Hearing the word zombie usually invokes images of a horror movie or in today’s society a person suffering with drug addiction. The sad reality of modern day society is the new term called “the Zombie Effect”. This term refers to what happens to some children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder or ADHD and have been prescribed medication to help manage the disorder. ADHD is the most commonly known neurodevelopment disorder that affects children on into adulthood. ADHD can mimic other disorders that are common to children such as, fidgeting, daydreaming, and losing objects; there is no specific cause of ADHD but professionals speculate that environmental factors, smoking, or genetics can play a role in causing the disorder.
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Speculation is that doctors are forgoing thorough ADHD assessments in favor of prescribing medication based on general symptoms. “According to a 2010 US government survey 1 in 10 American children now has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a 22 percent increase from 2003” (Mercola, 2013). The next question is what is the right course of treatment? Most individuals dealing with ADHD have to decide what treatment option is the best choice. There is psychotherapy which is the practice of meeting with a therapist trained to handle mental health disorders which includes having a conversation with the patient or the patient’s whole family; then there is behavior therapy, which involves creating a set schedule or routine which gives a child a sense of structure and stability. Finally there is the medical communities’ favorite option, prescription medication. The two most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD are Ritalin and …show more content…
The medication is adjusted based on how the child reacts. Parents are asked to monitor their child and if usual behavior is detected, such as moodiness or increased hyperactivity; as well as nausea, daytime drowsiness, and digestive issues then parents are asked to contact the child’s physician so the medication can be adjusted. “When a stimulant dose is too high for a child he may begin to look sedated or zombie-like, or tearful and irritable” (Boorady, 2014). The term zombie effect is frightening to hear but it is brings attention to the fact that kids are being over medicated. Parents and physicians work collective to decide the care and treatment for a child with ADHD. if a parent is not diligent in monitoring their child then the known side effects that may occur and can be very uncomfortable for a child trying to cope with the mental and physical aspects of
Speculation is that doctors are forgoing thorough ADHD assessments in favor of prescribing medication based on general symptoms. “According to a 2010 US government survey 1 in 10 American children now has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a 22 percent increase from 2003” (Mercola, 2013). The next question is what is the right course of treatment? Most individuals dealing with ADHD have to decide what treatment option is the best choice. There is psychotherapy which is the practice of meeting with a therapist trained to handle mental health disorders which includes having a conversation with the patient or the patient’s whole family; then there is behavior therapy, which involves creating a set schedule or routine which gives a child a sense of structure and stability. Finally there is the medical communities’ favorite option, prescription medication. The two most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD are Ritalin and …show more content…
The medication is adjusted based on how the child reacts. Parents are asked to monitor their child and if usual behavior is detected, such as moodiness or increased hyperactivity; as well as nausea, daytime drowsiness, and digestive issues then parents are asked to contact the child’s physician so the medication can be adjusted. “When a stimulant dose is too high for a child he may begin to look sedated or zombie-like, or tearful and irritable” (Boorady, 2014). The term zombie effect is frightening to hear but it is brings attention to the fact that kids are being over medicated. Parents and physicians work collective to decide the care and treatment for a child with ADHD. if a parent is not diligent in monitoring their child then the known side effects that may occur and can be very uncomfortable for a child trying to cope with the mental and physical aspects of