[Image courtesy of ChatGPT, with apologies (and a nod) to Bart Simpson and Edvard Munch.]
Thirty-six years ago (in 1989), the first episode of The Simpons aired. It was a smash hit. People took to it like a three-eyed fish to nuclear waste water. Everyone could identify with at least one character in this dysfunctional-yet-functional family. They were us, writ large (and yellow).
The Simpsons represented a cultural tipping point, squeezed in-between the Dysfunction Lite of the ’80s family sitcoms and the ’90’s Dysfunction Dark, when humour made way for grimacing. Comic relief handed the baton to absurdity. The soul-searching Angst of the ’90s was almost palpable and the mass media wasted no time whipping it to fever pitch (millennium bugs, anyone?).
So where are we heading with this all-organic, super-nutritious post?
October is
* Mental Health Month
* ADHD Awareness Month
* Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Hmmmm. Coincidence? Or is there a connection?
The late ’80s saw the official recognition of AD(H)D (“Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without Hyperactivity”) as a disease. Bart (as yet free-spirited and unmedicated) was the archetype of a generation of boys targeted by this diagnosis. More importantly, Big Pharma was waiting in the wings with a drug to treat it. A slightly modified version of the banned substance amphetamine swooped in to save society from dysfunction and mayhem. “Ritalin” soon became a household word.
The carefully manicured Wikipedia entry for Ritalin sounds like the hagiography of a saint (link).
Behind the polished scenes, however, things look less pretty. Parents seeing personality changes and extreme anger outbursts were told, “Imagine how bad it would have been, had he not been on Ritalin!”
For those with a keen interest in addiction (like Doc Frank), a pattern began to emerge over the decades. Teenagers on Ritalin became depressed in their 20s (and got medicine for that), then bipolar in their late 20s (and got medicine for that) and eventually ended up with a psychosis diagnosis in their mid to late 30s (needing powerful antipsychotic medication).
Ritalin is the gateway drug to Big Pharma nirvana.
Anyone read “Brave New World” recently?
Of course, not everyone is affected like this. But enough children are to make this a reason for public outcry. Still, instead of a month dedicated to Ritalin’s long-term harms, we have an ADHD Awareness Month. “Eat my pills!”
So, dear 40-something year old Bart, slouching on that famous family couch in front of the telly, drugged and docile, all bloated and pale, you are the poster-child of 21st century adulthood. And to think people thought Homer Simpson was a loser… At least he held down a job. Ritalin-Bart is incapable of holding down a water balloon, let alone a job or almost any other responsibility. No danger of family dysfunction when you don’t have a family, right? Lucky Bart, you are no threat to anyone (except yourself, that is).
While (almost) nobody was looking, self-harm as the number one cause of death has crept up in most Western countries. In Britain, it is now the most common cause of death from ages 15-44 (link). In other words, it perfectly overlaps the Ritalin generation. Doh!
(Note: Self-harm deaths are lumped under “External”, conveniently sweeping them under the rug of obscurity.)
Is there a better way?
We’re glad you asked.
Not so long ago, attention was vital for survival. Predators and enemies would take advantage of any lapses in attention span. Nowadays, attention is mostly directed towards entertainment – with disastrous results.
“Attention deficit” is thus not a disease. It is a social phenomenon. As such, it needs a social solution. And yes, there are supplements that are safe and effective, but you cannot out-supplement a poor social environment (or a bad diet).
Control what is under your control, before reaching for the prescription pad. Here are some suggestions. Pick and choose what works for your situation.
Order, Chaos & Dysfunction
Children are very sensitive to social cues in their immediate environment. Marital discord and anger explosions create chaos in a child’s mind. If this describes your marriage, you need help. Our Re-Mind can help stabilise emotions, but obviously marital conflict is bigger than a pill can solve.
If there is no reliable routine in a child’s home life, you cannot expect ordered thinking.
Screens
“It’s not easy to juggle a pregnant wife and a troubled child, but somehow I managed to fit in eight hours of TV a day.” – Homer Simpson
It is no small irony that the very medium that carried The Simpsons is a major factor in damaging attention span. Every time there is a visual change on a screen, a bit of dopamine is squirted into the brain’s reward centre. In earlier times, a child had to move around to experience scene changes and so earn that dopamine shot. Now a child is rewarded for sitting still and staring at a screen. Once the brain is used to the fast-paced screen changes, normal life seems dull by comparison. The child tries to create the same frequency of scene changes by moving around. This is the biochemical origin of hyperactivity.
No family needs a television. No child needs a mobile phone, Except… society demands it. Schools demand it. Standing up against the tyranny of screens will make you unpopular (putting it mildly), but when it threatens your child’s very life?
The brains of children who are exposed to screens from an early age are significantly changed by age 10 (link).
Nature bathing
“Nature bathing” is not the same as a visit to Sandy Bay. It refers to spending non-directed time out in nature. Just hanging out with nature hones those rusty attention skills. Running around, climbing trees, picking up rocks – all of these build the body and the brain.
Religious gatherings
This is a touchy subject in a secular society, but sitting still for an extended period of time while listening to a religious text being read or expounded focuses aural skills. In other words, the ability of the ears to tune in. To the extent that modern religious gatherings have replaced aural traditions with visual ones, this subtle but important training of attention span has also left the building. The religious gatherings of your childhood may have bored you to death, but they honed your attention span even so. Find a suitable modern option for your children. It does not have to be boring, but it must be 100% aural, like story telling time.
Reading
Reading (from a real book, not a screen) calms the brain. It also imparts important life lessons (if you read the right kind of books). Encourage a love of reading in your children by reading them great stories every day. Most children’s books published in the past 50 years or so are trash, but there are many classics your children will enjoy. Don’t give them dumb books to read, stretch their minds with hard books.
Sleep
A child’s brain needs good sleep to grow. At least 7 hours, preferably closer to 9 hours. The best way to achieve this is to fix bedtime. “Ay, caramba!” Yes, that’s not going to be popular, but at least try and keep trying. A fixed bedtime is a truly wonderful gift you can give your children.
Diet
Almost every food that comes in a wrapper or package contains substances that are harmful to a child’s brain. Chief among these is sugar, but wheat is another major culprit. Train your children to eat unprocessed foods. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs. Dairy is a mixed bag, if you can find a good source, go for it. Dairy is not harmful, but the processing often adds unhealthy products.
Biltong and nuts can make a nutritious and filling snack. Baking your own tasty seed crackers is not hard at all. Do some research, there are many options.
For drinks, water or some teas are best. If it fizzes, it is suspect. Homemade kombucha or fruit-infused waters can be healthy, tasty alternatives.
Supplements
Brain-Mag
The magnesium in Brain-Mag is well absorbed by the brain. Magnesium plays key roles in keeping the brain calm. One to two capsules of Brain-Mag can do wonders for attention span (as well as sleep).
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1 (or thiamine) is important in energy production. It helps a lot in stabilising mood and preventing anger outbursts. It is depleted by psycho-active medications, meaning higher doses are needed in children on such medication. Dosages of 100-300 mg daily are perfectly safe.
Re-Mind
For children on the spectrum or with severe mood swings, Re-Mind is a great way to gain control. One to two capsules daily can make a big difference.
Vitamin D
Low vitamin D levels double the risk of an ADHD diagnosis. Conversely, supplementing with Vitamin D reduces ADHD symptoms (link).
At Integrow Health, we have FIRE Drops and Mega D3 on offer. Each drop of FIRE Drops delivers 1,000 IU of Vitamin D. Each capsule of Mega D3 delivers 40,000 IU of Vitamin D3. The aim is to supplement with 6,000 – 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily.
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
For children over 12 with severe attention issues, LDN can be very helpful. Naltrexone is a synthetic drug, not natural. However, if given in tiny doses (“low dose”), it boosts the production of endorphins in the brain. These help improve mood and give more focused attention.
Charlotte’s Angel
Not all CBD oils are created equal. The hard-to-find strain “Charlotte’s Angel” gives a particularly pleasing sense of calm, along with a pleasant taste. Our Charlotte’s Angel is formulated as a sublingual spray. Each spray delivers 6 mg of CBD and a tiny bit of THC. When given at night, it helps with deep sleep and brings about a calm mood the next day. There is no danger of addiction to this oil.
So, there you have a few starting points to help improve attention span.
ADHD-ictions Galore
Where ADHD drugs have already been used for a while, it can be hard to withdraw them. Never attempt this alone. You can ask the prescribing doctor to suggest a withdrawal protocol.
The following products may help a lot during the (guided) withdrawal process.
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
By increasing endorphins, it reduces drug cravings. One x 1 mg spray below tongue in the morning can be sufficient in most cases.
We offer two versions:
* Peppermint: Flavoured with Organic Peppermint Oil to mask the intensely bitter taste.
* Plain: For those who like things neat, with no additives.
Kanna (Sceletium)
This succulent herb from the Klein Karoo gives profound calm. It can be used to treat ADHD symptoms, but it is also very useful in easing withdrawal symptoms. One capsule in the morning gives calm for about 6 hours. One capsule at night helps with deep sleep.
Recently, Doc Frank used Kanna in a community-based project to get teenagers off Tik (meth*amphetamine). Anyone who has ever been involved in addiction withdrawal will know that Tik withdrawal is one of the toughest. Doing it within the very same dysfunctional community that fostered the addiction is regarded as impossible. Still, Kanna worked astonishingly well. Considering that Ritalin is a kissing cousin of Tik, you can join the dots yourself.
Vitamin B1
During withdrawal from any psycho-active drug or medication, Vitamin B1 levels need to be pushed sky-high to minimise the risk of suicide and other mood symptoms. A dose of 500 mg daily is safe and will help a lot to make withdrawal easier.
To your (attentive) health!
The Team at Integrow Health
