Non-medication Strategies for ADHD Vs. Medication
When listening to the experts in the field (I usually listen to them at seminars and rarely in a field) they will say that Medication is the single best way to reduce ADHD symptoms.
I don’t disagree with them. In going through the boxes to be checked off, a person with ADHD on medication will be better able to stay focused on a task, more-so than a person with ADHD who is not on medication. People who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD at this office, who retake the testing after being placed on a medication, generally do much better on the testing while on medication.
This doesn’t mean that everyone who’s diagnosed with ADHD must be on medication.
Medication is a great option for those who have a lot of tasks to do related to school or work. There are situations where people go off of medication and are glad they did. And there are situations where people go back on medications due to a school or job change and are also, glad that they went back on medication.
I’m of the belief of working with the person where regarding their comfort level with medication. Of course, there are some situations where I’m going to push more for a medication strategy. Some people are about to lose their jobs, flunk out of college, or continue to be susceptible to poor impulse control behaviors (gambling, overeating, binge spending). There are others I feel more comfortable with exploring non-medication strategies to combat their symptoms.