Pills are not the only way to manage your child’s inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors.
Neurofeedback therapy is a safe, non-invasive, alternative option for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. In November 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics approved biofeedback and neurofeedback as a Level 1 or “best support” treatment option for children suffering from ADHD.
For parents looking for an effective, non-drug treatment of ADHD, neurofeedback is one worth serious consideration.


It is estimated that two million children in the United States are struggling with the symptoms of ADHD, which are inattention or inattention combined with hyperactivity. Common indicators of ADHD with hyperactivity are:

• feeling restless, fidgeting, and/or squirming
• Impulsive speech and blurting answers
• Having difficulty remaining patient and quiet
• Excessive talking and moving, constantly in motion

Indicators of inattention type include:

• Inability to focus
• Carelessness with schoolwork and other tasks
• Very easily distracted
• Losing or forgetting important items
• Commonly do not complete tasks once started and bounce from one activity to the next

Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHDNeurofeedback trains children to become more aware of their physiological responses and how to gain control of the brain’s frontal lobe, which is the executive functioning center. Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback is a specific technique under biofeedback therapy, and it is the recording of electrical activity within the cells of the scalp. EEG neurofeedback focuses on the central nervous system and the brain’s activity in order to give moment-to-moment information.

Children with ADHD have higher rates of EEG abnormalities compared to children without ADHD, such as higher theta wave rhythms (drowsiness), lower sensorimotor rhythms (movement control), and lower beta waves (attention and memory processes). Neurofeedback provides audio and visual interpretations of these brain waves, and children learn how to maintain the appropriate levels for functioning.

During a neurofeedback session, EEG sensors are situated on the scalp. Specific brain wave activity is then detected, amplified, and recorded. The information is instantaneously fed back to the therapist and client on a screen. The therapist informs the client what they are observing, and trains them on how to control the brain activity so that it reaches the desired range. With the help of a video game program, the child learns to maintain low activity of the delta waves and an increase in beta waves, or the game will not continue to play. With this, the child exercises the brain and increases his focus and attention.

It also has been studied and reported that the brains of children with ADHD are lacking the regulation from the frontal region, allowing the mid-brain to quickly react without a type of checking system. Neurofeedback restores the strength of the frontal region of the brain, and builds a better connection between the mid-brain and forebrain, allowing focus, attention, impulses, and emotional reactions to become manageable. Children build memory for how they were able to achieve the desired results within the sessions and use it outside of the sessions to produce lasting results.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a psychostimulant drug commonly used for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. Research suggests that neurofeedback is an equally effective treatment. Children are typically given three doses of 10 mg Ritalin per day on school days. Neurofeedback training is shown to be a favorable option that provides the same results as medication. For parents who prefer other options aside from medication, neurofeedback is a non-invasive, safe, effective, and long-lasting treatment option. Typically, the child will participate in 10 to 20 sessions or more depending on severity of symptoms, and each session lasts 30 to 60 minutes.


References
Arns, M., de Ridder, S., Strehl, U., Breteler, M., & Coenen, A. (2009). Efficacy of neurofeedback treatment in ADHD: the effects on inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity: a meta analysis. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(3), 180-189.
Duric, N., Assmus, J., Gundersen, D., & Elgen, I. (2012). Neurofeedback for the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD: a randomized and controlled clinical trial using parental reports. BMC Psychiatry, 12(1), 107.
American Academy of Pediatrics report: Evidence-based Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Interventions, released November 2012

All info here Repost from: https://psychcentral.com/blog/neurofeedback-therapy-an-effective-non-drug-treatment-for-adhd/?fbclid=IwAR2U5SR0LqMEHWYkegEy7caOv-mtNAVPGW43sjQVqggnNHkmdRKBnJqoWrY

现时代中，随着大众对于失智症的认识，许多人容易担心自己未来是否可能罹患失智症，虽然有很多外力无法控制的因子（如年龄、遗传），但美国阿兹海默氏症研究及预防机构（the Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation）提出六大方向，可以降低失智或脑袋当机的风险：

1. 规律的运动：每周至少做150分钟中度强度运动。

2. 参与社交活动：参加志工活动，或定期参与社区活动。

3. 健康饮食：减少糖分摄取、避免食用反式脂肪，采取多蔬果、坚果及不饱和脂肪酸油的地中海饮食方式。

4. 心智活动刺激：学习语言、烹饪、插花、太极拳等新事物，玩数独、麻将、桌游之类的游戏，或是经常更换散步路线等。

5. 保持良好的睡眠。

6. 适时纾解压力。

除此之外，戒烟、控制血压及血脂、体重管理、勿过量饮酒，皆可降低失智症的风险。看起来其实并不难是吧？或许从现下开始就可以在日常中纳入这些好习惯，预防大脑当机start from now！

资料来源：大纪元

健康食品如何帮助心理健康?五类营养物质不知大家是否知晓，食物其实可以从不同的方面帮助我们促进心里健康：

在水果、蔬菜和全麦类食品中，发现的复合碳水化合物，可以为大脑细胞提供燃料。不同于简单的碳水化合物（含糖饮料和零食中富含）释放葡萄糖的的速度，会出现峰值和低谷，复合碳水化合物会将葡萄糖缓慢释放到身体系统中。葡萄糖量的高低波动，会降低幸福感，并且对我们的心理健康产生负面影响。

色彩鲜艳的水果中富含的抗氧化剂，可清除自由基，消除氧化应激，并且减少大脑炎症。这会提高大脑中让我们感到心情愉快的化学物质含量，让我们情绪高涨。

鱼类中含有的Omega 3和蔬菜中含有的维生素B，也可帮助大脑产生更多让我们感到高兴的化学物质，同时也可帮助预防痴呆症和抑郁症。

在酸奶，奶酪和发酵品种发现的益生菌和益生元，可以提高肠道中数以百万的细菌活性。这些细菌产生的化学信号反应在大脑中，会影响我们的情绪和对压力的反应。研究表明，益生菌和益生元与抗抑郁药在相同的神经通路上发挥作用，从而减少抑郁和焦虑，使人们感到更加快乐。

转换健康饮食习惯会发生什么？
澳洲的一个研究小组最近进行了一项针对56名抑郁症患者的随机对照实验。在为期12周的时间内，31名参与者接受了营养咨询，并将曾经不健康的饮食习惯，改为健康饮食。其他25人则继续保持原有的饮食习惯。参与者在试验期间使用的抗抑郁药物和谈话疗法不变。

在实验结束时，健康饮食组参与者的抑郁症状得到了显着改善。大约32％在心理测试中得分很低，不再符合抑郁症的标准，而对照组的数据则为8％。

另一个研究小组也做了相同的实验，实验结果类似，同时对近期所有关于饮食模式和抑郁症的相关研究回顾评价，也支持该结果。该评价发现，在41项研究中，坚持健康饮食的人患抑郁症的风险比吃不健康食品的人低24%到35％。

这些研究结果表明，改善饮食习惯可能是一种经济且有效的抑郁症辅助治疗方法，同时也可以降低患精神疾病的风险。

​资料来源：大纪元

2019年4月2日，第12个世界自闭症日。今年自闭症日主题：消除误区、倡导全纳。

　　因为误区，有人认为孤独症儿童是天才，不需要特殊支持;因为误区，孤独症儿童被拒绝入学。对孤独症人士的误区如此之多，不但成为文明社会的不和谐杂音，而且人为加大孤独症群体融入社会的障碍。孤独症人士的核心症状是社会交流障碍、行为和兴趣刻板狭窄，他们最大的障碍就是融入社会，而公众的误区使他们融入社会难上加难。
​
　　2007年12月联合国大会通过决议，从2008年起，将每年的4月2日定为“世界自闭症关注日”，以提高人们对自闭症和相关研究与诊断以及自闭症患者的关注。


　　自闭症症状表现
　　一、兴趣狭窄，行为刻板重复。自闭症儿童常在较长时间里专注于某种或几种游戏或活动，如着迷于自己在地上转圈，喜欢看电视广告和天气预报，对有故事情节的动画片、儿童电视剧则无兴趣。


　　二、孤独离群，不与他人建立联系。自闭症儿童喜欢独处，对父母没有依赖性，有些患儿在婴儿时期就有反应，不喜欢别人抱，在别人抱起时会哭闹。他们的孤独还表现在对周围的事不关心，自己愿意怎样做就怎样做，毫无顾忌，周围发生什么事都与他无关，很难引起他的兴趣和注意，不与他人产生目光接触。


　　三、言语障碍突出。大多数自闭症儿童言语很少，情况严重的甚至没有言语，即使在别人大声呼喊的时候也不做应答。有些虽然可以发声，但是却无法完成情景交流，只能发出简单重复的声音。还有些患儿会表现为说话声音小或者发音不清晰，只有和他熟络的人才能理解他的意思。有些还会在先前表现为言语能力正常，在3-4岁半时出现言语能力突然衰退，失去情景交际能力。

资料来源：新华网