Is ADHD Medication Inhibiting Our Children’s Creativity?

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The debate has been going on for decades now: is ADHD a symptom of our times, or a historical disorder that’s only recently been identified. If, in recent years, the number of people diagnosed with ADHD (purportedly 10% of all people suffer from some version of it) has increased, it’s hard to imagine that this has nothing to do with the culture of stimulation that currently dominates our psychology. Regardless of subtle explorations of cause and effect, one thing is certain: a lot of people are taking medication for ADHD without even knowing about the natural remedies for ADHD, and that medication is changing their lives significantly. Is it for the better or is this medication inhibiting our children’s creativity?

Why Stimulants?

The most recent iterations of ADHD medicine can only be ingested, and take over an hour to metabolize. Concerta is derived from Methylphenidate and was previously marketed as Ritalin; Vyvanse is derived from Adderal and was previously marketed as Dexedrine. Both of these drugs, since their inception in the mid-twentieth century, have played a huge role in western culture and the can-do, get ‘er done attitude that fuels the expansionist mindset.

If you are the type of parent who insists that their children be realistic an pursue specialist careers that are considered safe – think doctor, lawyer, accountant – you may be inclined to put them on ADHD medication without a second thought and not even take the time to consider natural remedies for ADHD.

Stimulants in the categories listed above give children, adults and anyone in between a superhuman ability to concentrate and work through a task. Even if the task is a chore, or the subject has no inherent interest in it, the mind will still pursue it with a voracious hunger until it is complete (a controlled, less intense version of OCD). Your teen may think that studying for the SATS is a bore, but when their meds kick in, you won’t be able to tear them away from the text.  

It is no surprise then, that youths in high school and college trade ADHD medicine freely and sell it on the side to make a tidy profit. The attitude is: if it’s medicine to treat a disease, it can’t be all that bad. But the truth is, the side effects are this medication isn’t just stunted creativity.

Does It Stunt Creativity?

If you are more the type of parent who wants your children to follow their hearts and find their own path, you might be more hesitant to administer these drugs. Adults who took the pills through their formative years often resent the drug, wishing they could have been more creative and at ease in their youth. Medication encourages people to complete tasks meticulously, but not necessarily in a creative manner which is why more parents are seeking natural remedies for ADHD.

There should, however, be a middle ground. Even if you hope your child is going to be a brain surgeon, it’s still beneficial to encourage creative thinking and a growth mindset that balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Breaks from medication on weekends and holidays are not an uncommon practice (withdrawal is minimal), and encouraging extra-curricular activities like art class at the AGO or music lessons at Long & McQuade are good methods of softening the intensity of the go-go-go feeling the pills give you.             

It is undeniably true that the incredibly competitive nature of our society has a dark side. We want our kids to have a stable future, but it’s important to remember that quality of life is tied to a wider perspective; life on medication can feel pretty narrow if preventative measures aren’t established. This is just one more reason why you should look into natural remedies for ADHD.

What Are Some Of The Natural Remedies for ADHD?

Parents should look into natural remedies for ADHD and alternatives to medication if at all possible. Some parents are discovering that food allergies are a big contributor to ADHD and have found that putting their kids on a strict diet helps dramatically if not eliminate their symptoms of ADHD.

There are also many supplements on the market now and studies have shown people with trouble concentrating can benefit from DHAE/fish oil, B Complex, and Probiotics, just to name a few. 

If you are looking for more natural remedies for ADHD, you might find that vetiver and cedarwood essentials oils are actually quite effective in improving focus and calming down children with ADHD.

Plant Therapy makes a Kid Safe blend called A+ Attention that I personally have found great success with. You can put single essential oils or special blends in an essential oil diffuser in the same room where your child is studying or get them a diffuser necklace or bracelet so they can smell it where ever they go. 

Parenting kids with ADHD can be difficult and challenging at times, but if you help to get to the root of their problem, you can help them find relief and live a normal life.