Dr. Phil | ADHD Information
I just wanted to let everyone know that tonight on Dr. Phil he is talking about ADHD, ADD and other disorders that relate. I only get to see the last half hour but yesterday we were home because of Hurricane Jeanne so i saw the preview.
Didnt know if anyone would be interested.
How can I find out if he will be on where we are?
I am not sure where you can look that up but you can go to www.drphil.com and they would beable to tell you the schedule.. I missed it last night but according to my mom (she is a Dr. Phil groupie) it was very interesting, I guess it talked about different treatments and parents who do not get them tested adn so on.. He even talked about the test that can be doen with brain waves. For anyone that missed it like me you can go online to the link provided and prder a copy or the transcripts and mostlikly a copy of the show.alaphrenchNewbie
I just love this - how can I get one 
. That is just how i look - lolhttp://www.silvergryphondesign.com/photos/av41.gif
ADHD individuals who are not diagnosed until adulthood disprove Dr.Phil’s “wastebasket diagnosis” theory:
It is important to consider the fact that there are many adults who take Rx medications for Adult ADHD. Many are educated professionals such as Nurses, Attorneys, Teachers, and Physicians.
These are treated ADHD Adults who are in helping professions and are successfully making positive differences in the lives of those who depend on them. Without their ADHD medications it is reasonable to consider the probability of these adults making potentially dangerous job-related errors.
Sadly, they are the untreated ADHD children who never did experience an onset of symptoms that was recognizable as ADHD to teachers, family or friends.
Those undiagnosed ADHD children have grown up to become undiagnosed ADHD adults. They are often seen as under achievers, for having tried and failed at so many things-- so many times. As a result of going undiagnosed many ADHD adults struggle with a secondary disorder like anxiety or depression. The presenting symptom in these adults is not hyperactivity—but a severe and sudden decline in their ability to function cognitively. They are not seen as ‘hyperactive’ individuals whose level of function would improve with better parenting; and who ‘back in the day’ would have just been called “brats”, as Dr. Phil said in regard to hyperactive children.
An ADHD brain lacks adequate levels of two neurotransmitter chemicals: Dopamine and Norepinephrine. Without adequate levels of these two chemicals the brain is unable to successfully activate messages, so they can travel to their intended destinations in the nervous system. The neurotransmitter Dopamine is involved in controlling emotions and reactions, concentrating, reasoning, and coordinating movement. An abnormally low level of Dopamine can cause the three primary symptoms of ADHD: inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.
The non-ADHD brain already produces and releases neurotransmitter chemicals, including Dopamine and Norepinephrine through naturally occurring processes, on an ongoing basis.
An ADHD brain uses these same natural processes as well, but at a much slower-moving pace. So, there is never quite enough stored Dopamine or Norepinephrine.
Adderall and Ritalin are medications that work as stimulants. They prompt the brain to increase its momentum in carrying out the production and release process of neurotransmitter chemicals.
Part of the “tidying-up” process involves receptors that have the job of “taking up” any residual neurotransmitter chemicals still remaining in the synapse. These will be used as starting materials to make new neurotransmitters. Straterra is a non-stimulant medication that works as a reuptake inhibitor. In an ADHD brain, Strattera stops the clean-up receptors from taking up any residual Dopamine or Norepinephrine chemicals.
The ongoing result, with either of these medications, is adequate levels of Dopamine and Norepinephrine in the brain, giving it the ability to successfully activate messages, so they can travel to their intended destinations in the nervous system, without being interrupted or disabled. The medicine, as part of a complete treatment plan, helps an ADHD child feel better. And ADHD behaviors occur for just that reason; the child does not feel well.
Parents: take the following into consideration: If you are considering not having your child take medicine because it could potentially ‘diminish’ the quality of his life in the long run, due to side effects that target other health-related areas, then your child is most likely cognitively functional enough not to have to be on the medicine in the first place. There are some children who experience such a severe onset of symptoms that their quality of life becomes severely compromised. The children in these cases take stimulants because it gives them back their lives. ADHD treatment information taken out of context creates concepts like “parenting with pills”. Sons and daughters taking stimulants for ADHD symptoms that are completely life interrupting, are lucky to have parents with such strength of heart… because in these cases the medicine is life saving—which is entirely different from life changing:
Dr. Phil (COPY),
While I agree completely that there are children who are misdiagnosed and treated unnecessarily for ADHD, there are at least as many who are accurately diagnosed and properly treated for ADHD by qualified Psychiatrists. An informed decision cannot be made, in regard to whether or not ADHD is a “wastebasket diagnosis”, if the main focus of your show is not a true representation of the majority of diagnosed ADHD cases.
Dr. Phil, if you are confident that you are right about this, then why not present all sides? Please consider a follow-up show on this topic and trust in your own ability to articulate yourself, and site your references, expert advisors, etc. If you do your job well, as this world has seen you do, then parents will be able to weigh the facts and make an informed decision about their own children I think you are making an awesome difference in the lives of many, many people. Please consider following up on this one. ~bfly2B
bfly.....outstanding letter!!!!!!! Unfortunately, I doubt Dr Phil will take ownership for being so biased and misleading because then his buddy, Dr Frank Lawless wont sell as many books. Also, Dr Lawless's practice might suffer as well because he charges just under ,000 just to diagnose. 