Natural Relief for Adult ADHD , livre ebook

“This book is well researched and jam-packed with information about treating ADHD in all ways. Stephanie Sarkis presents information in a way that leaves you feeling fully educated, as well as comforted. A must-read!”
— Roberto Olivardia, PhD , clinical instructor in the department of psychology, Harvard Medical School
“ Natural Relief for Adult ADHD is yet another edition in the author’s growing library of books designed to help adults living with ADHD to navigate the nitty-gritty of daily life, which is where ADHD strikes the hardest. Stephanie Sarkis helps readers sort through the many nonmedication treatment options for ADHD, including honest appraisals about which ones help and which ones do not, and uses her clinical expertise to distill the science into specific coping tips that will help to improve your life.”
— J. Russell Ramsay, PhD , codirector of the Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine; and author of Nonmedication Treatments for Adult ADHD and The Adult ADHD Tool Kit: Using CBT to Facilitate Coping Inside and Out
“With its emphasis on concise information and simple checklists, Natural Relief for Adult ADHD will guide you toward effective, personalized decisions around ADHD. By providing an honest overview of what works, what doesn’t, and what we don’t yet know, Stephanie Sarkis has produced a comprehensive, easily accessible guide for anyone living with ADHD.”
— Mark Bertin, MD , Developmental Pediatrics
“Medication? Diet? Exercise? Accommodations? Meditation? Therapy? Brain games? Coaching? After receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, adults must then face the additional task of deciding what to do next to manage symptoms and improve their day-to-day life. Bombarded with a plethora of information, they often feel alone in sorting it all out. But they are not alone. Natural Relief for Adult ADHD has provided a unique and practical resource to help them wade through this information, get their questions answered, and design a program suited to their needs. Natural Relief for Adult ADHD is written in simple, no-nonsense language and is a welcome addition to the collection of must-read books for ADHD adults.”
— Patricia O. Quinn, MD , coauthor of the best-selling book Understanding Girls with AD/HD
“Do brain games work in taming ADHD symptoms? Are elimination diets effective? What can be done about stress and sleep issues that are commonly seen in adult ADHD? What foods can help improve attention and mood? Stephanie Sarkis tackles these questions and more by citing the latest research. Natural Relief for Adult ADHD is a much-needed resource for those who, for whatever reason, either cannot take ADHD medications or want to supplement traditional treatments with nonmedical options. Save your money, time, and energy, because Sarkis does the legwork for you by sharing what works and what doesn’t. … Highly recommended.”
— Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW , author of The Queen of Distraction and Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD , and director at http://ADDconsults.com
“ Natural Relief for Adult ADHD impressively answers the frequent question, ‘Is there any alternative to medication for my ADHD?’ Informative, comprehensive in scope, and user-friendly, it is a must-read for anyone diagnosed with ADHD who wants to make an informed decision about treatment. I highly recommend it as a valuable resource for both the consumer and the clinician.”
— Susan Tschudi, MA , licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Loving Someone with Attention Deficit Disorder

Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright © 2015 by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 5674 Shattuck Avenue Oakland, CA 94609 www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup
Acquired by Melissa Kirk
Edited by Elisabeth Beller


All Rights Reserved



Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sarkis, Stephanie.
Natural relief for adult ADHD : complementary strategies for increasing focus, attention, and motivation with or without medication / Stephanie Moulton Sarkis ; foreword by Ari Tuckman.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-62625-164-9 (paperback) -- ISBN 978-1-62625-165-6 (pdf-ebook) -- ISBN 978-1-62625-166-3 (epub) 1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder--Alternative treatment. I. Title.
RJ496.A86S27 2015
618.92’8589--dc23
2015010146
To Toby and Lucy. Thank you for “supervising” the writing of this book. Toby, I will miss you.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
1 Overview of ADHD
2 Medication
3 Counseling and Coaching
4 Exercise
5 Brain Games and Neurofeedback
6 Movement and Timing Treatments
7 Stress-Reduction Techniques
8 Touch Therapies
9 Changing Your Environment and Habits
10 Accommodations
11 Supplements
12 Healthy Eating
Conclusion
Resources
Recommended Reading
References
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my friends and colleagues at New Harbinger Publications—Melissa Kirk, Jess Beebe, Jesse Burson, Michele Waters, and Elisabeth Beller. It has been a pleasure working with you again. Thank you to my family—Janice Moulton, Claude Moulton, William Moulton, and Christine Whitney. Thank you to Charles Downer, Valerie Matherne, Roberto Olivardia, R. Michael Sitz, and Ari Tuckman for their consultations and good humor. Thank you to Elias Sarkis for reviewing the final manuscript. Finally, a big thank you to all the clinicians and people with ADHD who have contributed to this book through their research and/or personal experiences.
Foreword
We are fortunate that there is now so much known about ADHD. There are piles and piles of really solid research studies that help us understand the causes of ADHD and, perhaps more important, how to help people with ADHD live more rewarding lives. This is very good news. Unfortunately, despite all this good science, it can still be confusing to figure out which interventions are most likely to help you or your family member. It can even be confusing for clinicians who are well versed in this area. A quick Internet search for “ADHD treatment” will yield millions of pages—how can you possibly sort through all the claims and contradictions without getting a PhD in the process?
Fortunately, that is where this very important book comes in. Stephanie Sarkis has done the hard work of slogging through all the journals to determine which interventions have good research support and which are unlikely to be helpful. This will not only save you time and money by helping you avoid ineffective treatments, but will also save you heartache when high hopes are yet again dashed. Even if a proposed treatment is totally free and involves a minimal investment of time, there is still a price paid in additional and preventable suffering. If you spend a month trying something before abandoning it, then you have spent yet another month struggling as a result of your untreated ADHD—a month that was harder than it needed to be. And if you get discouraged and give up again for a while before trying something new, that’s even more time.
I am all in favor of innovation and give credit to people who are looking for new ways to solve old problems. This is a good thing. But it can also be a problem if the potential benefits of a new and untested intervention are oversold. The fact that something worked (or seemed to) for a small number of people does not automatically mean that it will be beneficial for others. This is why well-constructed research studies are so important—they tell us whether the proposed intervention actually works and, if so, for whom (for example, for most people with ADHD or maybe just for kids with ADHD).
More important, it tells us how likely it is that this intervention will work for you specifically. It’s reasonable to have more faith in an intervention that has many double-blind, placebo-controlled studies showing a large treatment effect than it is to trust a new intervention with a couple of small case studies. If you have several treatment options, it is usually best to start with those with the strongest research validation before trying the less likely contenders. By analogy, if you can’t find your keys, it’s probably smartest to look first in the living room and kitchen, and then work your way around to less likely places where they may be. Most of us wouldn’t start by looking in the attic, but that is what we’re doing when we skip the best validated treatments and start with the long shots.
You may have your own personal reasons for trying some interventions before others. It may be related to finances, insurance coverage, or perhaps the availability of local providers. Or maybe it is just a matter of personal preference. Make your own choices. The goal of this book is to provide you with accurate information so that you can make the best possible decision—one that is well informed and well considered. Read this book to see what the science says, and then combine that information with your own personal preferences to make the best possible decision for yourself.
—Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA
Author of Understand Your Brain, Get More Done: The ADHD Executive Functions Workbook ; More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD ; and Integrative Treatment for Adult ADHD: A Practical, Easy-to-Use Guide for Clinicians
Introduction
Welcome to your guide to nonmedication treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Know that if you’re overwhelmed by the amount of information you’ve seen on nonm