-=> Quoting Jane Kelley to Regina Finan <=-
 JK> But the only allergies she has is Cinnamon.  I believe RF> most
 JK> people have some form of allergies to something.  Even if it is one
 RF> or two.  This is not the cause of everyones disorders.
 JK> No, however as I said before, the cerebral ones are harder to spot.
 JK> What is also not being loudly said are the results of enviornmental
 JK> contaimination.  We have passed the Clean Air Act, we have passed the
 JK> Clean Water Act.  Implementation is very, very slow.
 
 This is one of the reasons we have a water filter as lead in the water
 can cause behavioral problems.  I tried this long before my son was
 ever put on Ritalin as our city was listed as one that has lead in
 the water.  
 RF> Also, I am ADHD too.  I never took medication either.  The allergies
 JK> did no RF> affect my behavior.  (Maybe when I was smaller and did not
 JK> know or RF>understood RF> and my behavior was the only way to say I
 JK> was uncomfortable).  I self RF> medicate myself at time with beer.  I
 JK> do have several beers a week, not RF> getting high on it or drunk, but
 JK> several a week.  I will panic if there RF> is none in the house.  I
 JK> need one to be in my fridge at all times.  I do RF> go for weeks
 JK> without it also.  No, I am not an alcoholic, but you will RF> probably
 JK> call me that after what I said.  I am ADHD and I self medicate RF>
 JK> myself with it.  I smoke cigarrettes which is another form of self- RF>
 JK> medication.
 JK> This is very dangerous for you and more dangerous for your children to
 JK> see this in a parental role model.  Most addicts start out just this
 JK> way with the same jusitifications.
 They really don't see anything.  They know beer is in the fridge, but
 that is all they see.  It's not like I go into some frenzy or tantrum.
 As far as dangerous to me, no not really as I don't get drunk and I
 can't drink much anyways.  I'm getting older and alcohol tends to mess
 up my stomach.  I had an ulcer since 7 years old.  Now it is considered
 just a nervous stomach, so of course I don't bother with it much.  But
 because I am ADHD and have never been put on meds, it was once my
 med.  It is the emotional aspect of it being there if I want it.  I have
 gone to psych in my lifetime and have compensated and come out fine.
 I am fairly well adjusted with a remarkable tolerance for stress.  I
 know how to compensate fairly well for most ADHD symptoms and am one of
 the most level headed people around.  You may consider myself bragging,
 but when you are ADHD and finally come to the point I am in my life it
 no longer becomes a disorder, but an advantage I use to the most.  It
 has helped me deal with my son without meds until recently when I felt
 it would be better for him to learn his coping skills and because his
 body was changing, making it harder to learn these skills.  I am the
 rock my daughter and some other people lean on and I don't mind being
 that.  
 JK> Research is being done on this now at the University in RF> the area.
 JK> Research has been done on this and many other things world wide.
 JK> ADHD people have a harder time quitting these two things RF> because
 JK> of their disorder.
 JK> There are many people who have a medical reason for being addicted.
 JK> Some of them even have permission to use from an M.D.  They,
 JK> incidently, are the hardest to treat.
 The concern in my my is what directly affects my family and sometimes
 friends.  The research founded for ADHD and Bi-Polar is what my
 concern is about.  Addictions to other things not related to this are
 not my concern.  If this is hard nose than so be it.  I can not take
 on the problems of the world I need to be concerned with my backyard.
 If everyone would do that the world would be more balanced.  Too many
 people are so concerned with so much out of the family that they forget
 about their own family, adding to the already unheathly society we have
 today.
 Regina
... All I need is a Wave and a board to surf it on.
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