The answer is a resounding YES. Anxiety is one of the first symptoms I consistently see patients get relief from, often from the very first prescription (see case study below). Such is the effectiveness of constitutional homeopathic treatment which resolves the underlying cause of anxiety.
Anxiety is one of the main co-existing conditions with ADHD/ ADD. According to CHADD ‘30 percent of children and up to 53 percent of adults with ADHD may also have an anxiety disorder’. The two conditions are so intertwined that it’s common for parents to question whether their child’s behavior is down to their ADHD or their anxiety. Some parents question if their child was misdiagnosed and really what they are struggling with is an anxiety disorder?.
Anxiety shows up in many areas of life for children and adults with ADHD. In children the anxiety is commonly associated with school and social anxiety. Being expected to read out loud in class can be enough to put a child off ever going back to school. For adults there is often anxiety about work performance, time-management, finances and relationships. Sometimes this anxiety can be useful, even productive, but not when it is chronic.
It’s very distressing for parents to witness their child worrying excessively. Especially if it’s preventing them from a restful night's sleep. Often the desperation to relieve a child’s anxiety can be so great that parents will consider medications with serious side-effects just to see their child free of tension and stress.
A group of pediatricians in Canada have recently voiced their concerns about the overuse of medication in the treatment of ADHD children. Pediatrician Guy Falardeau says “the danger is that in some cases we’re actually treating ADHD, but in others, we’re simply masking a mental health issue..he warns masking anxiety or other disorders with medication ends up postponing the moment when the issue inevitably explodes...mental illnesses are harder to treat the longer they’ve had to progress, he noted’.
Falardeau rightly points out that we should be looking at 'why children are acting the way they are and how this is related to mental health, emotions and the child’s social environment?'.
So what are some of the possible root causes of anxiety? It could be gut issues, hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction or trauma. Anxiety in children can even stem from In Utero if a mother suffered with anxiety in pregnancy, or perhaps being separated at birth for an extended period. If gut issues are at the root of anxiety we can use homeopathic remedies to heal a leaky gut. If trauma is at the root we can prescribe a remedy to help a child integrate difficult emotions which have become blocked. Whatever the reason homeopathy can not only address it but resolve it too. This brings about lasting change, not the type of change that ceases once you stop taking the medicine.
Case of childhood anxiety:
Michael’s mother brought him for anxiety and frequent waking at night. Michael, age 12, had been waking an hour into sleep with a loud screeching sound in his ears. Michael described it as screaming in fast forward. It usually lasted 15 minutes. It really upset Michael and made him feel very panicky. He would have to get up out of bed, pace around, and covers his ears. Most nights it took Michael 15 minutes to fall asleep. Some nights Michael was worried about school and getting his work done. Michael worried if he didn’t do his homework right because he was afraid people would think he is stupid. He was anxious about starting secondary (high) school next year, because he was worried about making friends. He was also worried about the sound that would wake him up. Other nights Michael woke with pains in his stomach. Michael described it as a hunger pain that he only gets when he is anxious. Michael's mother said he worries about everyone especially his brother and mother. Thunderstorms scare him, he's afraid house will fall down or someone would get hit with lightening. His mother described the birth as traumatic.
Calc carb 30c: After one course of calc carb 30c the noise in his ears stopped. It’s been 7 months and hasn’t returned. Michael said he is having a more restful sleep. He’s a lot less anxious but still gets anxious if there’s something specific happening the next day, like serving at mass, he’ll worry he might get it wrong. He only had anxious pain in stomach once in the last month. Usually he would have it 3 times a week. When he wakes he goes to his mother for reassurance and can usually go back to sleep. Mother said he used to come in during the night asking ‘what if this? what if that?’. This reduced. When he wakes it’s later, half-way through the might as opposed to one hour into sleep.
Calc carb LM1: After one month way less anxiety and less stressey. Sleeping through. Woke for the first time half-way through the night in ages. Normally waking around 7am.
Carcinosin 30c: Michael generally in great form but his grandmother died. He is very upset as he was very close. He is worried about his mom who is devastated. Effects of carcinosin were instantly noticeable on the first night he was better, not so upset before bed, and worrying improved.
If you or your child suffer from ADHD and anxiety and you would like to explore how homeopathic treatment could help book your free 15 minute consultations at www.myradicalremedy.com. I work internationally via Skype/Coviu.
Sources:
https://chadd.org/about-adhd/coexisting-conditions/
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of your physician or health care provider. First aid situations may require medical or hospital care. Do not use this article as a means to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think that your condition may be serious, before discontinuing any medication that has been prescribed for you, or before starting any new treatment.