Omega 3s and More

I appreciate the comments, both posted and private, to my post, Reacting to ADHD Rage. Rob recommended articles by a behavior therapist. A friend recounted privately via e-mail that for her child, Risperdal did the trick. And did you read Jaydra’s comment? She’s a child behavior expert, but when her own son flipped out she wasn’t able to reach him. Jaydra says that low blood sugar and low serotonin levels turned out to be her son’s curse; addressing those issues his cure.

The triggers, and therefore the treatments, for ADHD acting out are probably as diverse as the children who experience them. I know some of Natalie’s triggers; hunger and anxiety. Hmmm, that sounds a lot like what Jaydra said. Low blood sugar? Check. Low serotonin levels? Well, SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants are sometimes used to treat anxiety, and they’re all about serotonin, aren’t they? Maybe Jaydra’s on to something.

So, the question is, how do you raise serotonin levels? Heck, I didn’t know! So I googled “serotonin deficiency”, and guess what came up? Fish oil; omega 3’s. Hmmm. Rings a bell!

I have given Natalie omega 3 supplements before, but lately, had forgotten to do so. So, to the cupboard I went, and there they were waiting. I’m back to giving Natalie her supplement each day. I buy L’ilCritters brand Omega-3 Gummy Fish: Smart Gummies For Smart Kids. Each two-gummy dose contains 120 mg of omega 3 fatty acids; ALA, DHA, and EPA.

At this point, I’m finding all the articles and advice about supplement types and recommended dosages mind-boggling! Fish oil capsules, or omega 3 supplements; ratios of DHA to whatever.

So, until someone can tell what the ideal product is, and the ideal dose, I’m calling the gummy fishies good enough. After all, Natalie likes them. And I bought fish oil capsules for myself, toward my goal of curing my ADHD by Proxy! I’m back to taking my vitamin and mineral supplements, too.

Between protein buffering to level out Natalie’s blood sugar, fishies for her serotonin, and working on her self-talk to manage her fears and anxiety, I hope that this summer, in this family, instead of ADHD acting out, peace will be all the rage.