Rebecca Branstetter - The Conscious Parents Guide To ADHD: A Mindful Approach for Helping Your Child Gain Focus and Self-Control

Avon, Massachusetts

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my supportive and wonderful husband, Steven.

Copyright 2016 by F+W Media, Inc.

All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by

Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.

www.adamsmedia.com

Contains material adapted from The Everything Parents Guide to ADHD in Children by Carole Jacobs and Isadore Wendel, copyright 2010 by F+W Media, Inc., ISBN 10: 1-60550-678-8, ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-678-4, and The Everything Parents Guide to Raising Mindful Children by Jeremy Wardle and Maureen Weinhardt, copyright 2013 by F+W Media, Inc., ISBN 10: 1-4405-6130-0, ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6130-6.

ISBN 10: 1-4405-9311-6

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9311-6

eISBN 10: 1-4405-9312-4

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9312-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Branstetter, Rebecca.

The conscious parents guide to ADHD / Rebecca Branstetter, PhD.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-4405-9311-6 (pb) -- ISBN 1-4405-9311-6 (pb) -- ISBN 978-1-4405-9312-3 (ebook) -- ISBN 1-4405-9312-4 (ebook)

1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder--Popular works. 2. Parent and child--Popular works. I. Title.

RJ506.H9B724 2015

618.92'8589--dc23

2015030421

This book is intended as general information only, and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. In light of the complex, individual, and specific nature of health problems, this book is not intended to replace professional medical advice. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions in this book are intended to supplement, not replace, the advice of a trained medical professional. Consult your physician before adopting any of the suggestions in this book, as well as about any condition that may require diagnosis or medical attention. The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and F+W Media, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Cover design by Frank Rivera.

Parenting a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be an exhausting, frustrating, bewildering, and overwhelming experience. In addition to managing day-to-day parenting challenges, parents may feel confused, stressed, and powerless when faced with the vast amount of information on ADHD. But as a parent, you can do a lot to help your child manage and control her symptoms, and to quiet the chaos that the disorder often imposes on families and marriages. It all begins with openness and patience, and a complete understanding of childhood ADHD.

Throughout this book youll find tips for remaining flexible, calm, and mindful while taking the necessary steps to create a better future for your child. It is critical for parents to have effective tools for taking care of themselves and working positively with their kids. These mindfulness practices will provide tools for both you and your child to build a healthier, happier family household together.

The Conscious Parents Guide to ADHD is a comprehensive resource for parents of children of all ages. It provides detailed information for recognizing and managing your childs disorder from preschool through high school. This guide offers practical advice on the telltale signs and symptoms of childhood ADHD and information on getting a reliable diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment for your child.

By reading this book, youll glean the basic medical knowledge necessary to talk intelligently about your childs condition to his doctor. Youll also learn about the conditions classic symptoms, diagnostic and evaluation techniques, and an increasingly sophisticated arsenal of high-tech treatment and medication modalities used to treat childhood ADHD.

Although almost all children have days when they dont complete their homework, blurt out the wrong things in class, or forget where they put their backpacks, those days are the norm, rather than the exception, for children with ADHD. As youll learn by reading The Conscious Parents Guide to ADHD, not every child has the same ADHD symptoms, and a childs symptoms may change over time. Some children with ADHD are hyperactive; others are quiet dreamers who stare into space, miles away from their teachers and homework at hand. Still others are so impulsive that they butt into every conversation, are overly blunt and tactless, or invade everyones space.

The Conscious Parents Guide to ADHD will also help remove any blame, shame, or guilt you may be harboring about having caused or contributed to your childs disorder. Youll learn that your childs ADHD was not caused by bad parenting, by eating a poor diet, or by watching too much television, but that it is a neurobiological disorder caused by biochemical imbalances in the brain. Scientists now believe that childhood ADHD is not one single disorder, but a cluster of disorders that affect different parts of the brain. Researchers also know that childhood ADHD is a genetic disorder. That means if you or your spouse have ADHD, your children are at a higher risk of developing it, too.

Although theres no cure to date for childhood ADHD, perhaps the best news about this disorder is that most of your childs symptoms can be successfully managed and controlled through a combination of medication and therapy.

Its not easy for parents or children to live with childhood ADHD. Early intervention wont cure your childs disorder, but it can dramatically improve his chances of managing his ADHD symptoms and doing well academically and emotionally. In fact, studies show that most children with ADHD can be successfully diagnosed and treated and go on to lead more productive lives.

Finally, The Conscious Parents Guide to ADHD will give you practical tools for coping with the challenges of parenting, while being present and mindful of the joyful moments with your child. Mindfulness practice, which is the art of being present in a nonjudgmental way, has been a hot topic in scientific research for a number of years. Evidence continues to mount demonstrating that mindfulness helps parents and children alike deal with stress and negative emotions, improve focus, enhance happiness, and improve cognitive and executive functioning skills. By learning, modeling, and teaching mindfulness practices in your family, both you and your child will have a new set of tools for success now and in the future.

The key to your child getting and staying well is parental knowledge and awareness. By picking up this book, youve made a commitment to learn as much as you can about childhood ADHD and taken the first step in your and your childs journey to improved health and happiness.

Being a conscious parent is all about building strong, sustainable bonds with your children through mindful living and awareness. Traditional power-based parenting techniques that promote compliance and obedience can disconnect you from your children. Conscious parenting, on the other hand, helps you develop a positive emotional connection with your child. You acknowledge your childs unique self and attempt to empathize with his way of viewing the world. Through empathetic understanding and tolerance you create a safe environment where your child feels his ideas and concerns are truly being heard. When you find yourself in a stressful situation with your child, rather than reacting with anger or sarcasm, conscious parenting reminds you to instead take a step back, reflect, and look for a peaceful solutionone that honors your childs individuality and motivations. This approach benefits all children, especially those with ADHD.