Opinions please.

[christent04]

Okay, so when I write for DS, I usually write on subjects that are tangible. Even though I am almost through with my BA in Psychology, I stay away from it b/c I was always afraid I would write about something and the editor would just have a different opinion on my answer for the article. Well, I decided to venture out and write on something that I really know a LOT about :
How to treat ADHD in children without Medication.

How STUPID was I to even think that I would land it with a decent editor. Okay, there are so many different methods for people to handle ADHD. I have ADHD. I DON'T take medication, at all. I manage it with behavioral therapy. That's how I manage my youngest son. He is almost 5 and exhibits so many signs of ADHD it drives me insane sometimes. I had to pull him out of Pre-K because the teacher complained so much. I keep him at home now. I'm enrolling him in Martial Arts after Christmas (get past the holidays first). I personally think the editor wants me to rewrite it because it's their opinion on my article and not because it isn't written properly.

Okay, so here's what the editor wrote:
Nov 20, 2009 -
The best non-medical cure for ADHD is Nuerofeedback. You don't need to include that in the article, because the article seems to take a behavioral therapy slant; but what you do need to do is talk about behavioral therapy in the intro and briefly mention other alternative cures, but then tell us that the article is talking about this one (since there are so many).
However, look up Neurofeedback for your child. It's the best. I had ADHD, as did my son. Unlike other options, Neurofeedback does not "manage" ADHD. It cures it!

*And might I add, that ADHD is NOT curable. This is a WELL-KNOWN fact. I've figured out how to manage it, but I'm NOT cured by any means.*

This is a "How To" article.

Here is my original article:

It seems that today when a child will not sit still in the classroom or seems to lack the ability to keep their attention focused on one thing, the diagnosis ends with ADD or ADHD. Then, the child takes prescriptions to “control” this behavior. Perhaps the solution for this child who does not behave accordingly is due to lack of attention, structure, physical activity or even sleep. Adjust these factors and avoid medication. According to athealth.com as many as 20% receive no real benefits from medication and those that do, still experience problems with ADHD.


Treating ADHD without medication requires change. Change any personal point of view and attitude you hold towards her behavior. This positive attitude must come from you. Release the frustration you have as an adult and try to understand her. Think about how she feels as a child who has trouble paying attention or sitting still. Focus on the positive, let go of the negative.


Take parenting classes. Enroll in other courses that allow the parent and child to work together to help the child and parent cope better with ADHD. These courses teach ways to handle the fidgeting, hyperactivity, improve focusing skills and much more. Keep a positive and open mind because parents going into these courses also work on improving parental behavior.


Think of the behaviors you want to encourage. Using positive reinforcement, when she does something like cleans her room by herself, encourages her, as this is the behavior you want to reoccur. Use fairness when deciding on a proper consequence for her actions. You want to improve the inappropriate behavior, not worsen it.


Approach a child with patience and love. Give him plenty of affection and attention. Children love hugs, books and even just watching that favorite movie with mommy or daddy. Teach him patience through showing him patience. The “do as I do” model for him to follow works because children love to imitate and soak up parental actions.

Parent a child with consistency. Children thrive on consistent routines every single day. Implement a daily routine and stick with it. Make sure the routine meets the needs of the child and remember to meet your individual needs too.

Remove all the sugary foods out of her diet. Replace these with healthy snacks and meals. Children do not require the extra boost from foods that do more harm than good. Healthy foods aid in proper growth and functioning of the body and mind.

Set an early bedtime. A young child need not be up late at night. The more sleep they receive, the better they behave. Lack of sleep causes an increase in hyperactivity/inattentive symptoms in children compared with those who received more than 7.7 hours of sleep a night according to medscape.com.




So, please, tell me... Am I crazy to think that this editor is just going on something based on their personal opinion? And that's what led to the rewrite?? I worked hard on this article, because it's so close to home and I wanted it to include information that I find works in my house, from personal experience and with what the experts say. I'm not saying that this is the ONLY way to help control ADHD, but they do help.. ALOT.


I mean, I added 5 websites for my references and resources.

What do you guys think?? Abandon?? I don't WANT to rewrite it, especially in the way the editor is suggesting. It's not a strategy article.

[VeronicaM]

What do you think of posting the article somewhere else, such as infobarrel or hubpages?

btw, you're pretty.

[charmed]

To me this editor is going out of bounds by telling you what to do about your kid. He is to edit the article, period.

[christent04]

I think I may just use the article elsewhere and abandon it. I noticed an article on ehow that is similar to mine. I mean, I wasn't saying it's the BEST method to treat it, and neither does the topic ask for you to write on the BEST method to treat it. In my opinion the editor is wrong.

So, now, I have to decide if I resubmit the article explaining why I think there is nothing wrong and that I'm not trying to say it's the BEST method of treating ADHD and risk it being rejected...


OR..

I just abandon it and put it elsewhere. Personally, I like my article. I sent it to two others to review and they say it's fine. So, my other question is: If I just abandon it, how does it look on my record for DS.. Is it worse to have one rejected or to have one abandoned?? I guess it's a matter of opinion. The one thing I DO know is that I'm not rewriting this article. :-)

[christent04]

Oh :-) Thank you Veronica :-)

[prosaic]

I would report that rewrite up the chain of command at DS. That editor isn't being objective and isn't being professional. DS needs to know about this.

[beanandpumpkin]

I'd appeal it, but be prepared to not hear back until after it expires. The editor was out of line, and should not have asked for a rewrite.

[sabramh]

Originally Posted by christent04

the article seems to take a behavioral therapy slant; but what you do need to do is talk about behavioral therapy in the intro and briefly mention other alternative cures, but then tell us that the article is talking about this one (since there are so many).

I agree completely that the editor was out of line as an editor, offering an opinion on how to treat your child. But to play devil's advocate, the editor is a human and believes she has found something that works for ADHD and is probably just offering that opinion as someone who can identify with you and wants to help. Still shouldn't have done it as an editor though.

I think the editor has a point in that there are many therapies, and you might want to mention them and give the uneducated reader the specific name to the therapy that has worked for you and that you are writing about - behavioral therapy. Readers who are searching for answers and like what they read in your article need a name for the therapy to further research it outside of your article.

Michele

[christent04]

Ahh, just a note, I forgot to mention. In my tips section I added that another name for treatment without therapy is called behavioral therapy. Because really, the only treatment used without medication is behavorial therapy because even using neurofeedback, the majority of patients are placed on medication and the medication is reduced as positive results are achieved and even then 75% of them just reduce medication-they don't completely stop taking their medications.

As far as behavorial therapy, they have therapy geared just towards the child or they have it geared towards the family and child as a whole. And the way I wrote my article included not only the child, but the parents too.

But, I do see what you are saying Michele. :-) I thought about this last night after I stewed for a bit. I could say that the actual name of therapy without medication is known as behavorial therapy in the beginning. I DID add it in the tips section though. Which is pretty much the only therapy that is done without medication. Because, behavorial therapy is a type of psychotherapy. Also, another type of psychotherapy is social skills therapy, but that's included in the training through behavioral therapy. I mean, unless I'm wrong. But I have done a lot of research, so I don't think I am. There's a LOT of information to absorb. I think I'm going to shoot my professors an email. I have to know that I'm right now. Lol.

Thanks ladies :-)

[christent04]

Okay, so I resubmitted it and hopefully it doesn't get rejected. We'll see!

Here is what I wrote in response:

To politely disagree with your reference into my personal life, as I have ADHD as well and have handled it through treatment without medication aka behavioral therapy. The majority of the time, Neurofeedback uses a combination of the patient being put on medication until positive results are seen or the patient is already taking medication to begin with. Plus, approximately 75% of patients only reduce their medication intake and do NOT completely eliminate taking medication. And ADHD is NOT curable by any means. There are plenty of facts to support this. It's wonderful that you and your son may have seemed to completely eliminate the symptoms of ADHD, but it's NOT curable. This is a fact too, supported by plenty of research. My degree is in Psychology, I have already completed the required areas for the major, just finishing other upper level credits needed by the university. This is a field I am extremely interested in, as it's always been a part of my life.

As far as the article, the items needed list- Those were intangibles, yes, I understand, but when handling mental health subjects- most of the items needed are intangibles. I added the list back. Please reconsider these, as they are needed too. These items are essential when a parent is trying to handle a child with ADHD. Parents tend to forget these things, so a little reminder for them, should they read the article is a good thing. I have even seen other ehow articles with these intangibles included in their list of items needed, especially for mental health subjects.

Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy which contains several forms of treatment geared towards other mental health conditions. Also, another type of psychotherapy is social skills therapy, but that's included in the training through behavioral therapy. Behavioral Therapy targets the behaviors of not only the child, but the parents as well. It can just target the child, but it is best to target the family together, as a whole.

In saying this, there aren't really any other options that are completely medication free. This is the option where a person goes into it completely medication free, because they want to avoid the medication.

So, in the overview, I added this to my sentence to identify it as behavioral therapy:
Adjust these factors and avoid medication using behavioral therapy.
I erased it from the tips section, as it is no longer needed there.

But, seeing as I already mentioned that other treatment forms include the use of medication and the topic just calls for treatments without medication, I did not change anything else.

Thank you. Have a great day!