Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is characterized by difficulty in controlling the behavior, hyperactivity, and lack of focus. It has three types: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. The type of ADHD a patient has depends on the number of symptoms that he or she exhibits. Often exhibiting symptoms of severe hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, these children can benefit from a specialized form of meditation for ADHD patients.
Meditation for ADHD has some clear benefits that are hard to ignore. A recent study done at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney with the Institute of Psychiatry in the King’s College in London, UK showed that children who had ADHD showed marked reductions of the symptoms of ADHD after being taught how to meditate with the Sahaja Yoga Meditation. On the other hand, those who were given stimulant medication showed improvement, although there’s reason to worry over the long-term effectiveness of such medication. Parents of children with ADHD also expressed their interest in non-pharmalogical treatment options.
Another benefit of meditation is that children who were taught to meditate improved their relationship with their parents, not to mention that their self-esteem was enhanced.
Furthermore, of the children who were treated with stimulant medication, over 50% either discontinued or reduced their stimulant medication but still improved in their symptoms.
This pioneering study suggests that meditation is clearly a promising non-pharmacological treatment option for children with ADHD that needs to be further explored. (More here)
Parents of children with ADHD should definitely consider teaching meditation to their kids. There’s nothing to lose, and everything to gain, in the long run.
