. Gerbarg and Brown focus on these intrinsic strengths,
encouraging parents and professionals to help children with ADHD fulfill
their potential by overcoming distraction, restlessness, and impulsivity
in order to focus on learning, task completion, and understanding social
cues. To accomplish this, they argue, we need to implement a variety of
alternative approaches.
Drawing on stories and anecdotes from their own clinical practice,
Gerbarg and Brown address the questions that are particularly important
to those dealing with ADHD. Early chapters provide information about
diagnostic issues and the scientific foundation for understanding the
known causes of ADHD, as well as how different treatments may work and
why. Multiple contributing causes of ADHD exist--genetic, nutritional,
chemical, psychological, trauma-based, and environmental--and the
authors explain how treatments need to be strategically combined and
tailored to patients' unique needs and sensitivities.
Later chapters present integrative strategies that combine the best
practices of psychological treatments with herbs, nutrients, cognitive
enhancers, mind-body practices, and brain stimulation.
Throughout, the authors draw on the work and methods of many talented
clinicians, yoga therapists, and teachers who have found creative,
effective approaches to helping their own clients who struggle with
attentional problems.
A comprehensive resources section at the end of the book features a
compilation of need-to-know websites, journals, books, and supplement
brands with dosing recommendations. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and
other therapists are equipped with access to the very latest research in
both conventional and complementary and alternative approaches.
With this book, the authors of How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in
Mental Health have taken their extraordinary scholarly and healing
talents to a new level, helping parents and therapists alike to better
understand and manage a complicated and multifaceted disorder.
