Many ADD alternative treatments are available for those who do not wish to medicate themselves or who want to put as many solutions to work for them as possible (a good idea). And in addition to the alternative ADD treatments outlined below, there are also natural ADD remedies that together comprise the non-meds treatment options. In the realm of alternative treatments, there are a few key areas…
Behavioral Therapy
…is simply the observation of your thinking and resulting behaviors, and making adjustments to both. You may have heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which refers to how we think about things and how that thinking translates into actions – then, the therapy part addresses your thoughts and related behaviors to change outcomes. No, you don’t necessarily need a therapist to conduct the therapy, as long as you’re doing an honest job of learning, thinking and action-oriented DOING.
Mindfulness
…is related to CBT in that simply being mindful is a form of cognitive therapy. This is a broad area of alternative ADHD solutions, but the primary focus of mindfulness is knowing what stuff is whirling around in your noggin, recognizing your thoughts’ meaning and relevance, and ultimately, being able to prioritize those thoughts. I’ve blogged on this at Jennifer Koretsky’s ADDManagement.com. And if you’ve any doubts about the power of simply being more mindful of your thoughts and related emotions, ask Google about neuroplasticity. This is the ability of the brain to change based on what you’re paying attention to – how the brain actually PHYSICALLY changes and adapts to alter certain brain deficits.
One example of mindfulness in action is to change the way you view your ‘failures’ and successes. Negative self-talk is deadly when it comes to undercutting our potential success – and worse, depression and anxiety are greatly influenced by our negative perceptions. (I teach steps to a new mindset in Video II, Way 9: Score Your Successes.)
Meditation
…is an extension of Mindfulness. Don’t be put off by this woo-woo word. For the adult sufferer, meditation as an alternative treatment is not about sitting on a bed of nails and murmuring, but by simply quieting one’s mind – which is EASY once you are MINDFUL of what’s inside it (see above!). More about this on the Crusher™ YouTube channel and in Video I, Way 2.
Neurofeedback and Computerized Working Memory Training
…are somewhat controversial, but some folks report great results. It’s expensive and time-consuming, but might be worth further investigation for some who have not had sufficient success with other treatments or solutions.
Coaching or Mentoring
…can come from an ADHD coach, an executive coach or even a life coach. These professionals can help you learn coping strategies – and more importantly – help you put them into action. And now, group coaching is sprouting up more and more, making coaching more accessible and affordable. Here’s a link to Crusher’s favorite ADHD coaches.
Bottom Line: Crusher believes that the best way to escape the overwhelm and start living to your potential is to put as many solutions to work for you as possible. And a great solution can be Crusher™ videos and tools – because they incorporate strategies from ALL the non-med ADD treatment options.
P.S. If you haven’t yet heard of www.CrusherTV.com, I hope you’ll check it out. Each Monday night at 10pm we “air” another episode chock full of useful productivity tips and “brain hacks”, and our Guest Experts provide more great ideas. Tons of other benefits for members, including free group coaching sessions. Hope to “see” you there! ab
