The French Secret to Healing ADHD Without Medication

In conventional psychiatry, stimulant medications are typically the first-line treatment for children and adults with ADD/ADHD. In 2009, the U.S. was the #1 prescriber of stimulant medications, representing 80-85% of the world’s consumption! In the decade since then, total stimulant usage in the U.S. has doubled, according to a 2018 study in Plos One. Although stimulant medications are helpful for some people with ADD/ADHD, they make symptoms worse in other people with the condition. This is no secret in the medical community. So why are stimulant medications are so prevalent in the U.S.? A couple of comparisons between the U.S. and France may help shed some light on the subject.

IS IT REALLY ADHD, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

In the United States, conventional psychiatry views ADD/ADHD as a simple biological-neurological disorder with biological causes.

• Diagnosis is made using DSM criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
• DSM uses a checklist of symptoms and behaviors only—then classifies within a narrow definition.
• Social circumstances, emotional traumas, and food allergies may be dismissed as “chemical imbalances.”
• American doctors largely ignore dietary factors.
• ADD/ADHD is commonly treated with psychostimulant medication alone, or in combination with behavior modification therapy (with low success rates).
• In a 5-7 minute office visit, it is hard to assess all the factors.

In France, child psychiatrists view ADD/ADHD as a medical condition that has psycho-social and situational causes.

• Diagnosis is explored using CFTMEA criteria (Classification Française des Troubles Mentaux de L’Enfant et de L’Adolescent).
• CFTMEA first looks at underlying social issues that may be causing ADHD behaviors and symptoms.
• Doctors help patients identify, understand, and work through psychological disruption that may surface as ADD/ADHD symptoms.
• Dietary factors are explored and addressed by doctors.
• Using a holistic approach to treating ADD/ADHD, the French dramatically reduce the number of psychostimulant medications given to children.

Cultural Differences Impacting ADD/ADHD

Cultural differences such as parenting style should be included in this comparison as well. According to experts:

• French parents have a more stringent philosophy on discipline and are more likely to provide firm structure while enforcing clear limits.
• American parents no longer set limits and allow children to control them instead of the other way around.

Some people would like to believe that ADD/ADHD is “just an excuse for bad behavior” and that restoring “old-fashioned values” will eradicate over-diagnosis. Those beliefs are myths – ADD/ADHD is real. It can be seen in the brain, as evidenced on functional brain imaging scans called SPECT. On SPECT, ADD/ADHD is associated with low blood flow in the frontal lobes. “Bad parents” do not cause ADD/ADHD, nor can parents be expected to fix their child’s ADD/ADHD without help from professionals.

Dietary Factors in ADD/ADHD

Mealtime habits and dietary factors provide yet another point of comparison between the U.S. and France. In the last 30 years, both the quality of food and mealtime habits has changed dramatically in the U.S. These days, junk foods and fast foods are frequently consumed. Families have fallen away from eating together and meals are often eaten while on the go. Children’s diets, even at school, are high in simple carbohydrates (sugar, white bread, white-flour food products), poor in protein and healthy fat, and deficient in vegetables. If a person is vulnerable to ADD/ADHD, a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet typically makes their symptoms worse.

In the United States:

• Children are allowed to snack throughout the day instead of waiting to eat with parents – processed snack foods are high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, gluten, dairy, and artificial dyes and flavors.
• Separate “kids menus” are expected and encouraged – children do not eat the same foods as their parents. Macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not brain healthy.
• Doctors do not make a practice of addressing nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities during the diagnostic and treatment process.
• Parents and doctors are less aware of how foods affect ADD/ADHD – then rely on medications to suppress symptoms.

In France:

• Children do not snack all day and must wait to eat with their parents – this encourages better self-control and greater nutrient density in the foods they eat.
• There are no “kids menus” in France – children eat what their parents eat.
• French doctors consider diet as a reason for behavior changes.
• Dietary interventions that explore and remove culprit foods are part of treatment – thus reducing medication use.

Consideration of dietary factors is a critical area where U.S. doctors have fallen short when diagnosing and treating ADD/ADHD. Through research, we have found that:

• People who eat high-sugar and high-fat diets are more impulsive, based on a 2017 study in Plos One.
• Foods such as gluten, dairy, and sugar cause inflammation, which decreases blood flow to the brain.
• Eating more lean protein and high-quality fats generally reduces impulsivity by stabilizing blood sugar levels and supporting the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Brain SPECT imaging studies at Amen Clinics show that low activity in the PFC, which is involved in focus and attention, is common in people with ADD/ADHD.
• Multiple studies have shown that frequent consumption of artificial dyes may worsen irritability, hyperactivity and disturb sleep in children.
• In a study in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 70% of ADD/ADHD children showed greater than a 50% reduction of symptoms on an elimination diet. This clearly shows that food intake can make ADD/ADHD symptoms better or worse.

The Future of Healing ADD/ADHD in the U.S.

It’s clear that mental health treatment in the U.S. needs a make-over. The secret to healing ADD/ADHD without medication is to treat the whole person, rather than treating symptoms alone. Similar to the French method, this should include looking at biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that may be contributing to symptoms. Biological: How the physical brain and body function (the brain and body). Looking at the brain with SPECT to understand any underlying dysfunction and to discover which of the 7 types of ADD/ADHD a person has is critical.

• Treatments: Diet, exercise, supplements, neurofeedback, and medications (if necessary).

Psychological: Developmental issues and thought patterns (the mind).

• Treatments: Learning about how to heal past hurts and thinking honestly and clearly.

Social: Social support and current life situation (connections).

• Treatments: Managing stress and improving your relationships.

Spiritual: What life means (spirit).

• Treatments: Getting in touch with a deep sense of meaning and purpose.

ADD/ADHD and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.