I am writing this column in
response, to the article in the Gazette Advertiser by Dr. Carl
Sorgen, "Attention Deficit Disorder - there is a treatment." I am
the author of "Moving Beyond ADD/ADHD, an Effective Holistic Mind/Body Approach,"
Contemporary Books Publisher. I am also the founder and director of
the Rhinecliff Non-Drug ADD/ ADHD Program, with offices in
Rhinecliff, Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights and opening in the fall of
2000, Poughkeepsie and Woodstock. We have successfully
treated many hundreds of children, adults and families without
the use of medication.
I would re-title the article: Attention Deficit Disorder, there is
a treatment that does not involve these powerful stimulants that are
classified by the FDA; that enables the child/adult, family to
learn to be in right relationship to self within and without.
To quote a parent who has been
through the program with her son,
who was classified as having Attention Deficit Disorder
and filled out our evaluation questionnaire:
N., age 10, "was inattentive and
sluggish. He was put on Ritalin but
didn't like the way he felt on the
medication. He had mood swings.
He would start tasks and never
finish them even on the medication.
He never had any friends. As
a result of the Rhinecliff Non-Drug
Program, N. became more focused.
His social skills improved and he
was more even-tempered. N., after
six months of treatment, is more
happy and more focused and not
drug-dependent. His self-esteem
went up along with his grades. He
is making more friends also. I always
recommend this program. It
is a commitment but a worth while
one! Dr. Kirsch was the only one
that really made N. `whole' with
his help, of course."
This is an example of the effectiveness
of the program in helping
children and parents take back their
power and move beyond. attention
deficit to become more positive,
self-aware, empowered to live an
effective, successful life.
Dr. Sorgen quotes Dr. Russel
Barkley's five "myths" concerning
the use of stimulant drugs in
ADD (Ritalin, Adderol,
Dexidrine).
Myth 1: "Ritalin is a dangerous
drug." Any drug is dangerous, be-
cause it has side effects. In Ritalin
there are many significant side effects
such as loss of appetite, lethargy, and depressed behavior.
I have seen with my own eyes, children
who are alive and curious become
the opposite ... robotic and lifeless.
Approximately 90% of the
world's Ritalin use is in the U.S.,
and it is banned in Sweden.
Myth 2. "If I am giving my child
a medication, he will feel that there
is something wrong with him and
his whole perspective about himself changes."
Most ADD children
and adults suffer from severe low
self-esteem. Are we not teaching
our children that they have to look
outside themselves for an answer -
a quick fix - when all power comes
from within?
Myth 3. "Ritalin is addictive." If
psychologically, I must take something
that makes me do better, I do
not learn from my own experience
but feel that I must have this medication
to function. Is this not an
addiction? When I want to get off
of Ritalin I will have changed nothing within.
Many children when
they become teenagers refuse to
take it.
Myth 4: Ritalin stunts growth."
Ritalin is the old diet pill, and many
clients who are on it lose their appetite.
They, are not getting enough
proper nourishment. One young
adult reported that he had spent his
childhood on Ritalin and sadly felt
that his growth level was affected
as well as terrible negative mood
swings.
Myth 5: There are no studies as
to the long-term effect of being on
Ritalin for many years.
In the New York Times this
week, the government is equally
alarmed about wholesale drug use,
especially in children under 6 years
old. Many children are coming in
younger and younger, and parents
report that medications were recommended.
Is there an alternative to drug
use? Yes. Does it take effort on
everyone's part? Yes, parent, child
and teacher. Are results long-lasting?
Absolutely, because change
was made from with new
perspective, within,
new consciousness and
new learning of proper self and
outside-self, behaviors.
To quote from an upcoming article
of mine in the Poughkeepsie
Journal: "Are we not abusing our
children, our most
precious resource,
with a solution that creates
many other problems, rather than
making the effort to find better,
long-lasting ways of meeting their'
needs and controlling their behaviors."
