Question for discussion A: Why are the pharmaceutical companies trying to neutralize the “leaders” or “warriors” of society?
Question for discussion B: Children and teens (naturally aggressive) are being “doped” up in the United States on Ritalin and Adderal. Why?
“The Warrior Gene” determines if a person will be a leader or a follower. The pharmaceutical companies are prescribing anti-aggression drugs to children, teens, and adults in America who carry the warrior gene. You also might want to take a look at the stats and sources at the bottom of this post, the number of children on prescription drugs in America is crazy.
Leadership requires the mastered skills of hard work, aggression, conflict resolution, energy, and common sense. Many people who are born with the “Warrior Gene” are taking antidepressants, Ritalin or Adderal to calm their aggressive personality. The personality they were born with, this aggression is what gives the person the natural abilities of a “warrior” and a great leader. I have never heard of a single historical figure that did not have some type of leadership skills, and aggression needed to be successful.
The “warrior gene” naturally enhances aggressive behavior and decision-making skills. The gene allows a person to make snap decisions, think in stressful situations, and lead others without hesitation. The gene has been the subject of much controversy. People who have this gene have no easy lifestyle it seems, and have a high conflict rate in their life. The “warriors” are more likely to be prescribed drugs in the United States to inhibit their “warrior” nature.
Society needs Warriors. The warrior or the aggressors are an important part of any society. The prescription drugs are impairing the natural-born leadership skills of people who carry the warrior gene, people who would have grown up to be a major asset to society.
For example: person with the “warrior” gene would most likely become the CEO of a large company, as they are born with a natural talent to lead people. These people often have strength, courage, confidence, and natural-born charisma.
Warriors vs. Ritalin and Adderal
Hmmm….What are the stats on kids on whose parents have them on crazy a*ss prescription meds in the United States? Click Here to find out:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/drugs/stats.html (keep in mind these drugs are HIGHLY ADDICTIVE)
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_A (Warrior Gene)
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/12/14/21873/national-geographic-and-henry-rollins-explore-warr/ (National Geographic Explors the Warrior Gene)
http://www.thewarriorgene.com/ (Warrior Gene Test)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/136267.php (article regarding warrior gene)
http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v05s06/v05s0602.pdf (PDF on treatment of aggression in young people)
http://fda.com/ (Federal Drug Administration Website)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/113358-aggressive-behavior-children/ (Children with Aggressive Behavior)
http://www.conductdisorders.com/forum/f6/warrior-gene-39553/ (Kids, ADHD, and the “Warrior Gene” Forum)
SprinklinThoughts
/ September 12, 2012Yes, why? Because the pharmaceutical companies work for the elite?
My thought…
a) money, gotta keep pumping those pills into people, makes for good profits
b) class, we don’t need warriors or CEOs, we need worker-bees – people who are compliant & will do what they’re told; the warriors can be trained & bred, the CEOs should only come from ‘approved’ families & lineage.
note/disclaimer — this is not what I believe, it is what I think the ‘powers that be’ believe & are forcing upon us. (just in case somebody decides to quote me out-of-context – ha!).
lizeccentric7
/ September 12, 2012Have to agree, it seems if any person is the slightest bit out of the “norm” than they are dubbed to be in need of some type of psych drug in the United States. The person, if aggressive or opinionated, even at a young age, is usually put on Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Ritalin, or any number of other drugs to make them calm down. When I was a kid being hyper was just called “being a kid.” It was normal for a child to be hyper. Nowadays, a hyper child is dragged to the psychiatrist for a long list of meds, where they become a robot like creature that just goes along through the day, with no feelings or emotions.
a beautiful mess
/ September 12, 2012Liz, your insight is a potent threat to the structural integrity if the semi-invisible monopoly that the Pharmaceutical Elite has established over American culture.
Timely post, well-documented information. I love a writer who validates their opinion with facts. You’re a grand-master research queen. Dig it.
lizeccentric7
/ September 12, 2012“Semi-invisible monopoly,” well put Brandy, yes the drug companies and doctors think they have everything figured out.
a beautiful mess
/ September 12, 2012Warrior genes. I knew our commonalities held some sort of molecular credence.
mystudentstruggles
/ September 12, 2012The current elite don’t want new blood ruining their power. Also, the drug companies are after the profit, not the health and well being of the nation. People should be educated and told they can say ‘no’ to drugs (even legal ones) and learn to utilise their skills rather than suppressing them.
a beautiful mess
/ September 12, 2012I wish there was a ‘like’ button for this comment.
lizeccentric7
/ September 12, 2012@ a beautiful mess – If any young person questions authority or tries to live out of the norm of society, and are in the upper crust here in the United States, their parents will fix their head real quick. The adolescent is quickly put on so many highly addictive prescription drugs, that they no longer think for themselves, but their parents do all of the thinking for them. If we look at the numbers of children and teens on prescription drugs like Ritalin, Adderal, and the like, the numbers are scary. A society of robots, building an empire.
The question remains: We have a society of robots building an empire to what end, and what is the purpose?
Without individuality, how can a country be great? How can new ideas come about? Will the next generations have new ideas, with everyone hooked on Ritalin and Adderal, Zoloft, etc.? Not to mention Oxycontin, which is huge right now, like Cocaine was in the 1990′s.
lizeccentric7
/ September 12, 2012@mystudentstruggles – Well, I think that’s the problem here. Many parents are having their children put on highly addictive prescription medications in America now. It is the new “in” thing. If a child is the least big hyper, the parents run and get Ritalin or Adderal or some other pill to calm them down. I guess a pill is easier than actually parenting.
Now, I am not suggesting that there are few, and I am saying VERY FEW who ACTUALLY need these drugs. Surely, not the stats that are reported of children taking these highly addictive scripts, that they will most likely be addicted to for the remainder of their lives.
Sounds to me like parents with a bit of a “control” issue. Kids are going to be hyper, that’s what a kid is supposed to be is fun, outgoing, and imaginative with energy!
For Example: children in my neighborhood, in suburbia, are so doped up on Ritalin that they don’t even play outside. You could drive around this neighborhood all day and only see maybe 4 kids playing outside on a beautiful day. There are (2) parks in this neighborhood, within walking distance too.
a beautiful mess
/ September 13, 2012In healthy contrast to your ideas here, I’d like to add a small idea of my own.
Two things come to mind. First, our food has become so highly processed inorganically with preservatives and additives and unnatural ingredients that are absolutely toxic to the human body. Specifically, did you know that a very simple gluten allergy presents itself in the IDENTICAL fashion as attention deficit disorder? Mood instability, manic-depressive behavioral tendencies, inability to focus, irritability, aggression issues, among many others.
How many parents have children with these symptoms and request their child have allergy testing performed? I dare say there are much fewer than there are blindly accepting the doctor’s suggestion for ADHD meds. Sadly, few people realize the significant kick-backs primary care physicians receive from pharmaceutical companies, based on the QUANTITY OF SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED.
I have been in the medical field for years. I’m not reaching for straws here. I’ve seen it firsthand.
Additionally, children these days are faced with a HUGE and CONSTANT influx of stimulation overload. In stores there are radios playing. In restaurants there are televisions running. In school, they watch videos and learn interactively on the internet. They come home and play video games. It’s constant. And it has serious consequences on the manner in which the younger generations are learning to PROCESS INFORMATION.
As a parent myself, I personally feel we could all use a bit more empathy and compassion about how we are doing raising our kids. Judgement and condescension will never produce a more informed society of parents. It only leads to a quickening sense of having totally lost touch with the ‘right’ thing to do for their children.
We could all be more understanding. I suggest we channel our efforts to informing the masses about what’s really happening so these parents CAN make better decisions.
mystudentstruggles
/ September 13, 2012I’ve got an extremely hyper younger cousin and I can’t imagine him any other way. It’s a shame to stifle their creativity especially so early in life. They’ve also probably got too many electronic games so they don’t want to go outside.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012@ my student struggles – he should be able to be the hyper bundle of joy that was born to be, and enjoy every moment and remember his childhood. Some of these drugs can actually effect memory (my memory was bad on the ADHD meds – I mean real bad), that’s another sad part about children taking strong scripts for ADHD or depression. Think you are right about too many video games and on the internet, or as George W. Bush would probably say, “internets.”
Think George W. actually said the word “internets” or “intranets” it was something close to that, have to look that up. The quote was voted one of his funniest quotes, if I remember correctly.
lizeccentric7
/ September 13, 2012@ a beautiful mess – Bingo! Over stimulation, food processing, lack of exercise all cause ADHD symptoms, even lack of nutrients. The United States of America has sadly become a nation of children, teens and adults hooked on ADHD meds, our LEADERS are now mindless robots, wondering around being told what to do, and where to go all day long. When I researched the stats of kids on ADHD meds on the PBS cited source (at the bottom of this post) I was shocked and outraged!
How can this be? How can we Americans allow our children and teens to become hooked on drugs? Why? Oh, the kids were a bit hyper in school….woo-hoo “Houston – we have a problem, let’s call 911.” “Hyper kid here.”
Laughable!
Kids = hyper
Teens = hyper
Young people have more energy! When I was a kid, hyperactivity was considered “normal.”
People born with the WARRIOR GENE have more energy, naturally! They were born to lead.
Now, who will lead in the next generation? Who? A bunch of doped up people, that are high 24/7….hmmmm sounds great. No thanks.
SimplySage
/ September 13, 2012I think this is a legitimate problem. I work with a warrior. Yes, sometimes I feel he could use something to slow him down but he his work employs hundreds of people and he has become an expert in his field. He has helped thousands of people lead better lives. These “warriors” may not be on the battlefield but they go to war nonetheless. We need them.
lizeccentric7
/ September 13, 2012I agree, society has a place for warriors on and off the battlefield, it’s hard for me to understand why America’s parents are allowing the youth of the nation to be at a disadvantage compared to other nations across the world whom are not drugging their children. I feel this epidemic leaves our nation as the “underdog” for the next generations, if we look at the world as a whole, and where the United States stands in the future, economically, strategically, and as a global power. In 20 years, the Ritalin and Adderal kids will be leading this country, that’s a scary thought, no doubt.
mrsdeboots
/ September 13, 2012This is all such awesome and interesting information here, and being the person I am, while I am afraid I will should like a huge idiot, I will still throw in my 2 cents.
Adderal, for me, has been a lifesaver. After suffering for years with an unbelievably difficult load of overprocessing, I was diagnosed from the age of 14 with everything from anxiety to depression, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, OCD, etc and prescribed a multitude of medications, the worst being Lithium and Depakote. At 22, I was diagosed with dyslexia, and the doctor I went to said, hey, I don’t think you need all this crap. Let’s try Adderal. I just think you overthink everything to the point it makes you anxious and depressed.
And a fog, a cloud, a magical pancake lifted. I could process One thing at a time, not stopping to think that this led to this led to this etc.
While I don’t believe that I am a warrior per se, I believe I have an inordinate amount of opinion/creativity/flight vs fight response that would be useful in certain leader type situations. Do I think Adderal in any way hasstumped or stifiled this? No.
That bring said, I think amphetamine derivitive medications are highly over prescribed, and yes I feel they are used to make kids/teens, easier to deal with.tidepressants are also highly over prescribed, as it is easier to stick a pill in a kids mouth than take the time to talk to them and much cheaper than traditional talk therapy.
Overstimulation is rampant, as are hormones, antibiotics, gluten, preservatives and nasty nasty whatnot in our food.
The latter scares the shit out of me. What do they all have in common?
Pharmaceuticals. Yeouch. Big government. FDA. Lobbyists (sp?).
Wow, that went way longer than I meant it to.Hope the rambling made sense.
a beautiful mess
/ September 13, 2012I think it made perfect sense. I agree with much of what Liz has to say on this issue, and given her passionate nature about it, I try to contribute somewhat gently and thoughtfully from all angles. I was diagnosed with ADD (not ADHD) and mild OCD at the age of fourteen as well. To complicate things, I was also severely anorexic.
When I was finally prescribed Adderall, I suddenly experienced a freedom in my thought processes. I found myself mo longer bound by the relentless complusions to control my behavior (through strange obsessive tendencies and perpetually starving myself to regain some sense of being ‘in control’ of my otherwise uncontrollable mind). Much like you explain, I was — instantaneously — out of the fog.
For people who do not truly have attention deficit disorder and actually suffer from a high energy level, adderall will actually PUT you in a fog. Which is why I agree with Liz that there are too many cases of of kids being thrown on meds they don’t need.
ADD is genetic. I studied all of this in school because I was so deeply troubled by it, and I wanted to be a part of the solution. My five year old is showing a huge propensity of ADD. I will not even consider having him medicated until he is at LEAST in high school, because I want him to have a semi-involved role in his own decision to live with it (if it isn’t a simple diet issue) or to manage it, as I have. I was always gifted in school. I always had the best test scores. And I always had the lowest grades. I simply could not think clearly.
The eating disorder was UNDOUBTEDLY a manifestation of my sense of feeling out of control, like I couldn’t keep my world together. I couldn’t ever seem to FINISH anything, and it was my own way of obsessive-compulsively proving to myself that I could control at least ONE area of my life. I hated how thin I was. 85 pounds, 5’7″ is disgusting. But in my distorted need to feel in control of my own mind, it was gratifying. I was sick… Mentally, and physically.
So for what it’s worth, I agree Liz. Meds are not the solution when we haven’t thoroughly researched the problem. But there are certain instances when I am confident that meds are a solution… When the problem is proven to be a chemical imbalance.
A sidenote: my child developed MRSA recently, which turned into Scarlet Fever. Being the homeopathic mom I am, I went to a forum for natural-remedy-seeking mothers. A mom had posted back in April about her daughter developing the same thing. She gave her child colloidial silver, witch hazel, tea tree oil and heavy fluids. The forum was pro-homeopathy and anti-modern medicine. Still, everyone on the site urges her to take her child to the hospital and have her treated with antibiotics. She scoffed at the members, indignant at the lack of support she found in the forum.
Her child later died of complications.
Yes, the Pharmaceutical Elite has us trained to believe we need to Medicare everyone for everything all the time.
No, that is not right.
But yes, there are occasions in which medicine IS the answer.
a beautiful mess
/ September 13, 2012Sorry for all of the errors, I’m swamped & blog from my phone but I was inspired by the great comments & wanted to respond. Great discussion Liz!
lizeccentric7
/ September 13, 2012@mrsdeboots and a beautifully mess – good afternoon ladies, and thank you for your wonderful comments on this subject.
I think these drugs are a lifesaver for many people who cannot think clearly. My issue is this:
I was working with many teens who told me they were taking Adderal just to be thin, and are now badly hooked.
Small Kids – I really don’t know if it’s safe for any child to take this class of drugs, their brains are still in development. I was prescribed Ritalin once, it’s a powerful drug.
I myself was prescribed this class of drugs and had a few second opinions. I wasn’t even ADHD. The Family Dr. had given me the wrong diagnosis.
Found out this important information:
-Family doctors should not prescribe mental drugs.
-Psychologists should be the only doctors to prescribe them.
In my opinion.
a beautiful mess
/ September 14, 2012Considering the nature of the type of illness, it is a behavioral disorder and should be treated by a behavioral specialist. Agreed.
Technically, only a psychiatrist (not a psychologist) can actually prescribe medications, as a Psychologist is only required to have a bachelor & master of arts, not science. The psychiatrist actually must complete med school.
The reason so many Americans go to their family doctor versus a psychiatrist typically comes down to money. I am a self-pay patient without insurance. My family doctor charges $85 per visit; my former psychiatrist charged $190. Which is pretty standard.
Unfortunate realities, which also dive deeper into our health care crisis but I’ll refrain from getting tied up in that here.
lizeccentric7
/ September 14, 2012@ a beautiful mess – Exactly! The health insurance companies normally will not pay for a psychiatrist (sorry I made a mistake on that one), or they will only pay a small portion. Most people cannot afford the psychiatrist (as you stated), so they go to the family physician and only pay the insurance co-pay. The family physician many times will misdiagnose a mental problem. Then, the person goes for years on the wrong medication, that potentially ruins their entire life or causes other health problems. I have a friend that was given the wrong medication for depression, when later she found out she was not depressed, but had severe bipolar disorder.
Her family doctor just decided she was depressed and prescribed her an anti-depressant, in my friends case, the anti depressant had a horrible affect and made the bipolar much worse, which almost caused her to have seizures and a nervous breakdown. She then went to the hospital, they sent her to a psychiatrist, whom correctly diagnosed her, and now she is living happily and normally. Her psychiatrist told her that the antidepressant was triggering the wrong part of her brain, and making her bipolar disorder 10x worse, and making her have paranoia.
True story.
mrsdeboots
/ September 14, 2012@abeautifulmess I totally agree. As a long time sufferer of aneroxia, control is my vice, and the ability to uncontrol ones mind is a terrifically terrible cross to try and bear.
That looks wrong. Bear? I think its right, but it looks wrong. But I digress.
I am also ADD. I’m only hyper in my mind. In person I’m quite sloth-y.
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012How funny!! Every time I’ve typed the word “bear” lately I’ve stopped to look it up & double check the spelling because it just… feels wrong. Strange.
Many people who’ve never witnessed eating disorders firsthand do not understand the nature of the illness. To this day, my family thinks I see myself as fat (and I’ve always had a teenage boy-type frame, even after having four children naturally). I never felt fat. I never enjoyed looking emaciated. I simply felt in control of my life in a way I never had before. Almost like, “yeah okay world, you can hurt me… But not as bad as I can.”
Hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t been through it, but we definitely connect on so very many levels.
Thank you Liz for such an incredible blog, that has introduced me to so many great people. What an awesome experience.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012Hey Brandy, on a lighter note, what in the h-e-double hockey sticks does emaciated mean? Brandy, do you also have eating disorder?
Questions to mrsdeboots and Brandy:
May I ask why neither of you blog about ADHD, eating disorders, etc. ? You really could help many other people with your experiences, and what you know from firsthand accounts, and seeing multiple doctors, etc.
or
Do you both feel these issues are private? The blog is a wonderful place to vent and get advice and positivism. Woa – first time ever used the word “positivism.”
CHA-CHING HIGH FIVE BRANDY! NEW WORD LEARNED TODAY!
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012High five.
No, I do not feel these are private issues, at least not in my world. However,mmy perspective might be unique given that I no longer suffer from anorexia;aat least not like I used to. I still recognize the thought patterns, but am mo longer bound by them. My success is not typical though.
I have SO MANY topics I can’t wait to write about… Plants. Environment. Corporate greed. Public education. Mental health and mental illness. My childhood (that’s at the top of the list…) I’m so deeply passionate about such a massive array of issues, it’s difficult to squeeze them all into the narrow time slot I have left at the end of each day for writing and reading blogs. It’s tough. But I will get to them all, in time.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012@ a beautiful mess – looking forward to reading about your personal experiences, I find those the most interesting. Am I aloud to hand out writing assignments, and the date they are due?
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012Thanks for the nudge. I appreciate that kind of feedback!
My phone has been acting crazy, sorry for the ridiculous amount of typos.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012No worries Brandy, I feel typos humanize a post and a blog. That’s why I no longer write rough drafts anymore, seems to make the post too “stiff” and not flow, seems like things are sometimes better written directly from the heart to the paper.
I am serious about the writing assignments. Ok, first assignment is this:
Thesis: How I (well it would be you, Brandy) cope with ADHD
Subjects:
Signs and Symptoms (what was your personal experiences – not what’s online)
Diagnosis (how did yours come about)
Doctors (What type diagnosed you)
Meds (What is the best one that works for you) (Which ones did you dislike)
Side affects (Do your meds have side affects? How do you deal?)
Positves of meds (What do your meds do for you that help your life?)
Natural remedies (Do you also use any natural aides to help with ADHD?)
Brandy, the goal for this assignment is to write only on the items above and not to stray off into Brandy distant la-la land on a long tangent about something unrelated to the items above.
Assignment due in 7 days, putting a widget on the sidebar for this writing assignment.
Happy Blogging, I wish I could have been a teacher, that was my dream job,and I never followed through.
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012And I’ll gladly accept writing assignments! Can’t promise they’ll be finished in time, however.
lizeccentric7
/ September 16, 2012LoL
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012@mrsdeboots – Had no idea you suffered from aneroxia, having met quite a few anorexic/bulemic young people, and talking with them, I do have a bit of an understanding of the need for control. The intake of food is the only thing the person feels they can control in their life, so that’s what they control. Am I close? The people I spoke with (please note I became friends with them) would cry during meal times, and have severe anxiety whenever food was present or even within eyesight. They were very thin and their bones were brittle, their families felt helpless in trying to aid the person. I would watch them excercise for hours, and eat little.
I am sorry mrsdeboots that you are suffering from anorexia, I don’t really know what to say.
Maybe this:
Perhaps finding the right psychiatrist and support group or help center or staying at a help center for a while that has psychiatrists and therapists that are experts in the field of anorexia/bulemia? I am sure you have probably already been to one of these centers either once or several times already, but please do not give up. Please go back to the center no matter how many times in may take, if the anorexia takes your weight down too low (your family most likely says this each day, and it probably gets on your nerves, and makes it worse). I often wonder if people who suffer from anorexia are slowly punishing themselves, as they do not feel worthy to eat or to live, due to being hurt by other people in their childhood or adulthood. Please note I am not a professional, just my observations from speaking and spending time with young women who suffered from eating disorders (from working in the healthcare field).
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012I can’t speak for mrsdeboots, but anorexia feels more like a reward than a punishment. It’s hard on the body, yes. But the mental satisfaction that comes from exercising such EXTREME self-control (which is more accurately self-deprivation, but feels like self-control with anorexia) is an incredible sense of empowerment and accomplishment and somehow (in a distorted way) makes you feel alive in a way you never felt before, because you have discovered a willpower within you that is stronger than every insecurity and doubt and self-loathing you’ve ever known. It’s a double entendre.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012Oh, I see, it is empowering to someone with anorexia/bulemia to show such control over an important thing like food, as we need food to live. I had no idea how many people have anorexia until began working in the healthcare field or for that matter, this is hard to write these words, but how many young people I met that referred to themselves as “cutters.”
I worked in a mental health facility for quite some time as an aid, and would sit and talk with the residents. I worked 3rd shift, so we had alot of time to talk, and became friends with many young people.
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012Exactly, Liz. A few years into my battle with it (once I couldn’t hide behind the excuses or deny the extent of my illness any longer) I tried cutting. It felt like the exact opposite of what I wanted… It re-enforced my emotional pain but brought no sense of control; quite the opposite. From my point of view, I feel that cutting is a manifestation of surrendering to the repressed psychological issues, whereas anorexia is playing spades with them; the thinner you get, the more you feel like you threw down a trump card over your emotions. As if to say, “you can’t win. I’m the king of this castle, and I write the rules. It’s stupid because it hurts the body worse and it only deepens the suffering, but with an eating disorder you feel more powerful than your pain by refusing yourself basic necessities. To starve yourself is to prove that you are the opposite of weak. To cut yourself is to say, “my weakness is my own, and no one else’s.” Similar, but distinctively different.
lizeccentric7
/ September 16, 2012That is exactly what the residents at the facility where I worked said, almost those same words, but in a different way. Thank you for sharing, those words have to be hard to write and share with the world.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012Have you read my post regarding ADHD, the man who researched Niacin (non-flushing) and the results of his research. He was a gifted scientist, his studies are astonishing:
http://awomeninherthirties.com/2012/05/15/worse-than-crack-cocaine/
lizeccentric7
/ September 13, 2012@Readers – Have to add this:
When I was little
Hyperactivity = corner
a beautiful mess
/ September 14, 2012Which explains your passionate opinions about a deeper possibility of lazy parenting — in certain cases. I understand now.
I tried to process your point of view objectively prior to knowing this, but it’s hard to hear someone suggest (from the outside looking in, even as a generalization and not as a direct opinion of my personal parenting) that my brilliant child with extreme aggression & hyperactivity issues simply needs a more involved/less lazy parental unit at home. I think our perceptions are all uniquely formed by our own life’s experiences and I try to bear that in mind; but even as a pro-organic mother who resists modern medicine whenever possible, I can confidently say that my child is undoubtedly ADHD. He isn’t just rambunctious, he is brilliant and creative and unbearably unable to focus whatsoever. I hope to discover new ways of encouraging his strengths and helping him overcome his challenges; but with five boys, sometimes a kid is gonna sit his butt in the corner when he pushes his baby brother over repeatedly or screams in his twin’s ear while they are doing homework.
Disability should never be an excuse for bad behavior. But it’s all about finding a balance.
lizeccentric7
/ September 14, 2012@ a beautiful mess – I agree, there are some children who actually do have ADHD, and should be treated. I just do not see it being the numbers being reported, or how so many of the kids I actually know are on the meds, and I know for a fact, they are not ADHD, known them for many years. I think that some parents are taking advantage of the drug, due to lazy parenting. However, there are children that DO have serious ADHD problems.
I know one child in-particular, and there is no way he could function at school or home without the Ritalin, he would never make it through a single class. Prior to the meds, he was actually kicked out of every single class in school. Known this child all his life, I knew from a toddler that he had severe ADHD, and kindly offered the parents my opinion, they ignored me until about 2 years ago, until they finally decided to get him the medicine. Now, he is doing fine and functioning normally.
mrsdeboots
/ September 14, 2012@abeautiful mess and @lizceentric I totally agree. A typical internal med or family doctor should always refer a patient to a psychiatrist for evaluation before rx ing a potientially life altering medication.
And therein lies the flaws with our heath care system. Specialist copays are higher, and parents resist, and PCP providers are often persuaded. My copay for my pcp is $20, to get Adderal from the shrink is considered a specialist, therefore I still have to meet my deductible of $2500, so each visit is $160.
It’s bull-S.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012Presto! People who suffer from mental illness in the United States are just pushed aside, and ignored. Many homeless people are mentally ill, and cannot find jobs due to their lack of healthcare. I would have thought that the mental illness issue with the insurance companies would have been one of the first things that would have been addressed in the new healthcare bill, but I am not even sure if the issue is addressed at all in the new healthcare bill, is it? The bill is so long, who knows?
Scripts for mental issues seem like such an easy societal problem to fix, don’t understand why the insurance companies have made it nearly impossible for Americans to get proper mental health treatment. The insurance companies made it to where people have no choice but to go to the family physician for any type of medications for a mental condition. The family doctors are making a ton of money due to the co-pays being the way they are right now.
I really would have thought that by the year 2012 that the homeless (mentally ill) people living in the United States would have been able to get free medications. I also would have thought that the co-pays for the psych doc would be the same as the family doctor.
The health insurance companies of the United States won the battle on having to pay much of anything for mental healthcare. I agree, mrsdeboots, bunch of BS.
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012Thank you for sharing. I respect that your passionate points of view are so typically balanced by first-hand experience from both sides of the fence. Good conversation sister.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012No, I thank the blogging community for allowing me to vent & appreciate the advice that commenters and followers give in return.
Love advice from the outside world! Especially since people often stay in their little “groups” of friends, colleagues or family, and they NEVER get an outsider’s advice, opinons or feedback on personal or even professional problems.
I love giving and getting advice and feedback from my WordPress “peeps.”
mrsdeboots
/ September 14, 2012@abeautifulmess I’m sure you already know this, but just in case..have you tried fish oil supplements? When my daughter started exhibiting some concentration issues, I tried fish oil and after about 5 weeks I saw a pretty noticeable difference in her behavior and concentration.
a beautiful mess
/ September 15, 2012I did not know that, actually. Wonderful information! I’ll look further into it for sure.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012High Five as Brandy would say to mrsdeboots!
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012To jump in to this mrsdeboots, I take the following:
Salmon Oil (capsules) 1000 mg per day
Vitamin D3 (capsules)
Acidophyllis – probiotic (capsules)
Niacin (non-flushing) (capsules)
Super B Complex (tablets)
Vitamin E oil supplements (capsules)
These are vitamins that my aunts doctor instructed her to take, she gave the list to me, when I started the regimen (one year ago) I noted a marked increase in energy and also my skin and hair softened, also noted that my face seemed much smoother, and nails are not brittle. Hair is more shiny, and just feel better in general, with more concentration.
Whenever I forget to take the regimen, my concentration is off and energy is lower.
Sorry, to interrupt just had to add my two cents in there.
Mrsdeboots you are 100% correct, although my research (which was a boatload) indicates that Salmon Oil Supplements are better than just plain fish oil, I read many, many books on the subject. Salmon oil has properties that assist with so many things in the body and the brain.
Well, if we think about it logically people are hunters and gatherers, and basically used to fish alot more and eat Salmon on a daily basis or fish.
If I remember correctly the book I read stated that Salmon oil has less mercury than Fish Oil, but have to look that up to make sure that statement is 100% accurate.
lizeccentric7
/ September 15, 2012@mrsdeboots – correct, and yes all of your comment makes sense. The anti-depressants are so over prescribed it’s really ridiculous in the United States. Seems like a person could go to the family doctor with a cold, and he will just write a script for Zoloft just for the heck of it, makes zero logical sense.
People may think of Zoloft, Wellbutrin and the like as “nothing” scripts, but they actually have a large impact on the brain.
If we look at the research the drug companies are not exactly sure how Zoloft even truly works. Read many books and articles on anti-depressants..
Dr. Atkins of the Atkins diet wrote on anti-depressants, he was highly against them. Smart man, and many dismissed him as a “crazy person.” Read many of his books, and now much of his writing is coming to light as being “accepted” in the diet world. Would have been nice if his ideology and research were accepted while he was alive.
The Dr. Atkins diet and the South Beach diet are not that much different, and yet the South Beach diet is widely accepted.
One of the first items I read in one of Dr. Atkins books was to stop taking the anti-depressants, (from memory) believe he claimed that the anti-depressants slowed the absorption of carbs into the body, or turned the carbs into fat….have to look up the exact words of the book (this is from my brain, not a quote of the Dr.).