by: Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a very common disorder among children. The traditional form of treating ADHD is medication and psychotherapy. However, every person with ADHD is different and a one-size-fits-all approach cannot be taken in treating the disorder. Research has been conducted using alternative therapies including hypnotherapy. Hypnosis has been found to help people with ADHD focus, concentrate, and control stressful situations.
The symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Researchers are unsure what causes ADHD, which makes treating the disorder problematic. There are approximately 17 medications approved for use in treating children with ADHD. These medications come with negative side effects including decreased appetite, insomnia, irritability, and anxiety.
Other forms of treatment that contain no side effects include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and hypnotherapy. These forms of therapy help children change their behavior and help them realize that they can be in control over their actions. Therapy requires a network of support from therapists, parents, and teachers (National Institute of Mental Health).
A literature review was performed on numerous ADHD studies. The researcher found that ADHD is very complex when looking at symptoms, treatments, social development, and academic achievement. It is important that more than just the children be involved with treatment; educators, parents, and evaluators must be educated on the disorder. The review concluded that alternative therapies such as hypnosis and neurotherapy are very successful at controlling ADHD symptoms (Carbonell, (2003).
Barabasz and Barabasz (1999) found that ADHD is often over-diagnosed because its symptoms are often found in other disorders and the most common form of treatment is with drugs that are laden with side effects. More research is needed to both diagnose and treat ADHD. The researchers also found that active-alert hypnosis used with neurotherapy is a promising form of ADHD treatment.
These studies show that ADHD is a very complex disorder to diagnose accurately and to treat properly. More research is being conducted using alternative therapies because medications used to treat ADHD have been found to have many negative side effects. For some unknown reason, as children with ADHD get older, their symptoms decrease. This points to treating ADHD with alternative therapy as being more beneficial with more lasting results.
Hypnotherapy allows children with ADHD to gain focus, concentration, attentiveness, and control over their ADHD symptoms without the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals. Drugs only cover up the problem without actually treating the problem. Therapy is the best way to gain control over ADHD.
Sources
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved on July 27, 2009:http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publ...
Barabasz, A. & Barabasz, M. (1999). Treating ADHD with Hypnosis and Neurotherapy. ERIC ID: ED435076
Carbonell, C.L. (2003). Attention deficit hyperactive disorder: Alternative treatment plans for school age children diagnosed with ADHD. ERIC ID: ED481550.
About the author
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
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