adhd quizYou May Have ADD/ADHD

Thanks for participating in our ADD/ADHD quiz. Based on your responses, you may be suffering from ADD/ADHD. The most prudent thing to do is to visit a local psychiatrist who can properly diagnose you, and determine the best course of action you should take. If you feel like your one of the only people you know suffering from this condition, know that you are not alone. There are millions of Americans that are diagnosed with this condition, and the number continues to climb annually.

There are a few options you have for treatment of this condition, learn more below.

#1 – Prescription Medications

There are a wide variety of pharmaceutical medications on the market that are used to help treat those suffering from ADD/ADHD. Some, like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin, are stimulant based medications that start working very quickly. These drugs require a doctors visit and a prescription, and some of these drugs can be difficult to obtain because they are classified as schedule II drugs with the DEA. There are many advantages and disadvantages to stimulant medication for ADHD, and we will list a few below:

Advantages

  • They often work quickly
  • Have been clinically studied
  • Are FDA approved
  • Are made in cGMP facilities
  • No long term complications have been found

Disadvantages

  • Many come with a range of negative side effects (increased blood pressure, heart problems, insomnia, etc.)
  • They can be very expensive (brand name)
  • They can be difficult to obtain
  • They can be potentially addictive

Others like Strattera, Intuniv, and Kapvay, are without stimulants, and may be suitable for people with a wide range of conditions which limits the from stimulant therapy. However, often times they do not work as well as stimulant medications, so they’re not right for everyone.

#2 – Natural Ways To Treat ADHD

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this rings true with ADHD as well. It’s important to understand the underlying cause of your ADHD…while genetics do play a strong role, outside factors like excessive alcohol use, cigarette smoking, food additives, pesticides, and even food allergies have all been hypothesized as being a root cause of ADHD.

Diet and Exercise

One natural way to lessen your ADHD symptoms is exercise. It has been suggested by some researchers that daily exercise can help improve mental cognition, memory, and focus. You should exercise at LEAST 3 – 4 times per week, with a healthy mix of both cardio and weight lifting. Check out our free “How to lose weight quickly and effectively” ebook, it’s packed with tons of tips on diet AND exercise to get you on the right track.

As mentioned previously, keeping tabs on your diet is also very important, and may be a root cause of your ADHD. You should avoid “heavy” foods that are high in saturated fats, and instead opt for foods rich in complex carbohydrates and high in unsaturated fats. You know when you eat heavy, fattening foods and then you feel tired? Well, it also causes a lack of motivation and focus as well.

Allergies and Food Coloring

One other thing to note is to avoid certain food colorings and preservatives which have been shown to increase hyperactive behavior in some children. Allergies can also be a cause for ADHD, so it’s best to visit an allergist and get a scratch test to determine if you are allergic to any foods, pets, medications, etc.

Yoga for ADHD

It has also been suggested in some limited studies that yoga can help improve your ADHD symptoms. In one of those studies, researchers found that 2 – 3 yoga sessions per week resulted in less anxiety, daydreaming, hyperactivity, and inappropriate emotions. (1) Plus, yoga is just a great way to maintain an emotional and spiritual overall well-being.

#3 – Natural Supplements

optimind reviewThere are a number of alternative supplements out there that can help lessen ADHD symptoms. They’re called Nootropic supplements, and the idea behind them is to produce similar effects to prescription medications. We have personally tested dozens of them out, and one of the best ones we’ve tried is called Optimind.

While it doesn’t give you the EXACT same feeling you would get with prescription medications like Adderall, it’s a VERY close second. It can help dramatically with alertness, thinking ability, improved memory, mood, and cognition, as well as focus. This particular supplement contains a host of all natural ingredients such as GABA, Phosphatidyl L-Serine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and DMAE.

In addition, it doesn’t cause any side effects, which is very common with prescription meds. Take a minute to read our review of Optimind and learn more about how it can help you with your ADHD symptoms.

Conclusion

You don’t have to suffer in silence anymore. As you can see above, there are numerous ways to help treat your ADD/ADHD, and it’s best to try a variety of these alternatives to see which ones are right for you. As mentioned above, it is definitely recommended that you speak with your doctor to official be diagnosed. They will present to you the above options more then likely, but only he or she can make an official determination on the best course of action.

References

1. 5 Natural Remedies for ADHD – http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/natural-remedies-adhd#8